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N.C. State cornerbacks Jeremy Gray and DeAndre Morgan are experienced when it comes to covering big-time receivers. Both are returning starters at corner, but one of them may face the toughest test of his career when the Pack faces South Carolina and preseason All-American Kenny McKinley.

The speedy, six-foot receiver is expected to finish his career with the Gamecocks holding every major school receiving record and will prove to be a handful for either of the cornerbacks chosen to cover him.

Though neither corner would mention McKinley by name, they both acknowledged that a Steve Spurrier-run team will know how to get the ball in the hands of its biggest playmaker.

“We’ve seen some tape on their receivers and we know they’re a great passing team,” Morgan said. “We have to step our game up to another level. We’re facing a great receiving core and we know we’re going to be tested a lot.”

Gray noted the Gamecocks like to run a lot of screens, getting the ball into the hands of McKinley in open space. That will force either him or Morgan to face the record-breaking receiver one-on-one.

Morgan is used to facing speedy receivers. He says he’s confident he can handle the smaller, faster receivers, it’s the big and tall receivers that give him the biggest challenge.

“It’s easier to guard a smaller guy, but what happens when you’re guarding a 6’5 guy and they throw a jump ball? How do you respond to that?” Morgan said. ” try to pick and choose my battles with the big guys and let them know they can’t intimidate me.”

Neither Gray or Morgan know which one will start the game opposite of McKinley. They both said that’s for the coaches to decide in the week leading up to the game. But with time running out and the coaching staff still looking for an answer to the defense’s depth problems at safety, Gray and Morgan said they are working hard to prepare for whoever they will be covering.