North Carolina State University Athletics
PEELER: Rieskamp Ready to Roll
8/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 4, 2010
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C.
He hopes they all forget that he was one of the Wolfpack's most promising defensive linemen going into preseason camp last August, a player whose own teammates were calling him "a monster" on the field during drills.
He hopes all the people who think NC State's defense, which is missing all of its starters up front and is inexperienced in the backfield, doesn't have an enforcer on the edge will stay in sleep mode.
Because, after a year of sitting on the sidelines, he's ready to hit someone.
"If they've forgotten [about what he can do], I want to refresh their memories," Rieskamp said. "I can't wait to be out there with the guys again."
Like senior linebacker Nate Irving, Rieskamp missed all of last season. Rieskamp began suffering from sharp pains in his abdomen not long after camp started. "It was like a knife ripping into me," he said. Doctors originally couldn't find anything wrong until Rieskamp went to a specialist in Philadelphia, who identified the problem as a sports hernia.
He had significant abdominal surgery in late October and spent the rest of the season and the entire spring recuperating and rehabilitating from the painful injury. But he hasn't forgotten what it feels like to get physical on the football field.
"It's one of those things you don't lose," Rieskamp said. "You might sit out a year, but you don't lose the sensation of being out on the field. The feeling you have when you cross the lines and get a chance to knock someone out.
"To be able to do that again this year will be great."
The Cincinnati native heads into preseason camp, which began Tuesday afternoon, listed as the backup to Northwestern transfer David Akinniyi, who has three years of experience as a defensive end. As the Wolfpack replaces all four starters on the defensive line, head coach Tom O'Brien is looking for depth and experience up front.
"He had an injury and missed the year," O'Brien said. "He's in the same situation as several other people. He's back on the field, and that's good for us. Right now, he's as important to our defense as Nate is.
"He was happy be out there and it was good to see him first in line and leading things. If we can get him through practice and get him playing that will be another addition to the defense that we didn't have last year."
As a redshirt freshman two years ago, Rieskamp played in all 12 games for the Wolfpack. He started against Florida State and Maryland, making a total of 15 tackles and two sacks on the season. He is sure he can do more now that he's surgically repaired and fully healed.
"I feel put together and ready to go," Rieskamp said.
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
