NC State football countdown to kickoff: 3
The NC State football season opener for 2022 is at East Carolina on Sept. 3 — or 3 days away from Tuesday. The Wolfpacker continues its countdown for the season with notes about the number 3.
Subscribe to The Wolfpacker today for a limited-time $1 deal for a year of premium access
3: Significant notes involving the number 3 in NC State football history
• Two prominent players on the NC State football roster wear No. 3.
On offense, fourth-year junior Jordan Houston is expected to be the primary running back after patiently waiting his turn behind Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person Jr. the past two seasons. Knight is now with the New York Jets, and Person decided to forego his final year of college eligibility.
Houston rushed for 526 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry in 2019, filling in as a true freshman while Person was injured for much of the season. Now the one-time Maryland commit is atop the depth chart on offense for the running back position.
• NC State football defensive coordinator Tony Gibson once told The Wolfpacker that cornerback Aydan White has immense potential.
The third-year sophomore was not a heralded pickup at the time of his commitment to NC State, choosing the Wolfpack over an offer from Wake Forest. However, the former track star at Christ School in Asheville, N.C., quickly impressed at NC State, even garnering a start in his rookie year in 2020. White most notably made a crucial interception in a win over Liberty, handing the Flames their only loss that season.
Last year, White started twice and played in 10 games while having 11 tackles, five pass breakups and a pick. Despite returning starters Derrek Pitts Jr. and Shyheim Battle, White is listed as a co-starter with each corner on the NC State defensive depth chart.
• The No. 3 has been a good one in recent decades for receivers for NC State football.
Koren Robinson made the number famous in 1999 and 2000. In his final season in Raleigh, Robinson caught 62 passes for 1,061 yards and 13 touchdowns and was named a second-team All-American by Football News and third team by the Associated Press.
Robinson’s 9 100-yard receiving games in 2000 is the most in a season at NC State. His scoring catches total was second highest in a year for the Pack. Robinson also holds the school mark for receiving yards per game with 87.0.
Robinson also holds the record at NC State for receiving yards by a freshman and sophomore and receptions by a rookie.
That helped Robinson become a first-round draft choice of the Seattle Seahawks in 2001.
• In 2018, Kelvin Harmon, who also wore No. 3, led the ACC in receiving yards with 1,186 after hauling in 81 passes. Harmon, who turned pro after his junior season, is fifth all-time at NC State in receptions with 177, fourth in receiving yards with 2,665 and holds the school mark for catches per game with 5.1.
Harmon was a two-time All-ACC selection. He turned pro after his junior season and was drafted by Washington.
