NC State Return Game A Pleasant Surprise

NC State’s turnaround in the return game in 2015 has been remarkable.  Last season, the Wolfpack ranked last in punt return average (3.6) and second-to-last in kickoff return average (18.3).  What a difference a year can make.  Through 7 games NC State ranks 3rd in the ACC in both kickoff (26.5) and punt returns (15.8).  If the season were to end today, both of these numbers would be the second best in school history.  It would be the best production on punt return since the 1967 season.

Bra’Lon Cherry’s improvement has been a welcome surprise.  Last year he started the season as the Wolfpack’s featured punt returner, but eventually lost his job to Bo Hines.  When Nyheim Hines was handed the kick returning role, fans had high expectations after watching all of his high school highlight reels.  Hines is starting to warm up, and the more confident he gets, opposing kickoff coverages are going to have to watch out.

Cherry currently ranks 2nd in the ACC in punt return average (16.4), and Hines sits in the same spot in the ACC rankings in kickoff return average (27.4).