Doeren: Gallaspy "Definitely" The Starter at Running Back
NC State has to replace All-ACC tailback Nyheim Hines, and that is arguably the biggest question mark for the Wolfpack offense heading into the 2018 season.
It appears senior Reggie Gallaspy is well on his way to locking down that role to start the campaign as head coach Dave Doeren raved about Gallaspy's start to fall camp on Monday.
"He's had another great practice," Doeren said of Gallaspy. "I think this is the best place he's been physically and mentally. Having a child a couple of years ago and all the things that can put on a player's life... then dealing with multiple injuries, I just think he's in a good place.
"He's in good shape, and he understands what's at stake. The stakes are higher when you have a child obviously, but I'm really excited about what he's done in four day. He's just a senior, let's hope, but I'm saying he's playing like a senior so far. That's what it looks like so far."
Gallaspy is the only running back on the roster with a carry in a college game, as he's been a three-year reserve since enrolling in 2015. Last season he finished with 505 yards and seven touchdowns, and his best effort may have came in the Sun Bowl when he totaled 66 yards and two scores.
He's proven he can carry the football, but his best asset just might be in pass protection. The 5-foot-11, 235-pounder is effective protecting the quarterback on third down, which should continue to be his role.
"He's been big on third down for us," Doeren said. "Last year he was incredible on thrd-down blitz pickup.
"For Ryan it's like having another starting offensive lineman back there for him at times because he just trusts him so much with who he is going to block and pick up and the way he does it."
Gallaspy hasn't shown a lot in the receiving game, but that role could be filled by one of the Wolfpack's two highly-touted freshmen. Both local products, Trent Pennix enrolled this summer and Ricky Person arrived in January.
"Both [Person] and Trent Pennix are [good pass-catchers], and that's what we look for when we're recruiting," said Doeren. "Guys who can catch it out of the backfield and be moved around into the slot... things like that. Both those guys have the ability to catch the ball play in space."
Fall camp is going to be huge for the Wolfpack's young tailbacks. Pennix and Person just enrolled, and Nakia Robinson redshirted last season. Following the bowl game, the staff expected to also have Nyheim Hines, who declared for the draft, and Erin Collins, who transferred out of the program earlier this year.
"It's not where you would want it to be," Doeren said of the depth at running back. "Obviously with Nyheim leaving early and Erin Collins leaving the program, there's some holes there that weren't, when you set up your recruiting board, how you saw it playing out.
"But as we all know there are freshmen and redshirt freshmen in college football who make a great name for themselves when they get an opportunity, so they just need time."
NC State's handled the position in multiple ways under Doeren. Early in Doeren's tenure the Wolfpack rotated tailbacks frequently but the last two years Matt Dayes and Nyheim Hines operated as workhorse backs.
Regardless, this is clearly Reggie Gallaspy's job at this point.
"It's too early to say," Doeren said of the potential rotation. "[Gallaspy is] definitely our starting running back. Now how much everyone else factors in will be a matter of what they prove here in camp, but it's too early to say.
"We're a long ways away and they're all young guys that we're talking about, so they need time to develop and get reps."