WRAL Sports Fan

Where ACC football needs help, chat with O'Brien

By Tim Hall
May 28, 2009

Tags: ACC, College Football, N.C. State

Recently ESPN.com's Heather Dinich did a breakdown of the one position each ACC school needs the most help at.  I give her credit for doing so because some of these schools it's hard to boil it down to one position.

N.C. State football might have been the butt of so many jokes the last few years but they suddenly don't look that bad.  Dinich pegged the safety position as the one that will pose the biggest issues this Fall.  Javon Walker missed the spring with a torn ACL.  Clem Johnson came back from an injured jaw last year and gave some help at the position.  Two redshirt sophomores in Justin Byers and Jimmaul Simmons should continue to see time as well.

I wonder about the cornerback position for N.C. State's defense and who will play the other side of DeAndre Morgan.  Last year's starter Jeremy Gray is no longer here.  That gives a chance for former walk-on Koyal George to prove himself.  A number of redshirt freshmen in Akeem Cunningham, Gary Grant, and C.J. Wilson will also fight for a spot.

Duke's main issue according to Dinich is the offensive line.  A place where the Blue Devils lost three starters from last season.  North Carolina needs most help at the wide receiver position.  Brandon Tate, Hakeem Nicks, and Brooks Foster all were selected in the NFL draft.  That will be tough to replace.

Tom O'Brien chat:

If you have any of your own questions about positions for the N.C. State Wolfpack, head coach Tom O'Brien will be available at GoPack.com to answer your questions.

The on-line chat starts Monday at 4 p.m.