Why freshman QB Will Wilson is effective as NC State’s go-to short-yardage rusher

Florida State had to know it was coming. Freshman quarterback Will Wilson jogged onto the Bermuda grass field inside Carter-Finley Stadium on 3rd-and-1 from the NC State 30-yard line in the early stages of the third quarter, and the goal was obvious: have him keep it to try to pick up the first down with his legs.  It had been the Wolfpack’s go-to play-call with two or less yards to gain this season, and to that point, it had been the unit’s most-successful short-yardage idea. Although he didn’t pick up a yard on that specific quarterback run, NC State went with it again on 4th-and-1 from its own 30, trusting its reserve signal-caller to convert deep in the Pack’s own end.  Not only did Wilson earn the first down, he gained four yards to keep the drive rolling. He had five more carries in that series, including a 16-yard gain on 3rd-and-1 from the NC State 43 as he knifed his way through the defense with ease to move the Pack over the 50-yard line in a hurry.  In all, Wilson picked up 26 yards on the 15-play, 79-yard drive that was capped by his 1-yard touchdown plunge in what was the game-winning score in a 14-11 victory over the Seminoles last Friday night in Raleigh. Welcome to the Wilson School of Short Yardage -- a trait that has been an integral part of NC State's offense's success this fall.