NC State Senior running back Shadrach Thornton was 93 yards shy of 1,000 yards rushing last season.  There are only 7 Wolfpack running backs in school history that crossed that barrier, and becoming the 8th isn’t an option for Thornton.  It has to happen.

“My expectation is nothing less than 1,000 yards.  Bottom line…I’ve got to get it.  I’ve had three years, and have come closer and closer,” said Thornton.  “This year is the year that I get it.  It’s one of the biggest goals that I have to obtain.  If I can do that, I know that I will help bring positive production to this offense.”

Thornton goes into his final season with 2,369 career rushing yards, which ranks 9th in NC State history.  He also ranks 12th in rushing touchdowns (16) and 8th in 100-yard rushing games (8).  If Shad simply duplicated his numbers from last year, he would finish in the Top 5 in NC State history in all three categories.

Last season Thornton averaged 12.6 carries a game.  He was the primary ball carrier, but the rest of his teammates averaged a combined 27 carries per game.  This season Thornton will once again split carries with Junior Matt Dayes, Senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and any of the athletic receivers that will get the ball handed to them in Jet packages.  Sophomore Dawka Nichols also returns, and he could be joined by true freshman Reggie Gallaspy and Johnny Frasier if the coaching staff chooses not to redshirt them.

Thornton’s goal of 1,000 yards seems doable, but due to the amount that the ball is distributed to other players, he will have to take advantage of every opportunity that he gets.

“You have to make the most of your carries.  Every play you have to try to score,” said Thornton. “Taking that mentality in, there ain’t no telling what could happen.”

One of the ways that a running back can increase his amount of carries is to prove that he is reliable on third down.  Last season Thornton converted 14 of his 17 3rd down opportunities, which was the best percentage of any running back in the nation.

“Third down means the world to me.  It gives our offense another opportunity to stay on the field.  I know if we can be efficient on third downs, it can put us in better positions to make plays.  The quarterback can take shots if your opponent knows that you’re not afraid to run it on third down.”

Whether it’s on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th down, Shadrach Thornton wants the ball in his hand.  He’s going to run like every carry is his last, and hopefully become the first NC State 1,000 yard rusher since T.A. McClendon did it in 2002.