Entering the season, the NC State football team lost three of its top-five wide receivers from last year, leaving plenty of questions at the seemingly depleted position. However, junior Jumichael Ramos has silenced those questions with stellar play early in the season.
During the offseason, wide receivers Bo Hines, who led the team with 45 receptions for 616 yards and a touchdown, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling transferred to other schools, while Bryan Underwood graduated. However, when his name was called upon, Ramos was ready to fill the void left by those three players.
“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Ramos said. “I felt like I needed to step up and be a role model, be the guy who the team can rely on. I have stepped up and become a leader now, showing guys how to do things correctly so they can play for future success.”
Ramos currently leads the Pack with 13 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown, putting him on pace to best Hines’ total from last season. He is confident in his performance and what he has to offer.
“It’s going pretty smooth,” Ramos said. “Right now, I’m just trying to make all the plays I can to make this team better and put us in a position to win.”
Ramos showed promise his freshman year, totaling 24 catches for 352 yards and three touchdowns, with nearly half the production coming in the final three games, highlighted by a five-catch, one-touchdown performance against Boston College.
However, he tallied just one catch for seven yards last season as he struggled to get on the field. After considering to transfer, Ramos has put that behind him and worked to be a consistent force at the wide receiver position.
“I have just focused more on having fun,” Ramos said. “I ask myself ‘What can I do better?’ while fighting fatigue and being positive about every situation. That was the biggest step I took to improve this season.”
The 6-foot-2 Lovejoy, Georgia native portrays a prototypical possession receiver. He isn’t going to blow anyone out of the water with speed or measurables. However, he has great hands, and he is a solid route runner who does a good job separating himself from defenders. He also has an excellent work ethic, according to multiple members of the coaching staff.
“He’s working at a high level every day at practice, which you see in the results on Saturday,” wide receivers coach George McDonald said. “He does a really good job of adjusting to the ball down the field and making contested catches in traffic. We want to get better every game and work on being more consistent as a group.”
Ramos’ skill set makes him a primary target for quarterback Jacoby Brissett, as he doesn’t always look for the risky highlight-reel-type plays, but the reliable plays that will move the chains on critical third-down conversions and keep the drive alive. Ramos also credits Brissett for some of his early season success.
“He’s great; he puts the ball right where you need it to be,” Ramos said. “We have great chemistry, and he’s very accurate. We make sure to communicate where we want the ball to be so we can make the play.”
Ramos added that consistency is a key part of his game.
“I have to be the same guy day-in and day-out and make the critical plays,” Ramos said. “I want [Brissett] to know that I am the guy he can rely on in third-and-long situations, and when he needs someone to step up, he can count on me.”
Ramos’ presence on the field has been huge for the Wolfpack. The establishment of the go-to wideout is important for every offense, and it will be vital for the team as ACC play nears and games become more and more important.
