<a href='http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/sports/colleges/9285430.htm' target='_blank'>Hall a double threat for North Carolina State</a>

Quote:No. 23 North Carolina State Wolfpack

Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference

Coach: Chuck Amato (34-17 in four seasons)

2003: 8-5, 4-4 in the ACC, tied for 4th

Bowl: Defeated Kansas, 56-26, in the Tangerine Bowl.

Starters returning: 8 on offense, 9 on defense.

Key players: Junior RB T.A. McLendon, junior RB/WR Tramain Hall, senior OT Chris Colmer, junior TE T.J. Williams, junior QB Jay Davis, freshman QB Marcus Stone, sophomore defensive end Mario Williams, senior LB Pat Thomas, senior CB Lamont Reid, senior DB Andre Maddox.

Cheers: North Carolina State has plenty of talent and experience returning from a team that won five of its last seven games. The Wolfpack have a history of fielding teams where the defense and special teams make crucial contributions.

Jeers: Replacing quarterback Philip Rivers, who set an NCAA record with 51 consecutive starts, will be difficult. Of the quarterback candidates, neither Davis nor Stone (a redshirt freshman) have started at the college level. McLendon can be a dominating running back, but his first two seasons have been shortened by injuries.

It all means: If North Carolina State can get average- to above-average quarterback play, it should finish in the top half of a conference that has become considerably more challenging.

Datebook: On Nov. 11, the Wolfpack face Florida State. If the Wolfpack are hanging around the top of the ACC standings before their last league game, this could be a marquee game.

Figuring: Since the 2000 season, North Carolina State has blocked more kicks (32) than any other team. Texas is second with 28 blocked kicks.

Extra points: Offensive tackle Chris Colmer missed last season with a viral infection. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility and, if healthy, could be an All-American candidate. ... After using a `defensive coordinator by committee' alignment last season, Amato hired Reggie Herring from the Houston Texans' staff for thepost. Herring was TCU's defensive coordinator in 1992-93. ... Former TCU quarterbacks coach (1987-91) Noel Mazzone is the N.C. State's offensive coordinator. ... North Carolina State's game with East Carolina on Nov. 27 will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. ... The Wolfpack have scored 18 non-offensive touchdowns the past two seasons, the most in the ACC. ... Defensive end Mario Williams and defensive tackle John McCargo were named freshmen All-Americans last season.