Dean Haynes was so eager to learn N.C. State's running back playbook in a short time that he made flash cards to quiz himself on his assignments.

Even Haynes admits that he was surprised that he was named the starting running back for Saturday's 6 p.m. opener against Western Carolina. He moved from cornerback to running back midway through fall camp after coach Tom O'Brien was disappointed with the play of the backs in the team's third preseason scrimmage.

Heading into the preseason, junior Curtis Underwood was listed as the starter and sophomore James Washington was the backup. Now redshirt freshman Haynes is starting with freshman Mustafa Greene backing him up.

Dean Haynes, who began training camp as a starter at cornerback, has earned the starting running back job for N.C. State's opener at 6 p.m. Saturday against Western Carolina, according to a depth chart released this afternoon.

Haynes, a redshirt freshman, moved to running back about two weeks ago, according to team spokeswoman Annabelle Myers. Coach Tom O'Brien referred on a couple occasions last week to personnel moves the staff had made on a tentative basis, but didn't specifically list them.

Apparently Haynes' was the most significant move. He will be backed up by freshman Mustafa Greene.