RS Graduate Free Safety Hakim Jones has played in every single game that he has ever suited up for at NC State. His 38 games played ties Juston Burris and Mike Rose for the most on the team. Jones has also started 15 straight games. Last year he led the Wolfpack with 80 tackles. Hakim Jones is the Wolfpack’s starting Free Safety.
RS Sophomore Josh Jones was an Honorable Mention for CFN’s Freshman All-American team last year. His 4 interceptions ranked 2nd in the ACC, and 4th nationally among Freshman. He also ranked 5th on the squad with 56 tackles. Josh Jones is the Wolfpack’s Strong Safety.
Junior Dravious Wright started 11 games for the Wolfpack last season, and ranked 4th on the team with 57 tackles. He also was 2nd on the team with 2 forced fumbles. Wright is the Wolfpack’s starting Nickelback
Sophomore Germaine Pratt is a safety in a linebackers body. He stands 6’3″, and weighs 234 pounds. Last season as a True Freshman, he played in all 13 games, and started in the game against Louisville. He had 32 tackles and 3 pass breakups. Pratt is the backup Free Safety.
Sophomore Shawn Boone ranked 2nd on the team in special teams tackles last season, and saw action from scrimmage in 8 contests. He saw 32 snaps against Georgia Tech, and recorded 4 tackles and caused 1 fumble. Boone is the backup Strong Safety.
Freshman Freddie Phillips Jr. is the youngest player on the two-deep depth chart of Safeties and Nickelback. Phillips enrolled early and participated in Spring and Ssummer drills. Doeren said at the media day press conference that it was key for them to figure out who the backup was at Nickel, and he wasn’t sure if Freddie would be ready. It looks like they think he is.
ON3’s Jesse Simonton ranked the Top-25 College Football Coaches heading into the 2024 season, and NC State’s Dave Doeren ranks 23rd.
Here’s what Simonton had to say about Doeren:
23. Dave Doeren, NC State
Doeren became the Wolfpack’s all-time winningest head coach last season, overcoming all manors of offensive ineptitude to win eight games for the fourth straight season. He still hasn’t busted through the glass ceiling and taken NC State to an ACC Championship, but the Wolfpack have legitimate conference title hopes in 2024 with the offseason work Doeren has done via the portal (quarterback Grayson McCall, tailbacks Jordan Waters and Hollywood Smothers and receivers Noah Rogers and Wesley Grimes).
In 11 seasons in Raleigh, Doeren’s program has been steadily consistent and has become a model for development (17 NFL Draft picks since 2018) and strength and conditioning. (ON3)
ACC Coaches in the Top-25
6. Dabo Swinney (Clemson)
7. Mike Norvell (FSU)
20. Jeff Brohm (Louisville)
23. Dave Doeren (NC State)
The 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft will begin this evening at 8pm on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. NC State has had 19 players drafted in the 1st round.
NC State ranks 8th in ACC history in 1st Round Picks.
Three of the Wolfpack’s 1st Round Picks have come under Dave Doeren’s watch, which ranks 2nd all-time in school history. Chuck Amato had 5 players drafted in the 1st round, which is the most ever under a coach at NC State.
Chuck Amato – 5
Dave Doeren – 3
Mike O’Cain – 2
Dick Sheridan – 2
Bo Rein – 2
Earle Edwards – 2
While most projections don’t have Wolfpack Linebacker Payton Wilson going in the 1st round tonight, a few do. Wilson was invited to attend the NFL Draft, but he will be tuning in from his home in Hillsborough. We’ll have to tune in tonight to see if Wilson hears his name called on the 1st night of the 2024 NFL Draft.
