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NC State 2018 Football Position Preview: Safeties & Nickels

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6 years ago

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Thus far we’ve previewed NC State Offense: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, and the Offensive Line.

On Defense we have previewed the Defensive Ends, Defensive Tackles, Linebackers, and the Cornerbacks. Next up is the Safeties & Nickels.

The Starters

Redshirt Junior Strong Safety Jarius Morehead (6’1″/220) had the best graded season of any returning Wolfpack defender last year if you include the Bowl Game (Pratt holds that honor if you just count the regular season). After only playing 92 snaps as a Redshirt Freshman, Morehead was thrown into the fire, starting 12 games (the final 11) in 2017, playing 886 snaps. He ranked 2nd on the team in tackles last year, with 80. When you look at his ProFootballFocus grades, he’s nearly equally good at pass defense vs. rush defense, and is the best graded returning Wolpack player against the pass.

Morehead is the most experienced player in the whole entire secondary, and should have a lot more confidence in his own skills, and who he is in the locker room.

Redshirt Senior Free Safety Dexter Wright (6’2″/229) finished the 2017 season as the starter, and he has picked right back up where he left off. While he was unhealthy for much of last year, a healthy Wright will go a long way to solidifying the Wolfpack defense. Wright is a scary looking Safety, standing 6’2″ tall, and weighing nearly 230 pounds. If I was a receiver, I wouldn’t be  keen about going across the middle with Wright lurking out there. Defensive Coordinator Dave Huxtable says that Wright is only inches behind where Morehead is at.

Redshirt Junior Nickelback Freddie Phillips (6’1″/208) is starting the 2018 season opener vs. James Madison after tearing his achilles in the 2017 season opener, and missed the rest of the season as a result. Huxtable believes that Phillips is one of the hardest workers on NC State’s team, on and off the field. The Fall has been a time of getting back in Football shape, but Hux believes he is going to be a really good player. Redshirt Junior Stephen Griffin was expected to start, but he missed a lot of Fall Camp due to injury. Even though the coaches have raved about Freshman Tanner Ingle, they are starting Phillips because they think he is the most ready to play.

The 2’s

Redshirt Sophomore Strong Safety Isaiah Stallings (6’4″/220) will be backing up Morehead. He got some valuable reps as a Freshman, starting the Marshall game, and playing 23 snaps (a season high) against Arizona St. in the Sun Bowl. Stallings has the height, weight, and length that the NC State coaches dream about for a Safety.

Junior Free Safety Tim Kidd-Glass (6’1″/204) will be backing up Wright. After playing only special teams as a Freshman, Kidd-Glass was soaked in 2017, starting in 9 games for the injured Dexter Wright. When your backup Safety started 9 games the year before, and racked up 628 snaps, you have to like where your depth is at. For perspective, Kidd-Glass had the second highest season grade in the secondary according to ProFootballFocus (Morehead was #1).

Freshman Nickelback Tanner Ingle (5’10″/186) will be backing up Freddie Phillips. In all honesty, Ingle might have more buzz surrounding him than any NC State player coming out of Fall Camp. Doeren said that in all of his years of coaching, Ingle has one of the Top-5 highest football aptitudes he’s been around. He isn’t one of the bigger guys in the secondary, but he might seek contact more than the rest. Huxtable said he has been outstanding. Basically, Ingle is a natural. To be completely honest, I’m surprised he’s not starting week 1 with all the hype surrounding him.

Redshirt Junior Nickelback Stephen Griffin (6’3″/210) was a lock to start the 2018 season at Nickelback, but now is the 3rd string Nickel, with an “OR” between his name and Tanner Ingle. This is because Griffin missed a majority of Fall Camp with a nagging ankle injury. He’s back at practice, and Doeren said he looked great at last Saturday’s mock game. Griffin brings 2 years of experience playing SEC football for Tennessee, seeing action in 18 games. After week 1, and Griffin is back in better football shape, don’t be shocked to see him back in the starting lineup.

 

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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NC State Football

NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class Ranks 7th Nationally After 2 Commitments this Week

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15 hours ago

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May 11, 2024

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NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class ranks 7th nationally according to ON3 after two commitments this week from Akron Safety Kerry Martin Jr. and Colorado Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace.

(ON3)

247Sports ranks the 14-man class 18th, and Rivals ranks it 28th.

NC State’s 2024 Transfer Class

Akron S Kerry Martin Jr. 
Colorado NT Chazz Wallace
Auburn S Donovan Kaufman
Oklahoma RB Daylan Smothers
Villanova CB Devon Marshall
Ohio State WR Noah Rogers
Duke RB Jordan Waters
Maryland DB Tamarcus Cooley
Maryland CB Corey Coley Jr.
UCONN TE Justin Joly
Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall
Wake Forest WR Wesley Grimes
Notre Dame C Zeke Correll
Missouri OL Valen Erickson

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NC State Football

NC State’s Grayson McCall Ranks 4th Amongst Active QB’s in Career Passing Yards Heading into ’24

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15 hours ago

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May 11, 2024

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NC State’s Grayson McCall ranks 4th amongst Active Quarterbacks heading into the 2024 College Football season. McCall leads all Active ACC Quarterbacks in Career Passing Yards.

Image

McCall was at Coastal Carolina for his first 5 years, throwing for 10,005 yards, which is 6 more than the infographic from PFF above.

McCall transferred to NC State for his final year of eligibility, and he has the weapons in place to throw for 3,000 yards for the first time in his career. If he did, he would be the first Wolfpack Quarterback to do so since Devin Leary threw 3,433 yards in 2021.

Here’s a look at McCall’s highlights from NC State’s 2024 Spring Game.

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NC State Football

The Athletic Includes NC State in Their Post-Spring 2024 Preseason Top-25

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3 days ago

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May 9, 2024

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The Athletic released their 2024 Post-Spring Preseason Top-25, and NC State landed at #21. Here’s what they had to say about the Wolfpack.

21. NC State

The Wolfpack made a huge acquisition at quarterback in landing Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall. They also added former Ohio State wide receiver Noah Rogers, a North Carolina native and one-time top-50 national prospect. It’ll be hard to overcome the loss of linebacker Payton Wilson, one of the best defensive players in the country a year ago, and there are plenty of personnel questions in the secondary. But Dave Doeren always has this team ready to go. (The Athletic)

ACC in the Top 25

10. Miami

12. FSU

18. Clemson

21. NC State

22. Louisville

Tennessee, who the Wolfpack will play in Week 2 in Bank of America Stadium, is sitting at #15.

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NC State Football

NC State’s Current 2024 Football Scholarship Breakdown

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3 days ago

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May 8, 2024

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Here’s a look at NC State’s current Football scholarship breakdown.

Offense

Quarterback 
Redshirt Senior Grayson McCall
Redshirt Freshman Lex Thomas
4-Star Freshman Cedrick Bailey

Transferred Out: MJ Morris
Transferred In: Grayson McCall

Running Back
Redshirt Senior Jordan Waters
Redshirt Senior Running Back Demarcus Jones
Redshirt Junior Jordan Poole
Sophomore Kendrick Raphael
Redshirt Freshman Daylan Smothers
3-Star Freshman Jayden Scott
3-Star Freshman Isiah Jones

Transferred Out: Jordan Houston, Michael Allen, & Delbert Mimms III
Transferred In: Jordan Waters & Daylan Smothers

Wide Receiver
Redshirt Junior Jalen Coit
Redshirt Junior Jakolbe Baldwin
Redshirt Junior Dacari Collins
Junior Wesley Grimes
Sophomore Kevin Concepcion
Redshirt Freshman Noah Rogers
4-Star Freshman Jonathan Paylor
4-Star Freshman Terrell Anderson
4-Star Freshman Keenan Jackson
4-Star Wide Receiver Jimmar Boston
3-Star Freshman Christian Zachary

Transferred Out – Porter Rooks, Anthony Smith, Terrell Timmons, Josh Crabtree, Christopher Scott & Julian Gray
Transferred In – Wesley Grimes

Tight End
Junior Justin Joly
Junior Dante Daniels (JUCO Addition)
Sophomore Juice Vereen

Transferred Out – Christopher Toudle, Cedd Seabrough & Fred Seabrough
Transferred In – Justin Joly

Offensive Line
Redshirt Senior Dawson Jaramillo
Redshirt Senior Timothy McKay
Redshirt Senior Anthony Belton
Redshirt Senior Zeke Correll
Redshirt Junior Sean Hill
Redshirt Junior Anthony Carter Jr.
Redshirt Junior Matt McCabe
Redshirt Junior Patrick Matan
Redshirt Sophomore Rylan Vann
Redshirt Sophomore Jacarrius Peak
Redshirt Sophomore Valen Erickson
Redshirt Freshman Obadiah Obasayui
Redshirt Freshman Kamen Smith
Redshirt Freshman Darion Rivers
Redshirt Freshman Rico Jackson
4-Star Freshman Tyler West
3-Star Freshman Robby Martin
3-Star Freshman Trent Mitchell

Transferred out: Lyndon Cooper & Jaleel Davis
Transferred In: Zeke Correll & Valen Erickson

Defense

Defensive Line
Senior Defensive End Davin Vann
Senior Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Noah Potter
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Red Hibbler
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Travali Price
Junior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland
Redshirt Sophomore Nose Tackle DJ Jackson
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Isaiah Shirley
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Chase Bond
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Justin Terrell
3-Star Freshman Defensive Lineman Joshua Alexander-Felton

Transferred Out: Nose Tackles C.J. Clark & Nick Campbell
Transferred In: Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace

Linebackers

Redshirt Senior Devon Betty
Redshirt Junior Sean Brown
Redshirt Junior Caden Fordham
Redshirt Junior Jayland Parker
Junior Wyatt Wright (JUCO Addition)
Redshirt Freshman Kelvon McBride
Redshirt Freshman Kamal Bonner
4-Star Freshman Elijah Davis
3-Star Freshman Cannon Lewis
3-Star Freshman Zane Williams
3-Star Freshman Joshua Ofor

Transferred Out: LB’s Daejuan Thompson & Torren Wright

Defensive Backs

Redshirt Senior Safety Kerry Martin Jr.
Senior Cornerback Aydan White
Senior Defensive Back Corey Coley Jr.
Senior Safety Devan Boykin
Senior Safety Bishop Fitzgerald
Senior Safety Donovan Kaufman
Junior Cornerback Devon Marshall
Junior Cornerback Rente Hinton
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Jackson Vick
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Isaiah Crowell
Sophomore Cornerback Brandon Cisse
Redshirt Freshman Defensive Back Tamarcus Cooley
Redshirt Freshman Safety Zack Myers
Redshirt Freshman Safety Daemon Fagan
4-Star Freshman Safety Ronnie Royal III
4-Star Freshman Cornerback Asaad Brown
3-Star Freshman Cornerback Jivan Baly
3-Star Freshman Safety Brody Barnhardt

Transferred Out: Safety Jakeen Harris, Defensive Back Nate Evans, Defensive Back Darius Edmundson, Nickel Cecil Powell
Transferred In: Tamarcus Cooley, Corey Coley Jr., Devon Marshall, Donovan Kaufman & Kerry Martin Jr.

Specialist

Redshirt Junior Caden Noonkester

That’s 83 players on scholarship, with 2 available.

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