Ricky Person: 'It's the best I've felt'

Coming off playing in every game for the first time in his college career, NC State running back Ricky Person is eager to help lead what should be a deep, versatile Wolfpack backfield in 2021. 

Person spoke to the media following practice this week, and here’s a full breakdown of everything he had to say: 

How much does the skill level in the entire running back room help you push each other to the next level? 

Honestly, it just keeps us competing day in and day out. We all play with a chip on our shoulder, and we all know what we can bring to the table. You put that together, and you correlate that to the game field, in practice, everything we do.  We compete with each other day in and day out. 

How do you feel like you and Bam Knight complement each other as a backfield duo? 

Honestly, I feel like we all complement each other. We take the load off of one another. We don’t want to get 30-40 carries a game between one running back, because that’s how you burn yourself out, especially when you have plans for taking that next step. So honestly, by us taking hits off of each other and splitting the carries that we need to do, I feel like that honestly helps us. 

Do you feel like playing every game last year was just a small sample size of your potential? 

When I first got here as a freshman, I was battling injuries from throughout high school, and it just took me a minute to bounce back, just because I was a freshman and we only had [Reggie Gallaspy] my freshman year, so I had to step up and battle through my injuries as a freshman. And also, being a running back, you’re going to have your nicks, bruises, and stuff like that. So they also came along with the game. I feel like the COVID year actually helped me, allowed my body to bounce back and get the treatment that I needed to get for my body. That comes from the best training staff that we have. They just helped me get my body right. In the weight room, coach Thunder day in and day out, so honestly, you just start stacking up good days like that and now you start seeing what happened last year. 

How are you feeling coming into this camp? 

It’s the best I’ve felt, the fastest I’ve ever felt, and then my body has changed tremendously. It’s been a great camp. 

You’ve got some guys on the offensive line like Ikem Ekwonu, Dylan McMahon, and Grant Gibson expected to have big seasons. How much does that help you as running backs? 

Honestly, it helps the whole entire offense. We can’t get the offense going without the offensive line, and credit to the big boys up front. They work their asses off day in and day out, you can see it. You can tell by the accolades that the whole entire offensive line is receiving, so it’s a blessing. 

Tim Beck and Dave Doeren mentioned Demie Sumo. What have you seen from him?

That guy, he’s fast. He’s still got some learning he’s got to do, but he’s just talented. He’s gifted. That’s how I see him. He’s starting to pick up on the system. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and he’ll put his nose in the fire when it’s time for him to block. He’s an all-around good player. 

Has he come into the room to soak up everything he can? 

We took him under our wing day one. He’s got questions, he’ll ask us, he’ll call me, he’ll come over the house. We’ll all just sit and down talk it out, and just go from there.