PFF: NC State’s Top 5 Graded Returning Offensive Players

Before the 2020 NC State college football season commences, here’s a look at the Wolfpack’s Top-5 highest graded returning offensive players from last season according to ProFootballFocus.

1. Sophomore Left Tackle Ikem Ekwonu (80.5) – Ickey was NC State’s highest graded player in 2019 on either side of the ball, with a grade of 80.5. That grade ranked 3rd in the ACC amongst Guards. His grade of 85.0 on Run Blocking ranked 16th nationally, and 2nd in the conference. The True Freshman earned 2nd Team All-ACC honors from PFF, and was named to their Freshman All-American Team.
2. Redshirt Senior Left Guard Joe Sculthorpe (72.0) – Sculthorpe stands beside Ekwonu filling out the solid left side of the Wolfpack Offensive Line, recording a grade of 72.0 in 2019, which was slightly down from the year before (73.8). Sculthorpe actually improved in pass blocking in 2019, improving his grade from 63.7 to 67.5. Really, the area that docked his grade down a notch in 2019 were his 7 penalties, compared to only 2 the year before. Sculthorpe’s overall grade ranked 8th in the ACC amongst Guards, and his 77.0 grade on Run Blocking ranked 3rd.
3. Junior Running Back Ricky Person (71.5) – Person battled injuries in 2019, playing in only 7 games, but when he was on the field, he graded out well, with an overall grade of 71.5, which was up from his Freshman season (67.8). Person actually improved in every area except a drop in his grade on passing plays, dropping from 75.3 to 66.2.
4. Redshirt Junior Center Grant Gibson (68.9) – After arriving in Raleigh as a Defensive Tackle (earning Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year during his Redshirt year), he was then moved to Offensive Guard, and found a good landing spot at Center last year, earning an overall grade of 68.9, with Run Blocking as his strong suit (73.0). To put this in perspective, Gibson was the 3rd best Center in the ACC according to PFF in his first year at the position, and ranked 1st in Run Blocking.
5. Sophomore Running Back Jordan Houston (66.9) – If Houston would have been graded on his rushing ability alone (69.2), his overall score would have been higher. He struggled in pass blocking (46.0) and run blocking (38.0). With that being said, Houston proved to be one of the most elusive backs in the ACC in his first year in Raleigh, ranking 9th in Elusive Rating ((Missed Tackles Forced) / (Designed Run Attempts + Receptions) * (Yards After Contact Per Attempt * 100)). In his 115 touches, he avoided 29 tackles.

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