After resuming practice on March 5, the NC State football team now prepares itself for the 2015 Annual Kay Yow Spring Game set to kick off on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Before the scrimmage, a handful of pregame festivities will take place, beginning with the BBQ Bowl that will start Friday at 6 p.m. and will continue from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature music, activities for children, food trucks and former Wolfpack players serving as celebrity judges.
The parking lot will open at 8 a.m. Saturday to allow fans to arrive at Carter Finley early to tailgate. The stadium will open at 10:30 a.m. to allow fans to watch the second annual Wolfpack Football Classic Alumni Game, with over 60 former players signed up to participate. Former State stars and current Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and Philadelphia Eagles safety Earl Wolff will serve as honorary coaches for the game.
“It’s very exciting to see some of the former guys come back to interact with us and participate in the 7-on-7 game we have going now,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “We have one of the greatest group of former players that buys into coming back for an event.”
However, fans will likely be looking most forward to the highlighted event: the Spring Game that will scrimmage the red team against the white team. There will be plenty to look for, as the team won four of its last five games, including the Bitcoin Bowl against UCF, en route to an 8-5 (3-5 ACC) record in Doeren’s second season as head coach for the Wolfpack.
Fans will get a first look at the early enrollees from this year’s recruiting class as they take the field for the first time. Some of the new players will be competing for some newly opened positions left by the graduating seniors. For others this may be the only time they see the field this season if they are to be redshirted this year.
“It’s going to be great to celebrate some of the hard work in front of the fans; it’s been awhile since we’ve been able to do that,” Doeren said. “For some of the young players to get to play in the stadium in front of the fans is a great opportunity for them.”
Some of the young players Doeren mentions will benefit from the game are redshirt freshman quarterback Jalan McClendon and redshirt freshman placekicker Jackson Maples.
McClendon was a four star recruit out of high school who will likely compete for the starting quarterback position that will be vacated by redshirt senior Jacoby Brissett, who is set to graduate after this season. Maples will take over kicking duties for Niklas Sade, who was a mainstay at the position for the previous four years.
Last season, the team averaged a 408 yards per game of total offense, with a perfect balance of 204 yards passing and rushing. The team will look to keep this balance, starting with the running backs led by senior Shadrach Thornton and junior Matt Dayes. Freshman Reggie Gallaspy will look to make an impact on the field as well.
Another player that could get the ball in a variety of ways is sophomore tight end Jaylen Samuels, as he is a multi-threat offensive weapon who can also play fullback and running back
Brissett is looked at as the leader of the offense and is considered as a potential NFL prospect. Last year he finished with 2600 passing yards as well as another 530 yards on the ground. Entering his final season he will look to make a major impact on the field and improve his draft stock.
However, a string of injuries has hit the team early, as nine players are expected to miss the game and three more are questionable, according to the News and Observer. Most notably out are redshirt junior tight end David J. Grinnage, junior defensive tackle Monty Nelson and redshirt senior defensive end Mike Rose.
Junior wide receivers Bra’Lon Cherry and Jonathan Alston are questionable, leaving a position group that lost two of its top five leading receivers in Bo Hines and Marquez Valdes-Scantling from last season wide open for competition.
Admission to the game is free, but a donation is greatly appreciated, as proceeds go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. According to Pack Athletics, the Kay Yow Spring Game has raised more than $35,000 since its inception.
