There is a storm brewing in Raleigh, and it has nothing to do with the weather.
“Hurricane” Jamelle Eugene has been stirring up N.C. State’s offense in recent weeks. Eugene took over as the starting running back after Andre Brown suffered an injury during the Florida State game earlier this season.
During that game, the redshirt sophomore had a career day, rushing for 101 yards on 14 carries while catching five passes for another 30 yards.
Coach Tom O’Brien said he was not surprised with Eugene’s performance.
“He got his opportunity, and he made the most of it,” O’Brien said. “He has prepared and practiced hard. He’s just a guy that had to be patient and wait his turn.”
Prior to the start of the season, Eugene was listed third on the depth chart behind juniors Brown and Toney Baker. But with both former starters out for the season — Baker went down in the season opener with a knee injury — the Wolfpack must rely on Eugene to establish the running game for the remainder of the year.
“It’s exciting,” Eugene said. “I haven’t really been able to carry the load since high school, but I’ve always practiced hard and trained like I was going to be the man and be out there for 40 or 50 plays a game.”
As a standout at Naples High School in Florida, he led his team to a state championship during his senior season, while averaging more than 11 yards per carry. During his high school career, he played against his current roommate redshirt sophomore Ray Michel.
“Everybody is a star coming out of high school,” Michel said. “To get here and be third-string running back was hard for him.”
The pair attended rival high schools where Michel witnessed the beating of the “Hurricane” put on his defense. According to Eugene, it is a nickname he has had for a long time, and it has stuck with him over the years. Most recently, teammates have used it as a creative way to evaluate his performance.
“At the end of the game we give him a category,” Michel said. “It depends on his overall play. At the Florida State game we gave him a category five. He took the starting role; Andre got hurt, and he took it like a man and just ran with it.”
Among Eugene’s strengths is his ability to block, according to redshirt junior quarterback Daniel Evans. Eugene said this characteristic makes him a more versatile back.
O’Brien said his ability to pick up blitzing linebackers should help Evans and State’s passing game.
“We put him in on third-down situations early in the year because he was the best picking up the blitz,” O’Brien said. “He doesn’t have any problems stepping in there and blocking.”
In the Pack’s most recent game against Easts Carolina, Eugene helped Evans accumulate 335 passing yards, the most of his career.
According to running back coach Jason Swepson, Eugene should be able to lead the offense in the starting spot for the remainder of the season.
“He plays fast, he plays physical and he plays strong,” Swepson said. “He’s going to have success.”
Eugene said it was hard to wait his turn and feels he has the ability to make an impact.
“It’s always going to be tough on you when you want to play a lot, and you’re not getting those type of opportunities, whether you deserve them or not,” he said “I was anxious to get in the game, and now I have the chance.”
Michel said his roommate has not let the promotion go to his head and is handling the pressure associated with his starting role.
“He’s real humble about it,” Michel said. “He’s not letting the hype stuff get to him. He’s just being the same old Jamelle, aka ‘Hurricane.'”
By the Numbers — Jamelle Eugene
1 rushing touchdown1 receiving touchdown1 game started this season, against East Carolina3.9 yards per carry6 kick returns this season6.6 yards per catch17.9 receiving yards per game18 yards per kick return19 receptions34.9 rushing yards per game64 rush attempts108 kick return yards125 yards receiving244 rushing yards this season Source: NCSU Athletics
