Breakdown of NC State’s Depth Chart for ECU

Earlier today, NC State released their Depth Chart for the season opener against ECU in Greenville this Saturday. Below is the Depth Chart, with some notes beneath.

Notes

• Redshirt Sophomore Anthony Belton will step into the big shoes of being the next Left Tackle after Ikem Ekwonu, who was drafted 6th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, and is starting for the Carolina Panthers. The buzz has been strong surrounding Belton dating back to the Spring.
• The return of Graduate Chandler Zavala starting at Left Guard after going down with an injury in Game 5 in 2021 is HUGE. The NCAA granted Zavala an extra year of eligibility. The return of Zavala means Redshirt Sophomore Dylan McMahon gets to go back to Right Guard, where he started the first 5 games last year. In the 5 games that Zavala played, he was the highest graded pass blocker on the O-Line according to ProFootballFocus.
• The Wolfpack are blessed with experienced depth on the Offensive Line. Redshirt Junior Derrick Eason has started 29 games and Graduate Timothy McKay has started 18.
• NC State went out and snagged Graduate Transfer Darryl Jones Wide Receiver from Maryland, and it looks like they believe they made a good grab. The reason I say that, is he is listed as Devin Carter’s backup at the X-Receiver position, ahead of Sophomore Anthony Smith, who has had buzz surrounding him all offseason.
• Junior Keyon Lesane is starting at Z-Receiver position, with the ever hyped Redshirt Freshman Julian Gray behind him. It will be interesting to see if Gray pops, and eventually claims the position, but I’ve been a fan of Lesane since he stepped on campus as well.
• Give it up for Redshirt Sophomore Demarcus Jones II for earning the 3rd string spot at Running Back. Jones is a former walk-on that was awarded a scholarship in March of last year.
• The depth at Running Back is impressive, because two 4-star prospects aren’t on the 4-deep: Micah Crowell and Michael Allen. 
• Redshirt Sophomore C.J. Clark entered last season as the starting Nose Tackle, but went down with an injury in game 3. With Graduate Corey Durden earning 1st Team All-ACC honors in 2021, Clark has been moved out to End, backing up Sophomore Davin Vann. Clark is so versatile, but with his size and explosive ability, End is a better fit.
• It was expected that Sophomore Devon Betty and Junior Jaylon Scott would be on the 2nd string at Linebacker, but the question mark has been who would be the third. It’s noteworthy that Redshirt Freshman Jayland Parker got the gig, and not Redshirt Freshmen Jordan Poole or Caden Fordham, who were both 4-star recruits coming out of high school, and have had a bit of buzz surrounding them this Fall.
• Graduate Derrek Pitts and Redshirt Sophomore Shyheim Battle were the expected starters at Cornerback, but it says something about Sophomore Aydan White that he is listed at the backup at both positions, with an “or” between him and the starters.
• One of the bigger position battles has been at Strong Safety. Junior Jakeen Harris started Game 1 last year, but then Graduate Cyrus Fagan (FSU transfer) started Game 2, but went down with an injury in Game 3. For the rest of the year Harris and Sophomore Devan Boykin battled it out for playing time at Strong Safety. Fagan earned the job heading into ECU, which isn’t surprising, and now Boykin is listed as Senior Tanner Ingle’s backup at Free Safety.
• With the exodus of Zonovan Knight, Redshirt Freshman Wide Receiver Julian Gray and Junior Running Back Jordan Houston are listed as the starting Kick Returners.