NC State Defensive Tackle Kentavius Street isn’t afraid to say it…he’s the strongest player on the football team.  Street’s strength and athleticism are at near mutant levels.  He bench presses 445lbs, squats over 700lbs, and power cleans around 335 pounds.  Street (6’2″/290) also boasts a 38.5 inch vertical and 8% body fat.  Street pushes himself extremely hard in the weight room because he knows it will translate to the football field.

“My mindset in the weight room is that I need to get better, and I know that this will help get me there,” said Street. “If I put my hands on the right spot on any given play, I can always blow a blocker off the line.  The weight room makes me a much more explosive and violent player.”

Adding extra weight is a pressure placed on most players that are moved to the interior of the defensive line.  Street told us at Media Day that he might have gained 5-10 pounds in the Spring, but it was all muscle.  He believes he is strong enough to not have to pack on the pounds to be successful at Defensive Tackle.

NC State’s head coach Dave Doeren believes that Street is strong enough for the task as well.

“We lost some great production inside. Street’s one of the few players that can play both,” said Doeren. “He’s fast enough to be an end, and certainly strong and big enough to be a tackle.  We just felt like he would be a disruptive force in there and create a lot of mismatches.”

After playing Defensive End last season, Street is becoming more and more confident at his new home at Defensive Tackle.

“I am feeling great at Tackle.  I’ve fully learned the scheme.  Now I’m just trying to play more consistent going up and down, and play faster,” said Street. “Coach says that this won’t be the end of me playing End.  There will be some games where I’ll still see action there, but I’m feeling great at Tackle.  I have a huge speed advantage in the interior, and I think it’s going to play to my advantage.”