The Wolfpacker

July 2018

The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports

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JULY 2018 ■ 113 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018 Offensive Newcomer To Watch RICKY PERSON JR., FR., RB One of the benefits of playing at Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High School for NC State freshman run- ning back Ricky Person Jr. is that he was surrounded by an NFL coaching staff. Head coach Dewayne Washington and assistant coaches Willie Parker and Torry Holt all have extensive NFL backgrounds, and assistant athletics director Charles Johnson also played in the league. Naturally, Person tried to take advantage of the connections. Washington, who resigned as Heritage's coach following last season, was by Person's side when his star accepted his U.S. Army All-American Game jersey last fall, shortly before Person enrolled early at NC State, and watched as Person fielded questions from a large group of media. "I had questions every day about [playing in college] — how practice was and how everything was supposed to be," Person said that day. "He said every day is like this with all the media, so it's something I got to get used to." Washington knows Person's best football is ahead of him, and Washington knows a thing or two about playing for the Pack. He was a star cornerback for NC State and went on to be the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft. The Durham native played for four teams in the league from 1994-2005. Washington played an objective role in Person's recruitment, but he did give some words of advice once he learned his athlete had picked his alma mater. "He's a great kid and a great person," Washington added. "He is a family guy and loves his family. He's a natural leader in his own way. He leads by his actions." Person had a stellar senior season, rushing 262 times for 2,230 yards and 38 touchdowns while also catching 21 passes for 279 yards and three scores. At No. 85 overall in the Rivals.com national rankings, the star rusher became the Pack's highest-ranked signee since 2014 (No. 43 Kentavius Street) and the top running back to ink with the program since 2005 (No. 39 Toney Baker). However, he did not work much in the spring for NC State after having wrist surgery. "He got some mental work and was able to do some of the things in practice," running backs coach Des Kitchings noted. "We were just very cautious with the wrist and just making sure there is no setback with that." A fully healthy Person though should be quick to make an impact. "He is the epitome of an athlete and the kind of guy you love to have on the team," Washing- ton said. "He can help you in so many ways. Whatever he'll be at State [position-wise], they'll be glad to have him. He's truly a football player. He is going to make plays where he plays." Defensive Newcomer To Watch ALIM MCNEILL, FR., DT Ben Kolstad has been a veteran high school football coach in the Raleigh area dating back to the days of coaching former Wake Forest running back star Josh Adams at Cary (N.C.) High in the class of 2005. Last year, he had two players on his team at Raleigh Sanderson High sign with NC State in running back Trent Pennix and defensive lineman Alim McNeill. McNeill in particular was highly touted, rated as a four-star talent and the No. 249 overall prospect in the country by Rivals.com. Kolstad thinks that NC State is getting a premier athlete in McNeill. "Probably one of the best I've ever coached, just in terms of his physicality, his focus," Kolstad said. "He's a great athlete. What makes him great is his work ethic. Josh Adams had the same kind of work ethic, but Alim is the total package. "He's just young and he's going to keep improving." Kolstad said that McNeill "could play anywhere on the field" he was needed at Sander- son, but he suspects that his future at NC State is almost certain to be on the defensive line. "I can't see him not getting big," Kolstad said. "He's not going to keep the weight off when he keeps growing, but he's such a great athlete he'll be a good defensive lineman." Indeed, NC State is looking to reload on the defensive front after losing four seniors that were all selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. Position coach Kevin Patrick is looking forward to figuring out McNeill's best role. "Alim is kind of an anomaly," Patrick said. "I am going to start Alim inside, but you never know. He's got that flexibility to play anywhere in the front, but he's also got the size to play inside. Right off the bat you sense a high, great football IQ out of him for a young guy. I think he'll be capable to handle that." McNeill is also proving to be an ambitious freshman. The 6-2, 272-pounder wants to quickly be a part of that rebuild on the defensive line, and he also already has a goal in mind. "I want to play my freshman year, and I would love to start," McNeill said. "I think about [Bradley] Chubb's sack record every day," he continued. "I'm thinking about break- ing that. I want to go out with the same energy he has." Person racked up 2,230 yards and 38 touch- downs on the ground during his senior cam- paign at Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM McNeill notched 60 total stops, 18 tack- les for loss and five sacks as a senior at Raleigh Sanderson High, and earned a spot in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM

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