Spring Practice Preview: NC State

FSU plays NC State on October 6 in Tallahassee. This should be an interesting game in that this will be Chuck Amato's old team and he may want to exact some revenge. Here is a spring preview of NC State:

Top returner- WR Darrell Blackman. He had a solid season with 27 catches for 358 yards, but should make a bigger contribution in 2007. He's also dangerous on punt returns.

Player on the verge- DE Willie Young. The former three-star recruit posted 44 tackles - five for losses – as a sophomore and is expected to be significantly more productive this season. New defensive line coach Keith Willis compares Young with former All-American defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka, whom he coached at Boston College. Though 6-5 and 230 pounds, Young placed fourth in the high jump in his high school state track meet.

Impact newcomer- DT Gavin Smith. The 6-5, 280-pound former three-star recruit sat out a redshirt season last year. The Wolfpack is hopeful his presence will help improve a run defense which allowed 150.5 yards per game.

The big question- Who will emerge as the starting quarterback? Neither Marcus Stone nor Daniel Evans distinguished himself last year as each threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Justin Burke, who passed for 3,789 yards and 62 touchdowns as a high school senior, and Harrison Beck, a transfer from Nebraska who was rated the nation's No. 3 pro-style quarterback in 2005 by Rivals.com, will challenge for the starting job. NC State ranked 81st nationally in pass offense and 109th in passing efficiency during last season's 3-9 ordeal.

Spring Practice Begins: March 14

Spring Game: April 14