Football Preview: Shad Has A Chance To Leave His Mark

Senior Wolfpack running back Shadrach Thornton will enter the 2015 football season with the opportunity to become one of the most successful running backs in the history of the program.

Last season, Thornton was on the cusp of being the 11th player in NC State history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season, rushing for 907 yards on 164 attempts. With three starting offensive linemen returning, and the possibility of a more expanded passing attack with a more seasoned Jacoby Brissett, those missing 93 yards look completely doable for Shad.

Shad comes into the 2015 season with 2,369 rushing yards in his career, which already ranks 10th in NC State history.  If he were to match his rushing yardage from last year, he would finish his career ranked 4th in career rushing yards. Through three seasons and 483 rushing attempts, his impressive 4.9 yards per attempt ranks 9th. Thornton’s 16 rushing touchdowns through three seasons already ranks 12th. He has crossed the coveted century mark 8 times in three seasons, which ranks 8th.  

If the final three games of last season are any indicator of the type of season that we can expect out of Thornton this year, then State fans can expect for him to continue to shake up the record books, and lead the Wolfpack to contend at a high level in he ACC this season. In those games, Shad averaged 122 yards per game (161, 110, 96) and averaged 6.0 yards per carry.