ACC Spring Football Wrap: NC State

Editor's note: Since this has been written, former NC State QB Russell Wilson was released of his scholarship to pursue his football career elsewhere.

Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack are moving forward with Mike Glennon at QB - despite a rough end to spring practice...

Reviewing Key Spring Issues: 1) Glennon taking charge – Let’s just say his spring game performance had fans checking the Asheville Tourists’ site for just how well Russell Wilson is doing in pro baseball. In a weather-limited game, Glennon was 21/40 for 182 yards with two interceptions.

2) Replacing Irving – Overall, defense impressed against the offense in the NC State spring game, and the linebacker spot was no exception. RS junior Terrell Manning delivered a 53-yard pick-six, while senior LB Dwayne Maddox posted two sacks and four tackles.

3) Establishing running game – Wasn’t there in the spring game – 40 passes to 15 rush attempts for the White and 23 passes to 15 rushes for the Red. Top rusher was James Washington with 7 rushes for 47 yards.

Spring MVP: LB Terrell Manning (RS Junior, 6-3 224, 76 tackles in 2010)

Breakout Offensive Player: RB James Washington (Junior, 6-1 180, 291 career rushing yards, 3 TDs)

Breakout Defensive Player: LB Terrell Manning

Key Injuries: RB Mustafa Greene (foot, back in the fall), OT/OG Andrew Wallace (might miss part of 2011 season).

Spring Game Notes: 1) Weather shortened – Game stopped with 4:17 left in the third quarter due to impending severe thunderstorms.

2) Glennon struggles – Mike Glennon got his shot to quell doubts and keep Russell Wilson in pro baseball, and didn’t exactly inspire confidence among the Wolfpack faithful. It’s just a spring game, and he could very well have passed for five TDs in the fourth quarter that never happened – bottom-line is folks are divided on Tobacco Road when it comes to the NC State QB situation. If Wilson does decide to stay baseball-only this fall, Glennon will have the summer and one warmup game (Liberty) before NC State’s ACC football schedule starts at Wake Forest.

3) Defense flexes muscle – Seven sacks. Three interceptions. A fumble. 347 total yards allowed between the teams (average of 173.5). A much-maligned unit in years past, NC State’s defense was the bright spot for Tom O’Brien and co.

Quotable: O’Brien on any possible Wilson/Glennon QB controversy – “Well, we're not waiting on any decision with Russell. He's with the Colorado Rockies. We've made our decision; we're going forward with Michael Glennon as our quarterback, and we look forward to what Mike can do. As I said, he's as talented as any quarterback I had in my tenure there at Boston College; just a matter of him getting to play. And this team is moving forward; we're not going to wait for the Colorado Rockies to make a decision one way or the other.”