Scout Ranks NC State RB’s #3 in ACC

Today Scout released their Preseason ACC Running Back Rankings. The Wolfpack backfield was ranked number three behind Pitt and Florida St. Here is what Jamie Newberg had to say about NC State:

The Wolfpack have a talented group of running backs in Raleigh. N.C. State is led by senior Shadrach Thornton. This 6-foot-1, 218-pounder rushed for 907 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014. Matt Dayes is a junior that rushed for 573 yards and eight touchdowns last season. These are two very good and underrated running backs with a ton of experience.

True freshman Reggie Gallaspy enrolled early and had an impressive spring. In their Kay Yow spring game he rushed for 131 yards. Sophomore Jaylen Samuels will get some touches as well. Two more talented backs are on their way with incoming freshman Johnny Frasier and Nyheim Hines. Even quarterback Jacoby Brissett got into the act, rushing for 529 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. (Scout)

I have no qualms with Pitt holding the #1 spot.  James Conner is on a different level, rushing for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2014 and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. True freshman true freshman Chris James was also impressive last year, rushing for 437 yards and 4 touchdowns. But I may get accused for having rose-colored sunglasses for this, but I don’t see how you rank FSU ahead of NC State. I’m taking nothing away from Dalvin Cook. He had a great freshman campaign rushing for 1,008 yards and eight scores…but this isn’t a ranking of individual running backs, but of all of a teams running backS. With that being said, I think Newberg sees the Wolfpack having one of the best arsenals of running backs in the ACC, and I would have to agree.