NC State football spring game: Five developments to watch

NC State football will be holding its annual spring game this Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Here are five things to watch for during the scrimmage.

Who is at left tackle for NC State football?

At the end of the month, former left tackle Ikem Ekwonu will likely be hearing his name called among the first five picks of the NFL Draft. Ekwonu met with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold the first selection, on Monday.

Last week, NC State head coach Dave Doeren noted that if the season were starting tomorrow that the starter would likely be one of super senior Bryson Speas, redshirt sophomore Anthony Belton and fourth-year redshirt sophomore Timothy McKay.

While NC State is still holding out hope for potentially finding an additional option from the transfer portal, odds are that the Wolfpack will be working with the same group come fall. Thus, Saturday may provide the first hints of how the pecking order to replace Ekwonu is shaping up.

The New Outside Receiver

The spring game also could be the first hint at how NC State plans to replace all-time leading receiver Emeka Emezie.

There are a few potential options. NC State could move super senior Thayer Thomas from slot to outside receiver and promote third-year sophomore Porter Rooks to first string in Thomas’ old spot.

Rooks has 47 receptions for 574 yards in his first two seasons at NC State, and there were times in 2021 where Doeren openly stated Rooks deserved more snaps.

Another possibility is recent Maryland transfer addition Darryl Jones, another super senior. While Jones is undergoing a crash course on the NC State offense, he does have experience working with Wolfpack receivers coach Joker Phillips. Phillips was Jones’ positional coach at Maryland for two years.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Jones hauled in 23 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns last season at Maryland.

A wildcard could be third-year sophomore Anthony Smith, whom Doeren praised during last week’s media availability. The speedy 6-2, 190-pound Smith may have as much athletic upside as anyone in the receiving corps. In his first two seasons, Smith has made nine catches for 166 yards and two scores.

A NC State Football Health Report For Defense

The list of players on defense who were out with injuries at the end of last season was long. Among the notables:

• Defensive end Savion Jackson

• Nose tackle C.J. Clark

• Linebacker Isaiah Moore

• Linebacker Payton Wilson

• Nickel Tyler Baker-Williams

• Safety Cyrus Fagan

• Safety Devan Boykin

All seven of those defenders started at one point during the 2021 season. Furthermore, third-year redshirt sophomore cornerback Cecil Powell, expected to be a potential starter, missed all of last season with an undisclosed injury.

How many of those guys will be on the field for the spring game? Fagan, who spoke with the media last week, seems like a given to be back. Boykin and Jackson might be two more that could take the field Saturday, but the others on this list are more questionable.

Who Will Carry The Football?

Based on comments from Doeren last week, three running backs may be taking the lead to replace the duo of Zonovan Knight and Ricky Person Jr., who both left school early in the hopes of hearing their names called in the NFL Draft.

Fourth-year junior Jordan Houston is the leader to become the feature back in their place. Doeren mentioned third-year redshirt sophomore Delbert Mimms III and sophomore Demie Sumo-Karngbaye as two more names to watch.

How those players look and what kind of rotation will be used will be something to follow Saturday.

How Does The Backup Quarterback Look?

NC State learned in 2020 that it is one play away from going to plan B at quarterback. While fifth-year redshirt junior Devin Leary understandably has high expectations going into next season, the development of third-year redshirt freshman Ben Finley is important, especially after redshirt freshman Aaron McLaughlin transferred to Jacksonville State.

Doeren praised Finley for being in a better spot mentally.

“Night and day different from last spring with him,” Doeren said. “I think he’s got a really quick release, he’s very mobile.

“The process has slowed down for him mentally. He was almost self-defeating last year. He would have a bad play and it would carry with him. He’s learned how to go to the next play and just move on.”

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