When talking about the Atlantic Coast Conference1s top prospects for national awards, certain schools will boast some obvious candidates.
The names of Florida State1s Daryl Bush and E.G. Green or North Carolina1s Octavus Barnes and Dre1 Bly might be mentioned immediately. One player that could be overlooked, if only because of the school he attends, is North Carolina State1s top tailback, Tremayne Stephens.
Although it1s easy to overlook NCSU1s 3-8 season from last year, it1s a lot harder to miss the performance of Stephens. He has been thrilling fans ever since his freshman year, when he ran 84 yards to score against Virginia and vault the Wolfpack into the Peach Bowl.
And now, three years later, Tremayne Stephens is one of the nation1s primary candidates for the Doak Walker award, which annually honors the nation1s top running back. Stephens was a contender for the award last year, although Texas Tech1s Byron Hanspard took top honors.
Stephens has the ability to make the split-second decisions and find the openings necessary to turn short gains into long ones. He will often slip one tackler to gain that crucial extra yardage. His game is thrilling to watch, even to his head coach, Mike O1Cain.
3He got five yards when there wasn1t five yards there,2 O1Cain said during Stephens1 second season. 3He got 15 yards a couple of times when he should have gotten six. Good backs do that.... If you give him the ball enough times he1s going to hit one of those long ones.2
The senior from Greer, S.C. has hit the long ones. He has also hit the Wolfpack record books in many categories in his first three seasons. Stephens ranks eighth on the school1s list of career rushing yards per carry, with an impressive 5.07.
He rushed for over 100 yards in four separate games last season, including games against Alabama, the No. 12 defense in the country, and North Carolina, the number six defense at the time. He also led N.C. State in rushing last season with 771 yards on 165 attempts.
A better indicator of just how good this tailback is, however, is the recognition that Tremayne Stephens has earned from those around him. The Wolfpack coaching staff, for example, voted him last season1s Most Valuable Offensive Back.
He was named ACC rookie of the week twice during his freshman year. Coaches and players from other ACC teams have come to the realization that when their teams are playing against N.C. State, defending against the run means defending against Tremayne Stephens.
Stephens has been held back only by injury in his first three seasons. Prior to his freshman year, he suffered a toe injury that kept him from practice time.
Since then, he has suffered back and leg injuries. His average yards per carry have decreased since his freshman year. These ailments, though, could not completely keep Stephens from excelling on the field. He is still considered one of the Wolfpack1s most valuable weapons and one of the best running backs in the conference.
Duke knows only too well how Stephens1 runs can set back an opponent. During the 1996 Duke-NCSU game, Stephens rushed for 108 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. N.C. State went on to win the game, 44-22, and dropped Duke to 0-9 en route to their winless season.
This Saturday, Duke undoubtedly has something to prove. But it1s not alone. A running back from N.C. State will be trying to overcome his injuries and his school, to earn the national recognition he needs to better his chances for a pro career. And if a hole appears in Duke1s defensive line, expect to see the red and white jersey of Tremayne Stephens rushing through it.
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