Despite a torrential rainstorm, football returned to Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday with NC State’s 2018 Kay Yow Spring Game. While it’s important to remember the low stakes of a spring football exhibition, there were useful observations to take from the exhibition. Here are some takeaways from NC State’s 2018 Spring Game:
1. Kelvin Harmon primed for stellar junior season- The junior wideout, who racked up 1,017 yards and four touchdowns on 69 catches last season and showcased his ability to go up over defenders for tough catches, picked up where he left off from last season. Harmon hauled in a pass from graduate quarterback Ryan Finley on the first drive of the spring game, again going up for the catch and taking it 74 yards to the house for a touchdown, and finished the spring game with three catches for 92 yards and a score.
Look for the Palmyra, New Jersey native to build on last year’s breakout and be an even bigger focal point for the Pack’s offense this year with Jaylen Samuels in the NFL. Another big season could see Harmon’s name called in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
“I feel like there’s still a lot I can [improve on],” Harmon said. “I left a lot on the table last year. So this year I’m definitely going to try to make those plays and that’s what’s going to separate me from last year.”
2. NC State has one of the best receiving corps in the country for 2018- The Pack has arguably the deepest, most talented group of receivers in the ACC, and one of the best in the NCAA. In addition to Harmon, NC State returns speedy graduate Stephen Louis and redshirt junior slot man Jakobi Meyers, who made big strides last year, to bring back all three starters.
“I think it’s no doubt we have the best wide receiving corps in the ACC,” Finley said. “They all have their different strengths. Jakobi is kind of our guy, that man-to-man winner on third down, and obviously the big bodies of Kelvin and Steph. It’s such a blessing for me to be able to throw the ball to those guys.”
Despite the pouring rain on Saturday that makes mounting any kind of passing attack difficult, the receivers showed their ability, with Meyers in particular joining Harmon in making several big catches, hauling in three for 61 yards. In addition to the starting trio of Harmon, Louis and Meyers, NC State also brings back promising second years C.J. Riley and Emeka Emezie to add depth to its uber-talented starting trio.
“Our receiving corps, the depth we have there, the height, the talent, it’s fun to watch that group,” head coach Dave Doeren said.
3. Maurice Trowell: a starting cornerback? Barely a month after switching to corner from his position of wide receiver, the redshirt senior lined up at corner with the first-team defense during Saturday’s Spring Game. With Mike Stevens and Jonathan Alston graduated, the Pack needs to find a starter opposite junior Nick McCloud and the converted wideout seems to have the inside track so far, breaking up two passes on Saturday.
The Wolfpack has some experience with moving receivers to defensive back. Alston struggled in that situation last year, allowing several big plays in coverage, so it’s worth monitoring Trowell’s progress as he continues to learn his new position.
4. New-look defense- Defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable will bring in nine new starters on defense, with the Pack losing its entire front seven, headlined by likely top-five NFL draft pick Bradley Chubb and both cornerbacks to graduation. Safeties Jarius Morehead (redshirt junior) and Dexter Wright (redshirt junior) are NC State’s only regular defensive starters back from last season.
Senior defensive end Darian Roseboro takes Chubb’s place anchoring the defensive line. While he is not on the same level of the Wolfpack’s all-time sack leader, Roseboro is a very talented pass rusher, finishing with six tackles and two QB pressures in the Spring Game, and will get the chance what he can do as a starter this year after playing in a rotational role behind Chubb and Kentavius Street.
“I think I did well, but there’s still things I need to work on,” Roseboro said. “Being more consistent in my pass rush, which is something I think I’ve improved on in the spring is being able to put my moves together and being able to execute my rush plan.”
Redshirt senior Germaine Pratt headlines the linebacking corps, stepping in as a starter due to Jerod Fernandez and Airius Moore graduating. Pratt, made famous at NC State with a game-sealing pick six in last year’s Thursday night win over Louisville, in which he stiff-armed defending Heisman winner quarterback Lamar Jackson through the pylon, will look to make more big plays in 2018. He finished with two tackles for a loss in the Spring Game.
“It’s my job [to be a leader],” Pratt said. “It starts with the linebacking corps, I want to lead them, the young guys. And the defense, they feed off our energy so we need a leader, so I’m going to be the leader.”
In the secondary, Wright and Morehead both return at safety. McCloud, who played quite a bit last year, will step in as a starter, with Trowell currently slated to play alongside him at corner.
Redshirt junior running back Damontay Rhem rushes past defenders at the Kay Yow Spring Game on Saturday, April 7 at Carter-Finley Stadium. A native of Wendell, NC, Rhem played at UNC Pembroke before transferring to NC State.
