I am going to be doing a preview of each position group leading up to NC State’s season opener against James Madison on September 1st, and today the running backs are up. Yesterday, I broke down the quarterbacks.

The Starter

Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren made it clear throughout Fall Camp that Senior Reggie Gallaspy (5’11″/235) is the starter. That’s not a matter of debate. The job is his.

Gallaspy has been in the shadow of Matt Dayes and Nyheim Hines the past couple of years, but now it’s his time to shine. Don’t think that Gallaspy is second rate simply because he didn’t beat out Dayes and Hines for a starting role. Both of them have been drafted, and are on NFL rosters.

He was a 4-star recruit out of Southern Guilford High School (Greensboro, NC), and led the state in rushing his Senior season, rushing 349 times for 3,318 yards and 52 touchdowns.

Through 3 seasons in Raleigh, Gallaspy has averaged 4.6 yards per carry, but I think that number will be higher with an increased workload. The most carries Gallaspy has every accumulated in a game is 14, and has averaged 7 per game over his career. Gallaspy is known for his physicality. He’s a bruiser, but also possesses breakaway speed as well. People forget, that during his Senior year in high school, he ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the Shrine Bowl Combine. With increased carries, and not getting stuck with the ball in his hands with a lead at the end of the game when the other team knows your running, he could average over 5 yards per carry in 2018.

NC State has had a running back rush for over 1,000 yards the past two seasons (Matt Dayes & Reggie Gallaspy). NC State hasn’t had an individual player rush for 1,000 yards in 3 consecutive seasons since Ted Brown did it all by himself  in 1796-78. In fact, that’s the only time its been done.

With the strength of NC State’s offensive line, and the opposing defense having to focus on the Wolfpack’s wide receivers, I think Gallaspy has a shot at 1,000 yards in 2018.

He also had 7 rushing touchdowns last year. Expect that number to be in double digits this year.

Who is #2?

Through all of Fall Camp, Doeren never said who would be getting the most carries behind Gallaspy. In fact, most recently he said they still had to figure that out.

At this point, I expect Redshirt Freshman Nakia Robinson (5’11″/191) to be listed as the #2 running back on the depth chart on Monday. Had Freshman Ricky Person (6’1″/210) been healthy all Fall Camp, this would be a different conversation. Person was dinged up throughout Fall Camp, and was only able to practice a couple of days in total. He’s practicing again, and played half of the day on Thursday. Robinson has also been on campus 6 months longer, and is slightly more familiar with the offense at this point.

Now if you’re asking me who is #2 on the depth chart at seasons end, I would go with Person, assuming he stays healthy. The only way that Person redshirts is if he is injured. He was the #2 running back in the nation, and #44 overall player last year according to 247Sports. Both Robinson and Person are shifty, have good vision, and explosive speed, but Person has more size, and is simply elite.

Nakia Robinson’s Senior Highlights

Ricky Person Senior Highlights

Could Trent Pennix Redshirt?

There was a lot of good buzz about Freshman Running Back Trent Pennix (6’2″/225) throughout Fall Camp. Doeren likes that he, like Person, has the ability to go out into the flats as a receiver and has good hands. In his Senior season at Sanderson, they wouldn’t just use him as a slot receiver, but would even flare him out wide. What makes that all the more impressive is that he is built more like Gallaspy. I think Pennix could contribute this year. It’s not a matter of his talent, but of necessity. If Robinson and Person stay healthy, I think Pennix redshirts.

Trent Pennix’s Senior Highlights

Will they be healthy?

At one point or another, Person, Robinson and Pennix have all been dinged up during Fall Camp. None of the injuries seem to be anything serious. They seem to be minor injuries, with the Wolfpack coaches being cautious.

The Bodine Impact

RS Senior Brady Bodine used to be a walk-on, but earned his scholarship prior to last season. Bodine is one of NC State’s best player on special teams, and also a veteran that the younger backs look up to along with Gallaspy.