In honor of Homecoming Week, Technician Sports will be recognizing the top five individuals who had the greatest impact as players in the 116-year history of N.C. State football.
# 1: Ted Brown
Without question the greatest running back in the history of N.C. State and probably the Atlantic Coast Conference, Ted Brown dominated the gridiron from 1975-1978.
As a freshman, Brown began seeing playing time in the fifth game of the season. After getting on the field, coach Lou Holtz could not keep him off. Brown would average 6.4 yards per carry rushing for 913 yards and 13 touchdowns that year, earning the ACC Freshman of the Year honors and leading the Wolfpack to the Peach Bowl, which it lost 13-10 against West Virginia.
A four-time All-ACC performer, the High Point, N.C. native would amass an ACC record 4,602 career rushing yards and 51 touchdowns in his four years. When he finished his career, he ranked fourth on the NCAA Division I all-time career rushing list behind only Tony Dorsett, Archie Griffin and Ed Marinaro.
Brown led the Wolfpack to three bowl games, highlighted by a 24-14 Peach Bowl victory over Iowa State in which he rushed for 114 yards. As a senior, Brown rushed for 1,350 yards earning consensus All-American honors as the Wolfpack went 9-3 finishing the season ranked No. 18 in the associated press poll.
He was drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings, where he would star for eight seasons accumulating 4,546 yards rushing and 53 touchdowns.
Top-5 Recap: 5.John Ripple 4.Roman Gabriel 3.Dick Christy 2.Philip Rivers 1.Ted Brown
Honorable Mention: Torry Holt, Jim Ritcher, Dennis Byrd, Bill Yoest, Levar Fisher
