N.C. State coach Chuck Amato was watching his defense prepare for the Maryland game last fall when linebacker Levar Fisher came to him with a question.

"He wanted to know what the school record was for tackles in a game," Amato said. "I told him I didn't know. He told me, 'Whatever it is, I'm going to get it.' "

As it turned out, the junior linebacker just missed Bill Cowher's school record of 24 tackles in a game. But Cowher, now the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, had better watch out. Fisher has another year to nail the record.

"People set goals," Fisher said.

"My goals going into a game are 25 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions. I haven't reached them yet, but I set my goals high. If I don't get 20 tackles, I'm upset."

Fisher, a 6-1, 223-pounder from Beaufort, N.C., hit the 20-tackle mark twice in 2000 -- against Florida State and Maryland. He led the nation in tackles per game (14.9) and was voted ACC defensive player of the year after recording 166 tackles, 15 for loss including five sacks, one interception, five fumbles caused and three fumbles recovered.

"His motor never stops," Amato said. "He's a guy you just like to see go and show the other guys: 'Look at him.' If we had 10 more like him ..."

One Levar Fisher is enough for N.C. State's opponents.

"You can't help but notice him any time you watch him play," Duke coach Carl Franks said.

"He's aggressive. He can time the snap count and get through the line of scrimmage and be on the quarterback before the running back has a chance to block him. He's a very special football player."

Fisher should be even better this season after offseason surgery corrected a shoulder problem that plagued him last year.

"I'm going to work even harder," he vowed. "I'm going to gain weight. I'm going to get faster. I'm going to do whatever it takes to be the best."

And whatever it takes to break Cowher's record.

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