It’s been a rough go of it for junior NC State running back Ricky Person in his first two years of college football. The once highly-touted recruit has been held back by numerous injuries.
Coming into 2020, however, Person is healthy and in a good mindset. He figures to be a key contributor in a deep, talented group of running backs.
How are you feeling coming into the 2020 season?
Coming into the 2020 season, I feel great. I feel 100%. I take the time that we had off as a blessing in disguise. Everybody needed the time off. Everybody knows my injuries that I had based off last season. That did take a little advantage, so I took advantage of that. But for the most part, I feel good.
Are you heavier or lighter this year? Do you feel a little bit more durable?
Coming into my junior year, I’m still at the same weight, 218. I topped off at 220 a couple times but I’m still at my normal weight.
What is this offense going to look like in 2020?
Everybody’s been counting us out based on last year, talking about how we were young, we didn’t have any depth, and so forth. But for the most part, we’ve got a great offensive coordinator in coach Beck. He really knows what he’s doing. He’s got plays off of plays. We’re ready, we’ve got a lot of depth this year. Everybody’s mindset is on the same page. So it’s just going to be something for everybody to see.
On the depth chart, NC State listed four guys as potential starters. Can each running back contribute this season?
Of course all four guys can contribute. We’ve got a lot of great talent inside the running back room. That’s something we take pride in. We’re always in the room and on the field, getting that extra work in, whether it’s on tape, on the field, anything. So anybody inside our room can be a potential starter. It’s just natural. We all work the same. Every guy has their own type of playing style.
Wake Forest has been a team you guys have had trouble with the last couple years. Does that make you more anxious for this game?
It’s just a normal old game. To me, coach has been saying it’s rivalry week, but to me, I feel like if we prepare, it’s just a normal game. It’s just a normal game for me. To me, it’s like people try to label on games. To me, you just go out and play your game.
You came to NC State from just down the road and were highly recruited. You were going to be the guy. Injuries have set you back. How frustrating has that been, and can this be the season that we see the real Ricky Person?
To me, I sat down with coach Thunder, and everybody knows I had injuries. I was going through a lot of mental stuff at times. There was one point where I was like, ‘Is football still fun?’ But then I took that time where I got closer to God, closer to football, and I just asked myself ‘Do you still want to do this?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’ So having guys in my corner like coach Thunder, even some of the guys in my running back room, they were with me through every step of the way. It seemed like I just had this shadow over me. But now, this year, it’s like it’s something that God has planned for me. So I feel like this is going to be a breakout year for me.
NC State isn’t predicted to finish very high in the ACC, but in conditions where teams ‘shock the world’, it often happens with the offensive line and the running game leading the way for the most part. You all are returning Justin Witt on one side and the freshman All-American on the other side. Do you think those are good conditions for you all to pull it off?
Of course, we’ve got a lot of guys who got a lot of playing experience last year, so that actually helped them out some. Because we had young guys that needed to step up and play. So by having the veterans, Justin Witt and Joe Sculthorpe, Grant Gibson in the room, to help out those young guys this year, they didn’t do anything but put all of their work in during the offseason. So it’s going to be a good sight to see.
One of the biggest criticisms of NC State’s offense last year was that there wasn’t an identity. Has there been an identity in camp?
Our identity is hard, tough, together. So you can take it how you want to take it, whether it’s running the ball, passing the ball, anything. It’s just something that we all work on. Everybody plays their role and plays their part on the field, so it’s not really an identity, it’s just playing good, sound team ball.
What has coach Beck been like and what are the biggest differences in the offense?
Coach Beck is an awesome coach. He knows exactly what he’s talking about. He knows the system very well. The offense is nothing new. Every school you go to, every team has almost the same offense. With that being said, you’re going to put the ball down, you’re going to run, you’re going to throw the ball. But coach Beck's intelligence for the game is just so smart and what he brings to the table. He just pours that into us. It’s just us going out there and making the plays. He’s just an awesome coach. He knows a lot about the game.
