NC State football post-spring analysis: Running back
Now that spring practices are completed and the recent NCAA transfer portal window has closed, this is a good time to reevaluate where the NC State football position groups stand in the aftermath. TheWolfpacker.com continues with the running back group.
NC State football rundown: Running back
This was the first spring for NC State with Todd Goebbel coaching the running backs. Goebbel arrived at NC State in 2019 as the Wolfpack’s tight ends coach/special teams coordinator. However, after three seasons in that role, he shifts to running backs while maintaining his special teams responsibilities following the hire of new offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who doubles as a inside receivers/tight ends coach.
Otherwise, entering spring the names were largely the same at running back, with the one exception of adding talented early enrollee Kendrick Raphael. The one-time Iowa commitment graduated early from Naples (Fla.) High.
And if the spring game was any indication, the pecking order was fairly similar, with returning super senior Jordan Houston getting the first reps and sophomore Michael Allen and junior Demie Sumo-Karngbaye getting a good chunk of action with the Red Team, which was the starters and top reserves.
Post-spring positives
The depth is strong. Houston, Allen and fifth-year redshirt juniors Demarcus Jones II and Delbert Mimms III all have at least sufficient amounts of experience. Throw in Raphael, who made a positive first impression with the exception of some ball security issues in the NC State spring game, and Goebbel should have enough bodies to last a season.
Anae also seemed to find some positives in the position group. He used two backs in the offense on multiple occasions and targeted the runners frequently in the passing game during the scrimmage. That suggests that Anae, known for tailoring his offense around his playmakers, sees some potential in the NC State running backs room.
Post spring concerns
How much of that potential that Anae may have seen in the running backs was based on the Sumo-Karngbaye is unknown, but the surprising transfer of the junior was a blow to the NC State offense.
Of the running backs, Sumo-Karngbaye seemed to offer the most playmaking abilities and highest upside of the group. He was on track to become the feature back for NC State football last year before injuries effectively sidelined him less than midway through the year.
Thus while the numbers are strong among the running backs, the track record of being productive playmakers is noticeably thinner in the absence of Sumo-Karngbaye.
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