By Heath Bradley.
Senior Quarterback Mike Glennon feels the time is now for the NC State Wolfpack. Following a 2011 season that saw the Worfpack go 8-5, winning six of its final eight games, including a victory in the Belk Bowl, Glennon is ready to improve in 2012. In 2011, Glennon stepped into the shoes that were left when Russell Wilson decided to continue his football career at Wisconsin, and filled them quite well. Glennon passed for 3,054 yards and 31 touchdowns while completing 62.5 percent of his passes, in his first season as the starter. He feels that the 2011 season helped him become the best player that he can be entering his final season in 2012.
“I believed in myself, but now I have complete confidence in my ability. I think from a confidence standpoint from being through everything. From, throwing a touchdown pass, to an interception, to being sacked, I know what it is like,” said Glennon.
Glennon looks to carry this new confidence in his ability into the 2012 season; a season that he sees has the potential to be very special for NC State.
“We feel confident in ourselves. We feel like we can compete with anyone in our division, our conference. We know we have to show up every week. The ACC is not really a conference where there has been a power. I feel like anybody can win on a given week. We know we will have to show up against teams like Florida State and Clemson because they are a great opponent. We beat Clemson last year, Florida State the year before. Realistically, we think we can beat every team on our schedule, we just have to play well week in and week out,” said Glennon.
Other than Glennon and his consistency, the main key to success in 2012 for NC State will be the play of the defense. The defense was much improved in 2011, moving from 101st to 6th nationally in turnover margin. This was in big part due to David Amerson, who led the nation in interceptions with 13. Amerson along with other veteran secondary members will look to anchor a defense that also returns three starters on the defensive line. Glennon will also be looking to several new targets on the offensive side of the ball, after losing three key playmakers from 2011. However, Glennon has faith in the replacements and fully expects them to pick up right where those who departed left off. The experience of the offensive line should also allow Glennon and running backs the chances to make big plays in 2012.
Experience plays a key factor often in the success of a team, and NC State will look to use their experience at several key positions to help lead them to victory. NC State will be returning 16 total starters in 2012, 7 from each side of the ball, and 2 specialists. With two of the top-4 recievers and all three running backs returning from an offense that averaged over 344 yard per game in 2011, Glennon has reason to be excited. “Our experience is big, we have the second most experienced line in the country, all three running backs back, four guys in the secondary that have played three year, including an All-American. We just have a group of guys who want to win and we feel this year could take us over the top.”