State Picked #38 By Rivals In Their 120 Countdown

I'm late to the party on this one, so you've no doubt already read it...but just in case.

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2009 Football Helmet Schedule, Courtesy 850 The Buzz

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Here's a PDF link, as well.

Thanks to Joe for putting this together.

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James Henderson Of PackPride.com Talks Recruiting With Jim Young Of ACCSports.com

ACCSports.com link

Some highlights from the conversation:

ACCSports.com:
There’s been plenty of angst about the news that Lorenzo Brown will be attending prep school instead of N.C. State next season. In your mind, how big of a loss is that for the Wolfpack?

Henderson:
I think it’s a big loss on paper and in the minds of fans and media outlets, but the truth is no one knows just how much Brown would have been able to contribute as a true freshman.

...

ACCSports.com:
Are fans on your site placing the blame for the Brown situation on Lowe, or are they arguing that now Lowe should definitely be given a fifth season so that he can bring in Brown and Ryan Harrow in the Class of 2010?

Henderson:
The details on Brown’s situation are so unclear right now that I don’t think anyone really knows who to place the blame on. In my opinion, it’s hard to place the blame on Sidney Lowe when he’s a basketball coach at N.C. State and doesn’t deal in academics at Brown’s school, Centennial High. That’s a situation that Brown, Centennial and the NCAA Clearinghouse have control over… not Sidney Lowe.

...

ACCSports.com:
I remember you were very high on Robert Crisp during his junior season. Now that he has committed to N.C. State, what is it about Crisp that you like so much?

Henderson:
The overall package of tools he brings to the table. In my opinion, as an offensive line prospect, it doesn’t get much better than Rob Crisp. At 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, he has long arms, outstanding feet, and an abundance of natural athleticism. He has a tremendous upside and is extremely coachable. I’ve been saying it since last year when I saw him at the Adidas Camp that I think he’s arguably the top pure prospect in the state I’ve seen since Mario Williams, but that’s just my opinion. He has a bright future if he can stay on the right path and avoid injuries.

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More Use Of The Terms "Underrated" And "State" In The Same Sentence

Per Rivals.com, State could be one of the more underrated teams in the country:

• N.C. State: Few – if any – would give North Carolina State a chance in the ACC's Atlantic Division race, but counting out the Wolfpack would be a mistake. Sophomore Russell Wilson is the conference's premier quarterback, and NC State can't be overlooked as long as he's healthy. He threw 17 touchdown passes and only one interception last season, and he rallied the Wolfpack to a four-game winning streak to close the regular season. That included wins over Wake Forest, North Carolina and Miami. The defense has to improve, but seven starters return, including end Willie Young. NCSU has made steady progress in two seasons under coach Tom O'Brien, and a significant leap could come in his third year. The Wolfpack probably won't show up on any preseason top-25 lists, but if Wilson stays healthy and the defense makes progress, they have a chance to break into the rankings.

If you're like me, you witnessed the injury bug bite the Pack last season and saw the luck State's overall athletics program had had this summer, so you're probably a bit wary at this point of too many more writers hopping on the "underrated" bandwagon.

I'd rather see State continue to float beneath the radar for a while longer, see what the prognosis is for Nate Irving, see how the team looks in fall practice and then start talking about reasonable expectations for the coming season.

But stuff like this -- positive press nationally -- is ultimately a good thing from an exposure standpoint, so we'll take it.

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Russell Wilson "Underrated" According To CBSSports.com

More positive press for Russell to hopefully live up to:

Underrated -- Russell Wilson, N.C. State: I wanted to put down Robert Griffin here, but I think buzz has grown around him, so I'm going in a different direction. Sure, a lot of fans know about Wilson, but I just want to remind people how good this guy looks. How about that 17-to-1 TD/INT ratio as a true freshman? He's a playmaker, flat out, and can deliver with his arm, legs or whatever is needed. It will be fun to watch Wilson, Griffin and Pryor develop as they are all kind of similar players from the same class.

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