NC State rising fifth-year senior wide receiver Stephen Louis knows that it might be a little weird when he's viewing film of himself this spring.
Louis enjoyed wearing No. 12 and was content to finish his Wolfpack career in it. When NC State coach Dave Doeren approached him about wearing No. 1, he understood the meaning of the gesture. Louis just is going to need some time before he truly grasps that he's the one wearing No. 1 in practice this month.
He follows the legacy of former recent players who have worn No. 1, a number Doeren has awarded a standout member of the team the last five years — cornerback/safety Jarvis Byrd in 2014, safety Hakim Jones in 2015 and H-back Jaylen Samuels the last two years.
“The coaches thought I had earned it,” Louis said. “The team backed them on it and thought I deserved it.
“It means a lot because since I’ve been here, the guy who has worn it is someone the team has really looked up to. It’s a huge honor especially because I was here with those guys.”
Doeren felt Louis earned the No. 1 jersey and all it stands for.
“I told him why and I think he’s the player on our team that represents on and off the field,” Doeren said. “His work ethic, his consistency and how he treats people, not just in our building but everywhere he goes. I think he’s a first class person.”
Louis caught 37 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns last year, ending the season with a bang. He hauled in three receptions for 115 yards in the 52-31 victory over Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. He enters his last season with 79 career catches for 1,333 yards and five scores.
“I think my role will definitely go up because we had a lot of weapons leave,” said Louis, who already has earned his college degree. “Nyhiem [Hines], J-Sam, Cole Cook, guys like that who have made really big plays. I think everybody’s roles are going to change, all the receivers.
“It is a matter of guys stepping up and guys understanding that those guys are gone.”
Having sixth-year senior quarterback Ryan Finley back was exciting news for Louis and the rest of the receivers. Finley passed for 3,518 yards and 17 touchdowns last year, and gave the NFL Draft a long look before returning for his third year in Raleigh.
Louis thinks Finley could achieve the signal caller's personal goal of being the top quarterback in college football.
“I was happy, and I texted him,” Louis said of when he heard Finley was coming back. “I was like, ‘Thank you.’ It is always great to have that guy back. Ryan is a really hard worker and a guy I love because he is always pushing us. I’m just happy to have another year with him.”
Louis is also ready to become more of a team-wide leader, besides giving guidance to other receivers.
“For the last couple of years, we’ve had great leadership with Cole Cook and guys like [linebackers] Jerod Fernanez and Airius Moore,” Louis said. “Those guys are gone now. I’m the older guy.”
In the weight room, Louis said that he has bragging rights for strongest squat numbers in the weight room among receivers, but junior Kelvin Harmon has the best bench press. However, Louis added his 310-pound bench press occurred after having two shoulder surgeries, which caused him to redshirt in 2015.
“I think upper body [Harmon] does [the most weight], but lower body he knows he’s not messing with me,” Louis said. “He has a pretty strong upper body. I’m the top receiver at 425 [in the squats]. [Redshirt sophomore] C.J. Riley [is second] and he’s a pretty good squatter. He is a strong kid.”
Louis actually has a favorite number that isn’t either No. 1 or No. 12, but he hopes to incorporate that one into his jersey number if he can make the NFL one day.
“It’s No. 6 because I’m the sixth child in my family,” Louis said. “I’ll probably want No. 16 because receivers probably couldn’t wear No. 6.”
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