Wolfpack receivers adjust roles in Riley's absence
It’s a cliché, but it’s true. One man’s misfortune really is another man’s opportunity. In the case of the NC State football team, it’s more like opportunity by committee.
Because while redshirt freshman Devin Carter has been elevated to the first team at the X wide receiver position, the Wolfpack will be counting on several youngsters to fill the void left by C.J. Riley’s season-ending knee injury.
“Devin is like anybody else. He just has to go out and make his plays and continue to work hard,” said receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator George McDonald. “We’ve got a good group around him. He’ll be out there, but it will be a group, a committee and just see who can step up and take the role.”
Riley, a junior who caught 28 passes last season, is scheduled to have surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee suffered while covering a punt in last Saturday’s season opening win against East Carolina.
Redshirt freshman Jasiah Provillon, sophomore Max Fisher and graduate transfer Tabari Hines are among the other receivers whose workload figures to increase because of his absence. Carter, however, will be the first to get the opportunity to make a major contribution to the Wolfpack’s passing game -- starting with Saturday's game against Western Carolina.
“Devin Carter is a guy that needs to step up and seize this opportunity,’ coach Dave Doeren said. “He's a big body, he's strong, he's been in that room with those guys and understands by watching last year's crew and now. He needs to seize that moment, because he has really good ability and size.”
A 6-foot-4, 212-pound product of Clayton High School who came to State as a three-star prospect.
He was one of several Wolfpack players to take advantage of the NCAA’s new redshirt rules by playing in four games last season, catching one pass for 11 yards in last year’s season-ending rout of East Carolina. He also had one catch, this one for 12 yards, in Saturday’s rematch with the Pirates.
"He's tall, he's physical, he's athletic," junior Emeka Emezie, State's leading receiver and leader of the receivers said of Carter. "It's just work ethic. Nobody really knows what it takes to be an ACC starter.'
Emezie said he's taken Carter and several other young receivers aside since Riley's injury to explain what's now going to be expected of them.
"I told them that before, they could be a little more relaxed and not play as much. But now they're going to have to take those reps,'" Emezie said. "Whoever it is, Tabari, Jasiah or Devin, they've got to step up and do extra to be an ACC starter."
Because State works its receivers at all three positions at practice, McDonald said that there are any number of options -- including slot receivers Thayer Thomas and Keyon Lesane.
Regardless of which receivers are on the field, quarterback Matthew McKay said he has confidence in their ability to catch the ball.
We’ve got a lot of guys,” McKay said. “It’s a deep group and they’re all talented, so I’m excited.”
