Rob Bradley
Three and a half months after defeating South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, N.C. State began its 2006 season Tuesday with spring drills in Raleigh.
Coach Chuck Amato announced that junior Darrell Blackman will move from running back, where he was a Parade All-American in high school, to wide receiver. Blackman was fifth on the team last year with 151 yards receiving.
Redshirt junior Marcus Stone, who was 5-1 as a starter in 2005, enters the season as the number one signal caller, with redshirt sophomore Daniel Evans as his backup.
Redshirt senior Leroy Harris, who has 32 career starts, the most by any current Wolfpack player, will anchor an offensive line that welcomes new starters Kalani Heppe and Jon Holt. Redshirt senior James Newby and sophomore Curtis Crouch will return to their respective left tackle and right guard positions.
On defense, redshirt senior John Amanchukwu, redshirt junior Littleton Wright and redshirt freshmen Willie Young and Quentin Brown will look to replace former defensive ends Manny Lawson and Mario Williams. Amanchukwu and Young are the initial starters this season.
The team’s annual Red – White game will be April 8 at 4 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium.