Kitchings: "I Have Better Depth"

After last season NC State lost one of its greatest running backs ever, but Des Kitchings thinks the depth in the group will more than compensate.

Matt Dayes is now a Cleveland Brown but the Wolfpack has two running backs returning while also having two other players that can use their skillsets in a variety of ways.

The four players expected to be featured at running back during the upcoming season are Reggie Gallaspy II, Nyheim Hines, Dakwa Nichols and Jaylen Samuels.

Kitchings is excited about the prospects for NC State in 2017.

“It is the most depth I have had,” Kitchings said. “Thinking back over the years; Tony Creecy, James Washington, Brandon Barnes and Shad Thornton was a freshman, then you add Matt Dayes in the mix, so ahead to now, these four guys can make plays for us.

“They are proven winners. They have done a lot of good things and provided good leadership, so I have better depth this year.”

Dayes rushed for 1,166 yards in 2016, which is the sixth-most in school history. He fell only 85 yards short of tying Ted Brown’s 1977 mark of 1,251 yards, the second-best total in school history, despite missing most of the Wolfpack’s bowl win over Vanderbilt.

It was the first time a NC State player had rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season since 2002 so it would appear unlikely that one member of Kitchings’ group will equal what Dayes produced.

But as a unit, Kitchings expects great things. He also does not rule out one player standing out and being spectacular.

“You just see who emerges, takes the bull by the horns, and becomes that featured guy,” Kitchings said. “Jaylen Samuels has a role of getting touches, Nyheim gets touches, and then Reggie and Dakwa will mix in there so it will be distributed out and we will see how it goes from there.”

Samuels and Hines will be asked to do a lot for NC State. When one is in the backfield that does not mean the other will be on the sideline.

“I would think those two can score points for us,” Kitchings conceded. “It will probably be in our benefit to have them both on the field at the same time.”

Hines has no concerns as to what his role is nor is he worried about which player is in the game at the running back position. His confidence even extends to the players in the position group that will likely be redshirted.

“We have great depth,” Hines said. “We even have some people who aren’t here right now because of transfer things. Erin [Collins] and Nakia [Robinson Jr] are looking really good too, and they’re really coming along. We’re looking great, we’re establishing a culture, and everybody’s buying in. We’re getting the young kids to buy in, and it’s something I haven’t seen in a really long time."

"I’m excited, but I’m more excited to execute my role and do my job,” Hines added. “I may be asked to do more things, and I may be asked to do less things, but I can’t really control what I’m asked to do. I just have to execute every time the ball comes my way, every time a block comes my way, and any time a return comes my way.”

The journey to replace Dayes is nearing its conclusion.

NC State will begin the post-Dayes Era in a similar position as it ended, taking on a SEC foe and the Wolfpack is close to beginning game preparation for the September 2nd contest against South Carolina in Charlotte.

Kitchings is happy with the progress his unit has made as the season opener approaches.

“The unit has come along very well,” Kitchings said. “Reggie, Nyheim, Dakwa and Jaylen Samuels are all in the mix with that group. The guys are practicing hard. I like where we are...transitioning through training camp, getting to the focal point of beginning to prepare for South Carolina.”