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'Pack should get boost from Irving's return
By Steve Megargee
March 9, 2010
N.C. State will open spring practice without its most recognizable face on offense. The return of a familiar face on defense should make up for it.
After sitting out the 2008 season while recovering from a horrific car wreck that nearly took his life, linebacker Nate Irving is ready to take the field again.
Irving had 84 tackles and four interceptions two years ago despite missing nearly four full games with injuries. He headed into the 2009 season as an All-America candidate, but he didn't play a down because an Aug. 13 crash left him with a broken rib, punctured lung, separated shoulder and a fractured tibia and fibula.
He plans to participate in spring practice, and his return provides a huge boost to a young defense that loses all four starting linemen from last season.
Irving and the defense figure to garner much of the attention because N.C. State's offense will be operating without starting quarterback Russell Wilson, who is sitting out spring practice to play for the Wolfpack's baseball team.
Here's a rundown on the Wolfpack as they head into spring practice.
N.C. State should boast one of the ACC's top receiving units. Jarvis Williams caught 45 passes for 547 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and Owen Spencer had 30 receptions for 765 yards and six touchdowns. Williams topped the ACC in touchdown receptions and Spencer led the nation with his average of 25.5 yards per catch. The Wolfpack also return TE George Bryan, who caught 40 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns last season. NCSU also will have one of the ACC's top quarterbacks if Wilson returns for his junior year. Wilson will sit out spring practice while playing for N.C. State's baseball team, and he is eligible to get taken in this summer's baseball draft. If he is drafted early enough, Wilson conceivably could launch a pro baseball career instead of playing football this fall. Thus, developing depth at quarterback is vital this spring.
HELP IS NEEDED
The Wolfpack must break in four new starters on the defensive line and could struggle to find a replacement for E Willie Young, who recorded 20 sacks over the past three seasons. The Wolfpack finished in the middle of the ACC in run defense and sacks with a veteran front four last year; how well will they rush the passer and defend the run with four new starters? N.C. State's offensive line also is cause for concern. The Wolfpack have talented players on the line, but they return only two starters. One of the returning starters -- G R.J. Mattes -- will sit out spring practice as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
THREE GUYS TO WATCH
DE Michael Lemon: This fifth-year senior has persevered through tragedy and off-field problems during a career that has taken him from Georgia to Georgia Military College to N.C. State. The Wolfpack's inexperience on the defensive line this season gives Lemon a golden opportunity to crack the starting lineup in his final year of eligibility. Lemon had 19 tackles -- 2.5 for loss -- in a backup role last season.
DT J.R. Sweezy: Although Sweezy wasn't a starter in '09, he still had a productive season that included 26 overall tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. It would be a major surprise if he isn't in the starting lineup when the Wolfpack open their season.
RB Curtis Underwood: After serving as a backup in 2007 and '08, Underwood redshirted last season because the Wolfpack didn't want him to waste a year of eligibility while he remained behind Toney Baker and Jamelle Eugene on the depth chart. Now that Baker and Eugene have completed their college careers, Underwood has a legitimate chance to open the season as the Wolfpack's main running back.
THE PRESSURE IS ON
DE Audi Augustin: This fifth-year senior received offers from the likes of Florida, Michigan State and South Carolina out of high school in the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area. But he has struggled to earn playing time for NCSU. This marks Augustin's last chance to win a starting job, and he certainly has the opportunity as the Wolfpack look to replace both starting defensive ends. But he first must fight off challenges from junior Jeff Rieskamp and a host of other younger candidates.
THE BUZZ
Wilson's absence will allow N.C. State to get a closer look at Mike Glennon, the No. 3 pro-style quarterback prospect in the 2008 recruiting class. Glennon almost certainly would take over as the Wolfpack's starting quarterback if Wilson decides on pro baseball. On defense, the Wolfpack will try to figure out how to retool the front four while also seeing if Irving looks as though he can recapture his 2008 form. This also represents new linebacker coach Jon Tenuta's return to the ACC. Tenuta previously worked as defensive coordinator at North Carolina and Georgia Tech before spending the past two seasons on former Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis' staff. Although Notre Dame struggled mightily on defense last season, Georgia Tech ranked among the nation's top-30 defenses in total yards allowed, points allowed and rushing yards allowed in each of Tenuta's last five seasons with the Yellow Jackets.
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Utah looks to stay on winning track
By Tom Dienhart
March 9, 2010
Utah enjoyed great success in 2009 thanks to a strong mix of offense and defense. Utah answered big questions at quarterback, and also found a comparable replacement for star kicker Louis Sakoda in Joe Phillips.
Going into spring practice for this season, the offense looks to be in good shape but there are some holes to fill on defense.
Overall, though, Utah looks to be in good shape to continue the momentum the program has generated in recent seasons.
Here's a look at the Utes as they open spring ball.
POSITIONS OF STRENGTH
Utah will be strong on the offensive and defensive lines. The offensive line returns four starters, and G Caleb Schlauderaff and C Zane Taylor are all-league caliber. The offense will be in the capable hands of sophomore QB Jordan Wynn, who will be able to hand off to a talented corps of running backs that includes 1,000-yard rusher Eddie Wide (1,069 yards). A senior, Wide led the MWC with 12 rushing scores last season.
HELP IS NEEDED
The Utes will look to replace all three starting linebackers, two starting receivers and both starting safeties. And those who have departed were productive. Linebackers Stevenson Sylvester, Mike Wright and Kepa Gaison combined for 204 tackles last season. Safeties Robert Johnson and Joe Dale combined for 118 stops, and Johnson had six picks, too. Receivers Aiona Key and David Reed combined for 107 catches and six TD grabs.
THREE GUYS TO WATCH
DT James Aiono: Aiono, a former No. 1-ranked junior college player in the nation, originally signed with Utah in 2008. After getting his academics sorted out last season, Aiono will go through spring practice with the Utes and needs to show he was worth the wait.
CB Brandon Burton: Burton, a junior, started for the first time last season and impressed in leading the team in pass breakups with 10. Now, Burton is primed to break out in a secondary that needs playmakers.
QB Jordan Wynn: He didn't make his college debut until Oct. 31 last season. He started the last five games, capping the year by throwing for 338 yards and three touchdowns in a MVP performance in a win over Cal in the Poinsettia Bowl. If he progresses as planned this spring, he is a future star.
THE PRESSURE IS ON
G Walter Watts: Watts, a senior, started the season opener in 2009, then lost his job to redshirt freshman Tevita Stevens. Watts has road-grader potential, and he needs to show this spring that he can be a valuable contributor -- and maybe even a starter -- this fall. If he struggles, he could lose his spot on the depth chart to junior college transfer Ron Tongaonevai.
THE BUZZ
Kyle Whittingham has guided the Utes to a combined 23-3 record, including a 14-2 mark in the Mountain West, over the past two seasons. To keep things humming along, Whittingham and his defensive coaches need to find seven new starters this spring. Finding three new starting linebackers is the key. The pieces are in place for an explosive offense as long as someone emerges as a go-to receiver.
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