NC State’s Dave Doeren: “Tanner Ingle is Different”

Senior Safety Tanner Ingle played in all 12 football games for NC State last year, compared to the six games he was able to play in 2020. In 2020, Ingle was ejected from 3 games due to targeting penalties, and dealt with a hamstring injury throughout much of the year. What did a healthy and fully present Ingle do for the Pack in 2021? Ingle earned 1st Team All-ACC honors, and earned Preseason All-ACC honors heading into 2022.

When asked after practice yesterday about the difference Ingle makes on the field, NC State head coach Dave Doeren had this to say:

“Tanner is different. He triggers differently than a lot of people on the back end. He sees things. His vision and ability to diagnose plays and react is unique. Having him out there, especially in the run game, makes a big difference. He can get from 12 yards from the line of scrimmage to the ball in a hurry. Even though he’s in a pass-coverage position at times and they’re not counting him, he can show up and be an extra hat.” (Link)

In all of my years of watching NC State football, Ingle stands out as one of the hardest hitting and instinctual defensive players to wear the Red and White. Ingle is a Senior leader of the Wolfpack secondary this season, which for once is getting praise. CBSSports ranked NC State’s secondary as the 4th best in the nation heading into 2022, and Ingle is a big reason why.

“The ACC is stacked with quality quarterbacks and high-flying offenses, so the Wolfpack may not finish with the nation’s most statistically dominant passing defense. But you won’t find a unit better equipped to handle the challenge than this NC State group anchored by seniors Tanner Ingle, Derrek Pitts Jr., Cyrus Fagan and Tyler Baker-WIlliams.” (CBS)

Ingle was on the field more than any other Wolfpack defender in 2021. There’s a reason why.

Tanner Ingle is different.