Whose redshirts have been burned, whose still haven't?
Thanks to the new NCAA redshirt rule adopted last year, college football players are allowed to appear in up to four games in a season while still being eligible to redshirt. Now that NC State has played it’s fifth game of 2019, it’s time to take a look at where the team’s redshirt-eligible players stand:
BURNED REDSHIRTS
Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu: The backup offensive tackle has seen extensive action in each of the Wolfpack’s five games. He has also been used as an extra lineman in certain situations to help fill the void left by a season-ending injury to tight end Dylan Autenreith. Games played: 5. Games remaining: 0.
Jordan Houston: A multi-purpose back who got his first career start Saturday at Florida State, Houston’s role figures to expand even further with fellow running back Ricky Person Jr. sidelined with what appeared to be a serious leg injury on Saturday. Houston is second on the team with 226 rushing yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He also has six catches for 28 yards. Games played: 5. Games remaining 0.
Zonovan Knight: The team’s leading rusher with 293 yards on 54 carries, Knight scorea t touchdown on his first career carry, then recorded his first career 100-yard performance with 119 yards on the ground the following week against Western Carolina on Sept. 7. He carried the ball only seven times against Florida State and only once after a second quarter fumble. Games played: 5, Games remaining: 0.
Keyon Lesane: A speedy receiver and kick returner, Lesane has caught five passes for 43 yards, carried the ball three times for 47 yards and returned seven kickoffs for an 19.4 yard average. He did now, however, record any stats or was targeted on any passes Saturday in Tallahassee. Games played: 5. Games remaining: 0.
Cecil Powell: Powell started the season as a defensive back, but after C.J. Riley’s season ended with an injury in the opening game against East Carolina, the speedy freshman began working on both sides of the ball. He caught his first pass as a receiver against WCU. Now exclusively on offense and special teams, he had three receptions for 22 yards against FSU. Games played: 5. Games remaining: 0.
Joe Shimko: State’s long snapper, Shimko has been a steady special teams performer for the Wolfpack thus far. Games played: 5. Games remaining: 0.
Drake Thomas: The younger brother of wide receiver Thayer Thomas, Drake has seen regular action as a backup middle linebacker. He intercepted his first career pass against West Virginia and has been credited with six tackles, including two on Saturday at FSU. Games played: 5. Games remaining 0.
AT THE LIMIT
Jakeen Harris: A 5-foot-11, 189-pound defensive back, Harris played five plays from scrimmage in the win against Western Carolina while seeing the majority of his action on special teams, where he has recorded two tackles. He did not appear in the season opener against ECU. Games played: 4. Games remaining: 0.
Savion Jackson: A backup defensive end, Jackson was injured for the ECU game, but has played a regular member of State’s rotation at the position since, playing a season-high 31 snaps against Ball State. He was not credited with any tackles against FSU, but has four stops (including one for a loss) this season. Games played: 4. Games remaining: 0.
GAMES REMAINING
Jalen Frazier: A three-star defensive back, Frazier saw special teams action in the season’s first two games, but has missed the past three because of injury. Games played: 2, Games remaining: 2.
Khalid Martin: Martin did not get on the field for the ECU and West Virginia games. He played four snaps against WCU, making a tackle while taking part on special teams against both Ball State and FSU. Games played: 3. Games remaining 1.
Dylan McMahon: A freshman offensive lineman, he played a season-high 24 snaps against WCU while also seeing limited action against ECU and Ball State. He did not get into games at West Virginia and Florida State. Games played: 3. Games remaining: 1.
Jaylon Scott: The reserve linebacker played on special teams in the first two games this season, but hasn’t appeared in any since. Games played: 2. Games remaining: 2.
The following true freshmen did not play and still have a four-game redshirt intact:
WR Shyheim Battle, DT C.J. Clark, DE Terrell Dawkins, QB Ty Evans, DT Joshua Harris, OL Zovon Lindsay, OL Timothy McKay, WR Chris Toudle, RB Delbert Mims and TE Kameron Walker.
