Desmond Kitchings at Air Force Academy

NC State head coach Tom O’Brien has hired ex Air Force Academy running backs coach Desmond Kitchings as the new running backs coach replacing Everette Sands who left for the University of South Carolina. Kitchings played college football at Furman University as a wide receiver and kick returner helping Furman win the Southern Conference his senior year. He was a consensus All-Southern Conference selection as well as an All-American as a returner his senior year. Kitchings was the youngest person ever elected to the Furman Athletic Hall of Fame also earning a B.S. degree in health and exercise. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2000 NFL Draft and spent several seasons on the practice squad of numerous teams.

Kitchings started his coaching career at his alma mater, Furman, coaching the tight ends and special teams from 2004–2007. Then he went on to Vanderbilt University where he served as running backs coach from 2008-2010. During the 2010 season he also served as the Commodores offensive coordinator. In 2011 Kitchings was the running backs coach at the Air Force Academy where he led them to be ranked 3rd nationally in rushing.  Kitchings a native of Wagener, South Carolina will not only be an asset in coaching but will also be a huge help in recruiting with his ties to the south.

Former Wolfpack Receiver To Coach At CSU

Alvis Whitted with the Oakland Raiders

Former NC State Alvis Whitted will be the new wide receivers coach at Colorado State University for the upcoming 2012 football season. Whitted was born September 4, 1974 in Durham, North Carolina and played wide receiver and ran track and field at Orange High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina. His senior year he was the state champion in the 100 and 200 meters. Whitted then played college football and ran track and field at North Carolina State University from 1994-1997. Whitted who played for head coach Mike O’Cain ranks 3^rd all-time in NC State history in kickoff return yards and help lead the Wolfpack to a 1994 Peach Bowl win over the University of Mississippi. In track and field he was a four time All-American and still holds the school record for the 100, 200, and 400 meters. In 1996 Whitted participated in the Olympic trials finishing sixth running against Olympic greats Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis. His senior year at NC State University he was awarded H.C. Kennett Award, the most prestigious honor given to an NC State athlete.  Whitted earned a B.S. degree in business management and finance from North Carolina State University.

In 1998 he was drafted into the NFL by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whitted enjoyed nine year NFL career playing for the Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and Oakland Raiders. As an NFL player he participated in two AFC Championship games and helped the Raiders reach Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002. After his playing career was over he started his coaching career in 2008 at his alma mater Orange High School as an assistant coach. Then in 2010 he became wide receivers coach at division III Millsap College in Jackson Mississippi. From there in 2011 Whitted was hired as an offensive quality control assistant coach at UCLA under head coach Rick Nueheisel.  While at UCLA he worked with the wide receivers, special teams, and headed the scout team defense. In January Whitted was named wide receivers coach at Appalachian State University before being offered and accepting the same position at Colorado State University for head coach Jim McElwain.

NC State Players NFL Combine Recap

With the NFL draft quickly approaching the NFL held its annual scouting combine were every team gets to evaluate this year’s crop of colligate players. With the combine wrapped up here is a look at the NC State players who participated in the combine.


Audie Cole from NFL.com

                Audie Cole – LB - Measured at a height of 6’4”, weighed 246lbs, arm length 32 ¾”, and 10” hands. In the drills Cole ran a 4.81 sec. 40yd dash, 15 reps of 225lbs in the bench press, a 35 in. vertical jump, 114 in. broad jump, a 4.29 sec. 20yd shuttle, and 6.96 sec. 3 cone drill. Cole was a top performer in the 3 cone drill, vertical jump, and 20yd shuttle for linebackers. Cole is predicted to be a sixth round draft pick as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme defense.

                T.J. Graham – WR - Measured at a height of 5’11”, weighed 188lbs, arm length of 32 ¾”, and 9” hands. In the drills Graham ran a 4.41 sec. 40 yd dash, 8 reps of 225lbs in the bench press, 33.5 in. vertical jump, 120 in. broad jump, 4.18 sec. 20yd shuttle, and a 6.77 sec. 3 cone drill. Graham was a top performer in the 40yd dash, 20yd shuttle, and 3 cone drill. Graham, because of his importance as a kick returner is predicted to go as high as the third round.

                Terrell Manning – LB -Measured at a height of 6’2”, arm length of 32 ¼”, weighed 237lbs, and 91/4” hands. In the drills Manning ran a 4.79 sec. 40yd dash, 22 reps of 225lbs in the bench press, 32.5 in. vertical jump, 114 in. broad jump, 7.18 sec. 3 cone drill, and 4.43 sec. 20yd shuttle. Terrell is a projected fourth round draft choice as a WILL linebacker in a 4-3 scheme but could add weight later and transition into a 3-4 edge rusher.

                Markus Kuhn – DT ­- Measured at a height of 6’5”, arm length of 32 ½”, weighed 299lbs, and 10 ½” hands.  In the drills Kuhn ran a 4.89 sec. 40yd dash, 20 reps of 225lbs in the bench press, 34.5 in. vertical jump, 112 in. broad jump, 7.43 sec. 3 cone drill, and a 4.41 sec. 20yd shuttle. Kuhn is predicted to be an undrafted rookie free agent as a 4-3 defensive tackle.

                J.R. Sweezy – DT – Measured at a height of 6’5”, weighed 298lbs, arm length of 34”, and 9 5/8” hands. In drills Sweezy ran a 5.01 sec. 40yd dash, 21 reps of 225lbs on the bench press, 36 in.  vertical jump, 113 in. broad jump, 7.4 sec. 3 cone drill, and a 4.41 sec. 20yd short shuttle. Sweezy was a top performer in the vertical jump for defensive tackles. J.R. Sweezy is predicted to be a late round draft choice or be an undrafted free agent. Sweezy is thought to have more value as a 3-4 defensive end than a 4-3 defensive tackle.

* All measurements, times, and draft info courtesy of nfl.com

1989 Men's Basketball Team Honored

On Tuesday night, February 21, 2012, before the basketball game against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the 1989 men's basketball team was honored with The “Wolfpack Unlimited” Award. According to NC State Director of Athletics Deborah A. Yow the inaugural "Wolfpack Unlimited" Award will recognize individuals and teams that refuse to accept the status quo and exhibit the "Never Give Up" spirit of the Wolfpack. The 1989 men’s basketball coached by legendary head coach Jim Valvano included players Tom Gugliotta, Brian Howard, Brian D'Amico, Mickey Hinnant, Jamie Knox, David Lee, Avie Lester, Kenny Poston, Kelsey Weems and Roland Whitley, Rodney Monroe (all time scoring leader), Chris Corchiani (all time assist leader), and Chucky Brown who was named first-team All-ACC honors that season.

The decision to honor the 1989 men’s basketball team came after an incident involving two of the players at the Florida State game on February 18, 2012. With 6:40 remaining in game official Karl Hess stopped the ballgame, and ejected Wolfpack legends Chris Corchiani and Tom Gugliotta from the game. According to Corchiani the two former players who were sitting behind the scorer’s table had been vocally questioning calls all night just as the other 17.000 plus in attendance in the RBC Center. An officer from the Raleigh Police Department escorted Gugliotta and Corchiani out to loud applause from the RBC crowd. The only explanation the former players could come up with is maybe because the two were so close they got under Hess's skin questioning the officiating of the game. On Monday February 20, 2012 the Atlantic Coast Conference reprimanded official Karl Hess for not following the ACC’s in game management protocol, but not for the actual ejection of the two players. To have them removed according to the ACC Hess should have gone to the home team management staff to handle the ejections. Despite the circumstances all the former were happy to back in front of the Wolfpack faithful and honored to receive the award.

Former Player Comes Home

NC State has hired a new strength and conditioning coach in former player Corey Edmond who will look to make NC State player stronger and more explosive. Edmond from Sussex, VA played defensive end for the Wolfpack from 1987-1990 under head coach Dick Sheridan.  After his career at NC State he played two seasons with the NFL   Huston Oilers and when his NFL career was over he earned his degree from NC State in 1993. The he became an assistant football coach at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga coaching defensive ends and linebacker from 1993-1995. From 1995-1999 he served as head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Tennessee -Chattanooga.

In 1999 he left Tennessee -Chattanooga to accept the assistant strength and conditioning position at University of Oklahoma. From there Edmond went to the University of Arizona to become the associate director of athletics and director of performance enhancement in 2004. Then in 2005 he was promoted to director of performance enhancement. Edmond was recognized for his job in 2009 earning semifinals for strength and conditioning coach of the year by footballscoop.com. In 2010 he was named associate athletic director at the University of Arizona. Now he comes back to his alma mater and has complete control of the strength and conditioning program and will hire his own staff.

Possible Super Bowl Ring

While watching the Super Bowl this weekend let us remember former NC State player, Andre Brown, who has spent the entire season helping the team prepare every week  on the NY Giants practice squad. Brown was drafted by the NY Giants in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL draft, but because of injuries he has bounced around the league playing for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and Washington Redskins. Brown played running back for the Wolfpack from 2005-2008 for head coaches Chuck Amato and Tom O’Brien. With a Giants victory over the New England Patriots Andre Brown could receive his first Super Bowl ring.

NC State 2012 Recruiting Class



NC State Signees Jarnor Jones and Kenderius Whitehead
Brant Sanderlin/AJC)

With national signing day behind us here is a look at the 2012 class signed by head coach Tom O'Brien and his staff.

Name	Pos	Ht/Wt		Hometown/School
Deylan Buntyn	DT	6-4/335		Havelock, NC/New Mexico Institute
Robert Caldwell	LB	6-3/245		Twentynine Palms, Ca/College of the Dessert
Niles Clark	DB	5-10/175		Marietta, GA/Lassiter High
Marchez Coates	DB	5-11/172		Pomfret, MD/McDonough High
Drew Davis	LB	6-3/240		Raleigh, NC/Broughton High
Eddie Gordon	OL	6-1/322		Boiling Springs, SC/Boiling Springs High
Xavier Griffin	WR	6-2/180		Newark Delaware, Newark Delaware High
David Grinnage	TE	6-5/240		Newark Delaware, Newark Delaware High
Charlie Hegedus	WR	6-2/194		Marietta, GA/Lassiter High
K'Hadree Hooker	DT	6-2/280		Deep Run, NC/South Lenoir High
Jarnor Jones	DB	6-4/190		Lithonia, GA/Martin Luther King
Bryce Kennedy	OL	6-3/285		Southern Pines, NC/Pinecrest High
Tyler Knox	DE	6-4/225		Myrtle Beach, SC/Myrtle Beach High
Quincy McKinney	OL	6-3/315		Columbus, GA/Fork Union Military
Desmond Owino	DE	6-5/235		Raleigh, NC/Sanderson High
M.J. Salahuddin	DB	6-3/190		Fayetteville, NC/Jack Britt High
Josh Sessoms	DB	6-3/186		Bailey, NC/Southern Nash High
Manny Stocker	QB	6-3/197		Coatesville, PA/Coatesville Area High
Shadrach Thornton	RB	6-1/207		Hinesville, GA/Liberty County High
John Tu'uta	OL	6-3/310		Fredericksburg, VA/ Fork Union Military
Kenderius Whitehead	DE	6-5/210		Lithonia, GA/Martin Luther King
Joe Wright	DE	6-6/220		Greenville, NC/Rose High