How RB Demie Sumo went from an unknown to a rising star for NC State football

George McDonald had never heard of Demie Sumo-Karngbaye.

The former NC State assistant coach had traveled to the southeast corner of New Jersey on a chilly Friday night in November of 2019 to watch someone else — Willingboro High School wide receiver Chris Long, a prospect the Wolfpack had offered in February during an unofficial visit.

On the first possession, McDonald shifted focus from Long to the Willingboro backfield and the Chimeras' running back, who had found the end zone on the opening kickoff with relative ease. He did it again on the next drive, leaving defenders in the dust with his combination of elusiveness, power and speed.

McDonald checked the roster and found the name: No. 6, Demie Sumo, Jr.

Who is this kid? Where has he been hiding?

"He was obviously the best guy on the field," McDonald told the USA TODAY Network. "I was blown away."

The two connected after the game, and McDonald discovered why Sumo, despite his talent, was a relative unknown on the recruiting trail: The junior's grades were below the accepted level to offer a scholarship. McDonald offered Sumo a challenge; hit the books, pull up your GPA and I'll offer you a future at a Power Five program.

Sumo had offers from Temple and Toledo, but this was something bigger. He began to perform in the classroom as well as on the field. McDonald, who left for Illinois before the 2021 season, stayed true to his word.

"I remember when he called with the offer," Sumo told the USA TODAY Network. "I jumped on my bed so high that I damn near hit the ceiling."

KNOW YOUR ENEMY:Breaking down NC State's Week 3 opponent, Texas Tech

FINE DINING:How NC State's Dave Doeren and Texas Tech's Joey McGuire bonded over chicken fried steak

CHANGES ON SIDELINE:Why Dave Doeren removed OC Tim Beck from the sideline. What it means for the NC State offense.

Fast-forward three years, and after only three games at running back and 35 total carries, Sumo has emerged as a rising star for the Wolfpack. The sophomore, who played intermittently on special teams last year, has a team-best 203 yards while averaging 5.8 yards a carry for a team looking to win its first ACC title since 1979.

It's a small body of work, but there have been flashes of greatness — most notably a 24-yard touchdown run in the first half against East Carolina, an exciting 22-yard scamper in the fourth quarter where he eluded half a dozen ECU defenders before being stopped at the 1-yard line and a 38-yard touchdown catch against Texas Tech from wide receiver Thayer Thomas.

"I'm just getting started," Sumo said. "I don't really speak too much on my game. I just go out and let my game speak for itself."

'One more'

Between bites of lasagna on Tuesday night inside NC State's football facility, Sumo points to a whiteboard with the names of all the running backs listed together.

Next to their names are their "one more" — the extra thing for each player to focus on that week. Next to Sumo's name is "get vertical at the end of the run."

"My coach was telling me that I make a lot of cuts and that sometimes I could make it easier on myself to go north and run through people," Sumo said. "He (coach Kurt Roper) tells me all the time, I'm 210 pounds and no one person can tackle me."

Sumo had 70 yards on seven carries in the Week 2 win over Charleston Southern but did not carry the ball in the second half after the game was well in hand.

The week before, after rushing for 79 yards and a touchdown during a 21-20 win over ECU, Sumo's one more was one word.

Calm.

"I wasn't playing calm. I was just really excited and anxious," Sumo said. "So I decided to work on my mental and try better to calm myself down when I'm in the game."

Part of that practice takes place at the end of the day when he has time to seek knowledge outside of football. He recently finished a book on Karma and started reading Dale Carnegie's best-seller "How to win friends and influence people."

Before bed, he sits alone in his room and lights incense as he listens to a guided meditation. He remembers to breathe, staying centered in a world that has begun to know his name.

"I'm really trying to stay grounded to myself and not let any fame or notoriety get to my head," Sumo said. "That's what really keeps me, you know, in my own shoes."

Family roots

Sumo has always wanted to stand out.

It's why he used a shark emoji instead of a goat when he promoted himself on social media, a move that earned him the nickname "Sharko" from his friends and has become part of his football identity.

"I didn't want to use the same emoji that everyone else was using. It's how I live my life, honestly," Sumo said. "I feel like everyone is similar in some ways, but any chance to be different, I take it."

It was his mother, Joyce Dissee-Karngbaye, who taught him to be proud of who he was. Dissee was born in the West African country of Liberia and immigrated to the United State after meeting Sumo's father. She raised five children — Sumo is the youngest — while working odd jobs to make ends meet.

"She's been working her whole life," Sumo said. "I never saw her without a job."

It's the reason he added Karngbaye to his name this season on NC State's official roster. It may not be the name on his birth certificate, but it's his way to honor her many sacrifices.

"I wanted to make sure and represent her side of the family, too," he said.

After this season is over, Sumo and his mother will make a trip to Liberia to visit her family — the first time her son has made the pilgrimage to Africa.

"It's been a long time coming," Sumo said.

Saturday's home game against Texas Tech (7 p.m., ESPN2) was a family reunion of sorts for Sumo. Phillip Blidi, the Red Raiders' starting defensive lineman, is Sumo's first cousin. The two spent every Thanksgiving and Christmas together before Blidi moved to New Mexico in the 8th grade.

The No. 12 Wolfpack (3-0, 0-0), which moved up four spots in the Associated Press poll after their 27-14 win over Texas Tech this weekend, will host UConn (1-3) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in their final non-conference game before facing No. 5 Clemson on the road next week. This is the highest NC State has been ranked in the AP poll since Oct. 20, 2002.

David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at dthompson1@gannett.com, at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: NC State RB Demie Sumo went from unknown to rising star