North Carolina State University Athletics
Excitement Surrounds Wolfpack as #PackCamp Opens
8/2/2019 2:37:00 PM | Football
VIEW: 2019 #PackCamp Primer
RALEIGH, N.C. – For months, everybody around NC State's Murphy Center was looking forward to the calendar turning to August.
Even with the majority of the team here throughout the summer, there is just a different feeling of excitement when the players strap on the helmets and hit the practice field for the first time.
NC State officially kicked off its 2019 #PackCamp with a spirited two-hour workout Friday morning.
"It was good energy," said head coach Dave Doeren. "You see the guys that have experience playing like you expect them to. There were a lot of good attitudes, and now we have a lot of good film to watch.
"Everybody wants to be better then they were last year as a football team. We just need to keep seeing improvement each day, and we have enough talent to do that."
Coming off back-to-back nine win seasons for the first time since the 1991 and 1992 campaigns, the Wolfpack must replace 12 starters, including seven on offense.
"It is a youthful roster full of really good freshmen and sophomores," said Doeren, who is entering his seventh year at the helm of the Pack. "We need to develop those players, and we need some 18-year olds to play like they are 20 this year."
Much of the attention, from both fans and media, will be on the battle for the starting quarterback role with Matthew McKay, Devin Leary and Bailey Hockman all competing for snaps.
"Matthew (McKay) is comfortable out there, he was comfortable last year," said Doeren. "We have a lot of reps we need to get. There is a long way to go."
Those three will be competing over the next few weeks to replace three-year starter Ryan Finley, last year's first-team All-ACC QB.
"Whoever plays quarterback is not going to be Ryan as a sixth-year senior. You can't duplicate that as a first-year starter," Doeren continued. "But that doesn't mean they can't have a really successful season."
Aside from the QB battle, Doeren noted there is strong competition along the offensive line with both veterans and youngsters vying to make up the starting five.
"We are going to see who are best five are," he said. "Whether that is Joe (Sculthorpe) at center or Joe at guard with Grant (Gibson) at center. That will play itself out."
"(At left tackle) Tyrone (Riley) and (Emmanuel) McGirt also needs to be played out."
Entering his seventh season at NC State, nothing beats the excitement of the first practice for Doeren.
"It's just fun to be back on the grass with the guys and feeling their chemistry, and helping them improve.
"It was a good day."
RALEIGH, N.C. – For months, everybody around NC State's Murphy Center was looking forward to the calendar turning to August.
Even with the majority of the team here throughout the summer, there is just a different feeling of excitement when the players strap on the helmets and hit the practice field for the first time.
NC State officially kicked off its 2019 #PackCamp with a spirited two-hour workout Friday morning.
"It was good energy," said head coach Dave Doeren. "You see the guys that have experience playing like you expect them to. There were a lot of good attitudes, and now we have a lot of good film to watch.
"Everybody wants to be better then they were last year as a football team. We just need to keep seeing improvement each day, and we have enough talent to do that."
Practice 1 ✔️#PackCamp pic.twitter.com/tgI4JrHCLk
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) August 2, 2019
Coming off back-to-back nine win seasons for the first time since the 1991 and 1992 campaigns, the Wolfpack must replace 12 starters, including seven on offense.
"It is a youthful roster full of really good freshmen and sophomores," said Doeren, who is entering his seventh year at the helm of the Pack. "We need to develop those players, and we need some 18-year olds to play like they are 20 this year."
Much of the attention, from both fans and media, will be on the battle for the starting quarterback role with Matthew McKay, Devin Leary and Bailey Hockman all competing for snaps.
"Matthew (McKay) is comfortable out there, he was comfortable last year," said Doeren. "We have a lot of reps we need to get. There is a long way to go."
Those three will be competing over the next few weeks to replace three-year starter Ryan Finley, last year's first-team All-ACC QB.
"Whoever plays quarterback is not going to be Ryan as a sixth-year senior. You can't duplicate that as a first-year starter," Doeren continued. "But that doesn't mean they can't have a really successful season."
Aside from the QB battle, Doeren noted there is strong competition along the offensive line with both veterans and youngsters vying to make up the starting five.
"We are going to see who are best five are," he said. "Whether that is Joe (Sculthorpe) at center or Joe at guard with Grant (Gibson) at center. That will play itself out."
"(At left tackle) Tyrone (Riley) and (Emmanuel) McGirt also needs to be played out."
Entering his seventh season at NC State, nothing beats the excitement of the first practice for Doeren.
"It's just fun to be back on the grass with the guys and feeling their chemistry, and helping them improve.
"It was a good day."
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