NC State senior running back Matthew Dayes has topped 100 yards in all but one game this season.

Dayes has had 1,000 yards in his sights for quite a while, but with his hot start, that mark shouldn’t be an issue if he remains healthy. Dayes would only have to average 55.2 yards per game over the last six contests of the season to reach the landmark. If NC State becomes bowl eligible, the number falls to 47.3.

The main reason for the emphasis on 1,000 is the drought that has occurred at NC State since T.A. McLendon tallied 1,101 yards during his freshman year in 2002. NC State has also gone since 2003 without a 1,000-yard receiver, so that number is ingrained.

Dayes ranks 21st in the country with 669 rushing yards on 120 carries and four touchdowns, and he is 11th in rushing yards per game (111.6). He ranks third in the ACC behind Florida State junior running back Dalvin Cook, who has 900 rushing yards, and Louisville sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has has rushed for 832.

NC State coach Dave Doeren would love for Dayes to steal some of the spotlight that has been shining on Jackson starting this Saturday in Louisville.

“I don’t know why they are sleeping on the kid,” Doeren said.

Dayes’ ability to get the tough yards has been impressive the last two games against Notre Dame and Clemson, respectively. He ran 23 times for 126 yards in windy and rainy conditions against the Fighting Irish, and he followed up with 22 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown against the Tigers’ physical front seven.

Dayes has accumulated 51 percent of his rushing yards after contact this season.

“What he does week-in and week-out — and not just in the run game — but he makes people miss, runs people over and catches the football,” Doeren said.

Dayes was well on his way for a banner 2015 season and reaching the 1,000-yard mark, but his season ended with a foot injury in the eighth game. Former NC State running back Shadrach Thornton also flirted with reaching 1,000 yards, but came up 93 yards short in 2014.

NC State’s defense could do a favor to Dayes by slowing down the electric Jackson. That will likely take a team effort.

“Being a good defense is about accountability first and understanding how much your role affects everybody else on the field,” Doeren said. “You have to understand to do your job and not try to do someone else’s play.”

NC State turned to a pair of reserves in the trenches for extended playing time for the first time this season. Redshirt sophomore guard Terronne Prescod came off the bench for 15 snaps against Clemson. The 6-5, 338-pounder has shed weight and put himself in position to contend for a starting position next year. Starting right guard Tony Adams got dinged in the first half against the Tigers, creating an opening for Prescod.

“I’m really excited about him,” Doeren said. “He’s probably the most improved guy we have on the O-Line from last year to this year.”

Prescod has made strides through the NC State strength and conditioning program, and has “bought in to” what offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford has been teaching.

“He has done the right things with our strength staff and our nutrition staff to be in shape, which was always his problem before,” Doeren said. “He is really in shape right now and playing hard. He is playing confident.”

Prescod’s previous high for snaps was nine against Old Dominion earlier this season.

“He will play a lot, not just in this game, but moving forward,” Doeren said. “He has earned that.”

The Wolfpack also played redshirt freshman defensive end Tyrone Riley for 28 snaps, which was 12 more snaps than his total this year entering the game. The lanky 6-6, 285-pounder had one assist, and will continue to battle redshirt freshman James Smith-Williams for snaps at the fourth defensive end spot.

“We only have five ends [on the roster], and [defensive line] Coach [Ryan] Nielsen likes to rotate them,” Doeren said. “We played a lot of snaps, and it was warm in that game. He is trying to keep guys fresh.

“Tyrone has gotten better and earned that right to be out there. It’s pretty even [with Smith-Williams].”