http://news14charlotte.com/content/sports/college/?ArID=75465&SecID=55
Lawson emerges for Wolfpack D
9/29/2004 3:32 PM
By: Keith Parsons, Associated Press
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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Manny Lawson spent most of his first two seasons at North Carolina State prowling the sidelines, asking any coach who would listen for a chance to get on the field. "I felt myself being a nuisance," Lawson said with a smile. "I can't stand just watching. I feel like a helpless soul."
Perhaps tired of hearing his pleas for playing time -- but more likely because of Lawson's enormous potential -- the Wolfpack coaches found a spot for him at defensive end. He's fit in just fine.
Manny Lawson is a lanky 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, and he almost always goes against offensive tackles that outweigh him by at least 100 pounds.
Against Virginia Tech last week, Lawson had three of N.C. State's 10 sacks, and the Hokies managed only 192 yards of total offense. He added two pressures of quarterback Bryan Randall and broke up a pass, helping him win a defensive player of the week award from the Walter Camp Football Foundation. The Wolfpack (2-1) leads Division I-A in total defense at about 165 yards a game, and they held Ohio State to only 137 earlier this month. For the first time since coach Chuck Amato was a sophomore linebacker at the school in 1965, N.C. State kept three straight opponents under 200.
And Lawson, a linebacker until this season, is one of the reasons.
"With his speed and his range, there's no doubt it's been a good fit," defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. "Hopefully, after three games, he's beginning to understand playing in a down position."
Lawson is a lanky 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, and he goes against offensive tackles that outweigh him by at least 100 pounds on nearly every snap. It's especially difficult for a player who, by his own admission, "doesn't like being touched."
But he overcomes this with his amazing athletic ability. Lawson hasn't run a timed 40-yard dash since he was a freshman -- he weighed 35 pounds lighter then -- and was clocked at 4.36 seconds. At East Wayne High in Goldsboro, he qualified for the state indoor track meet in four events -- long jump, triple jump, 55-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles.
He's still fast enough that tailback T.A. McLendon won't race him, but cornerback Lamont Reid did take him on -- unfortunately for Lawson.
"I pulled up because he was winning," Lawson said a bit sheepishly. "I couldn't let it go down like that."
His emergence came a great time for the Wolfpack, who are playing without quarterback Philip Rivers for the first time since 1999. The offense is struggling with the tandem of Jay Davis and Marcus Stone as Rivers' replacements, making the defense even more important.
That game against the Buckeyes was a perfect example. Despite dominating throughout, N.C. State had five turnovers and lost 22-14. The Wolfpack played much more conservatively in the victory over Virginia Tech, and the defense again came through.
"Our defense is getting the recognition they deserve," McLendon said. "Now you see what kind of players we have out there. If they keep playing the way they're playing, they're going to continue to be the best defense in the nation."
Lawson and his teammates will get tested Saturday against Wake Forest, which ran all over N.C. State in 2003 during a 38-24 victory. The Demon Deacons finished with 202 yards on the ground, and they're averaging 247 this season.
"If we want to developing a national reputation defensively, you've got to bring it every week, day in and day out, regardless of who you're playing," Herring said. "This defense is just scratching the surface. That's why Saturday is such a big game for us.
"If you're not sound, if you're not focused, if you're not ready to play, they will make anybody look bad."
