Yesterday NC State dismissed Senior Running Back Shadrach Thornton.  What does the absence of Thornton mean for the NC State running game?

A rose-colored glasses view of the loss of Thornton can lead you to believe that his absence isn’t that big of a deal.  Junior Matt Dayes has been outstanding thus far in 2015, and Freshman Reggie Gallaspy was a 4-star recruit that has been solid in the sample size that we have seen him in.  Sophomore Dawka Nichols has also shown that he can be explosive and run hard.

Here’s reality.  The loss of Shadrach Thornton is a major blow to the Wolfpack running attack.  With Thornton and Dayes as a tandem, NC State entered every game with a chance for either of them to run for 100-yards, or for both of them to do so.  They both had different running styles, and this kept opposing defenses on their toes.  Matt Dayes is an elite talent, but the threat of Shad made him that much more effective against his opponents.  NC State lost an All-ACC performer in Thornton, and that is a major loss.  Period.

Here’s the other reality.  NC State is in really good hands.  At many schools, the loss of a player with Thornton’s talent would derail the team offensively.  That won’t happen to the Wolfpack.  Junior Matt Dayes currently ranks 1st in the FBS in rushing touchdowns (9) and 17th in rushing yards (454).  Even if Thornton wouldn’t have been dismissed, at the end of the year I think you would have seen Dayes earning All-ACC honors instead.  He is finally showing everyone what he is capable of when he gets the opportunities, and I don’t think we’ve seen it all yet.

Reggie Gallaspy currently still sits on the depth chart as the third option at running back, but I think it might only be a matter of time before that changes on paper.  The flip has already happened on the field.  Gallaspy has 27 carries compared to Dawka Nichols’ 11.  The Freshman reminds me a lot of Thornton.  He runs aggressively through the gaps and doesn’t mind taking bodies with him.  He possesses the physicality of Thornton, and might actually be faster.  It takes time for a young player to gain the confidence for his ‘actual’ speed to become his ‘game’ speed, and I don’t even think we have seen that take place yet for him.  Gallaspy always runs with his pads ahead of his hips, creating the opportunity for 4-yard gains in a no gain situation.  Is Gallaspy able to step in and replace Thornton?  No.  Thornton is a Senior and Gallaspy is a Freshman.  Does Gallaspy have the skill set to be as good as Thornton?  I think so in time.

What should we expect from now on?

Before Thornton’s return, Matt Dayes rushed the ball 24 times against both Troy and Eastern Kentucky.  Expect Dayes’ carries to bump back up to this number, or jump even higher.  In both of those games NC State had such a cushion that they were able to get their second and third string backs the ball.  From here on out, that might not be the case.  NC State will have to rely even more on Dayes than before.  I also expect to see Reggie Gallaspy’s work load increase.  Don’t expect them to split carries 50/50 like Dayes and Thornton, but expect an increase nonetheless.

Will they burn Freshman Johnny Frasier’s redshirt?

Johnny Frasier is one of the most highly touted recruits to commit to NC State in decades.  Scout ranked him as the #53 overall player in the 2015 recruiting class.  I seriously doubt that the NC State coaches will burn Johnny Frasier’s redshirt.  He has already missed the first four games of the season and he has also been battling an ankle injury recently.  Gallaspy and Nichols are fully capable of carrying back-up responsibilities for the Wolfpack.  If one of them gets hurt, then this becomes a different conversation.