Wolfpack begins spring drills

Posted Monday, March 20, 2006

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NC State is coming off of a 7-5 season and a bowl win over South Florida.

Raleigh, NC - NC State's football team took to the field for the first time in 2006 on Tuesday, beginning spring drills with a morning practice session. The team has been in winter workouts, which include the early morning mat drills, for over a month, taking a hiatus last week for spring break. Spring practice will culminate with the annual Red/White game on April 8 at 4:00 p.m.

The team is working in shorts and shoulder pads this week, but will begin contact drills on Friday. The Wolfpack staff will host its annual coaches clinic this weekend, with former NC State linebacker Bill Cowher, head coach of the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, serving as featured speaker.

Rebuilding the defensive line and the linebacking corps will be a big focus during spring drills, after the Pack lost both of its starting ends and two starting linebackers. Heading into spring, redshirt freshman Willie Young and converted tackle John Amanchukwu are listed as the starters at end. Ernest Jones and Pat Lowery will move into the vacated linebacker spots.On offense, Darrell Blackman is playing at wide receiver this spring, while Reggie Davis is seeing time at the upback spot, giving the coaching staff an opportunity to get all four tailbacks from last year's depth chart on the field at the same time.