The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643
JULY 2018 ■ 79 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2018 "The kid I am really excited about is [freshman] Joseph Boletepeli. He has been in the program, and now it's his time to step up. He has all the physical tools. He can re- ally be a productive player for us. "We've got some good players, but they lack experience and playing time, which are so valuable. We have to get them 1,000 reps. It started in spring, they are working during the summer and then we'll get them in fall camp. We have to get them to the point where they are playing well up front." Fifth-year senior outside linebacker Germaine Pratt is expected to have a big final season. How has he been in his new role? "He's been outstanding mentoring these young linebackers and being a great leader. The players look up to him and have tremen- dous respect for Germaine. "[Sophomore] Louis Acceus and [redshirt freshman] Isaiah Moore are learning for them, and I really think they have a chance to be really good players. "[Redshirt sophomore] Brock Miller did not go through spring practice, but we know Brock is a good player. [Freshman] Payton Wilson did not participate this spring. There's going to be a lot of depth there. It's going to be a very competitive fall camp." What are the linebacker roles in a 4-2-5 defense, with the Mike and Will spots? Is it similar to inside linebackers in a 3-4 scheme? "A 4-2-5 is very similar to a 4-3. Being in the 4-2 and having a fifth defensive back on the field, which we call nickel, allows you to have a little more flexibility in your cover- age package. In a 4-3, you are playing three linebackers with your Sam and your Will as your outside backers, and the Mike as your middle backer. "In a 4-2-5, your nickel is replacing your Sam. Your Will is still your outside backer opposite the nickel. Your Mike is still the middle backer among the three." How has Tennessee transfer Stephen Griffin, a redshirt junior, handled his role at nickel? "I've been really impressed with him and how well he's picked up the system. He had a really good spring. He's long and rangy. He's a smart football player. He's picked it up very, very fast. "Coach Henry and Coach Roof have done a great job with him. I'm excited about Grif- fin, and I think he's going to be a really good player for us. I love what I saw in the spring from him." What is the latest with redshirt juniot nickel Freddie Phillips, who got injured last year? "Freddie is coming off an Achilles' injury. We'll get him back this fall and get him com- peting with Griffin. Freddie was doing some good things before the injury. "He's been away from it for a year. We have to get him back in the football mold and see where he is coming back from that injury." How do you see the rest of the secondary shaping up? "We have [redshirt junior] Jarius More- head, [redshirt sophomore] Isaiah Stallings, [fifth-year senior] Dexter Wright and [junior] Tim Kidd-Glass back at safety. All of them played last year and have been on the field of battle. Coach Roof has done a tremendous job with them. "[Junior] Nick McCloud has been a part- time starter at cornerback and played a lot of snaps. "We're still getting a lot of looks at guys. [Sophomore] Chris Ingram, [fifth-year senior] Maurice Trowell and [redshirt junior] Vernon Grier are all good football players, but they haven't played a lot. They're still learning the game and learning the system some." ■ Huxtable is entering his sixth season as the Wolfpack's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN "This is when you get excited. You have an opportunity to take a young guy and develop him and teach him. Coaching is teaching, and with our number of younger players we have to be at our best as coaches every day and be motivated to do our job at the highest level." ■ Huxtable