Sources have told Rivals.com and The Wolfpacker that former Middle Tennessee State head coach Andy McCollum has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant linebackers coach position at NC State and could be announced as soon as Wednesday.

McCollum was believed to have met with new head coach Tom O'Brien and defensive coordinator Mike Archer over the weekend to discuss the position.

McCollum spent last season as a scout for the Tennessee Titans after seven years as a head coach at Middle Tennessee State. McCollum compiled a 34-45 record. In 2001 McCollum led his team to a share of the Sun Belt conference title and an eight-win season that included a win over an SEC team. That team broke 46 team records.

McCollum started his coaching career as an assistant for Middle Tennessee State before becoming the wide receivers coach under offensive coordinator David Culley at Texas-El Paso. That year, UTEP was rated 10th nationally in passing. From 1990 to 1993, McCollum was in charge of the linebackers and also coordinated special teams.

In 1993, McCollum joined Chuck Reedy's staff at Baylor as linebackers coach and immediately earned a reputation as an outstanding recruiter and top-flight tactician. In 1995 and 1996, Max Emfinger rated McCollum among the top 10 recruiters in the nation.

In the spring of 1995, he left for the University of Tennessee to serve as linebackers coach but returned to Baylor seven weeks later to take over the role of assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

As defensive coordinator in 1995, the Bears ranked No. 5 nationally in total defense, No. 5 in pass defense, No. 9 in scoring defense, and No. 12 in rushing defense. As special team's coordinator that same season, McCollum's squad was rated the SWC's top unit after recording eight blocked punts and converting four of those into touchdowns.

Among Baylor's wins that season was a 14-0 triumph over NC State in Carter-Finley Stadium. It was the last time NC State has been shut out in a game, and it also believed to be the only time the Pack has been held without a point in the 40-year history of the stadium.

McCollum, from Marietta, Ga., graduated from Austin Peay in 1981, where he was a four-year letterman as an offensive guard and tight end. He earned his master's degree from MT in 1983. A four-year starter, McCollum played offensive guard in 1977 and then was a tight end/receiver from 1978 to 1980.