The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643
JULY 2018 ■ 83 DEFENSIVE LINE have a good defensive front and be a good defensive team." The cupboard is not completely bare. Senior defensive end Dar- ian Roseboro and Bryant were both considered to be starters by Patrick, even though they were tech- nically backups last season. Roseboro played at least 20 snaps in all but one game last season, and has 23.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in his career. "There's nobody more focused than Roseboro right now," Patrick said. "Nobody is working harder than Roseboro right now, on and off the field. "He is as focused as I've ever seen him since I've been here. His leadership has been outstanding. His body is changing, he's eating better and he's look- ing better. I'm excited about Roseboro." Bryant played an average of 23.3 snaps per game last season and had 2.5 tackles for loss, including two sacks that both came against Louisville. "He's a very smart, high football IQ player," Patrick noted. "He knows the game pretty darn well, and can probably play multiple positions on the front if you ask him to." Opposite Roseboro at defensive end could be redshirt junior James Smith-Williams. He played in 12 games last year, and com- piled 10 tackles, 1.5 stops for loss and 0.5 sacks. He also blocked a punt against Notre Dame that was recovered for a touchdown. "I told him, 'You're not here to be Chubb or to be Street. You're here to be you and be the best you can be,'" Patrick noted. "He's going to be fine. I'm excited about him. He's a guy that is always where he is supposed to be. "He rarely makes mistakes. He's a very solid player." Frazier was considered the leading candidate to start alongside Bryant in the middle, but his absence for a lot of the spring sessions opened the door for redshirt freshman Grant Gibson and redshirt junior Larrell Murchison. "Gibson was forced into the fire a little bit this spring," Patrick noted. "I thought he handled it as good as he possibly could, as any young man could in that situation. "When Murchison first got here last year, he had an unbelievable long ways to go. He couldn't even get in a stance. Now there's probably nobody who improved as much as he did coming out of the spring. I am really excited about him." Ideally, Patrick would prefer to have an eight- to 10-man rotation across the defensive line. At end, fifth-year senior Deonte Holden, junior Joe Babros (a junior college transfer), redshirt freshman Xavier Lyas and early enrollee freshman Joseph Boletepeli could get into the mix. Defensive Tackle Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 91 Eurndraus Bryant Sr. 6-1 325 North Charleston, S.C. Registered a career-high 15 tackles (nine solo) as a junior, with 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one quarterback pressure. 90 Shug Frazier R-So. 6-3 316 Buford, Ga. Played in every game last season, accumulating 13 tackles and 0.5 sacks in 223 snaps. Missed the majority of the spring due to injury. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 92 Larrell Murchison R-Jr. 6-3 285 Elizabethtown, N.C. Former junior college honorable mention All-American was a three-year starter at fullback and defensive end at East Bladen High, but has grown into a defensive tackle. 73 Grant Gibson R-Fr. 6-1 309 Charlotte Took advantage of getting extra reps this past spring, which was good since he played mostly center and guard at Charlotte Mallard Creek High. Was named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year last fall. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 42 Danny Blakeman R-Fr. 6-2 252 Raleigh Walk-on from local high school Leesville Road. 96 Dante Johnson R-Fr. 6-3 287 Apopka, Fla. Redshirted his freshman year while rehabbing a knee injury. Had 104 tackles, 36 stops for loss and 16 sacks in his career at Apopka (Fla.) Wekiva High, despite suffering a torn ACL his junior campaign. 56 Val Martin R-So. 6-2 290 Marietta, Ga. Helped Iowa Western Community College go 11-1 last year, accumulating 49 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks in 12 games played. Redshirted in 2016. 58 Davontae McCrae Fr. 6-5 258 Miami, Fla. Helped traditional prep powerhouse Miami Northwestern High win the 6A state title as a senior. 29 Alim McNeill Fr. 6-2 272 Raleigh Played linebacker and sometimes fullback at Raleigh Sanderson High. Had 60 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and five sacks during his senior year, and earned a spot in the U.S. Army All-American Game. 98 Kennan Solomon R-So. 6-5 275 Roxboro, N.C. Walk-on from Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, N.C. Also attended Person High. Defensive End Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 45 Darian Roseboro Sr. 6-4 287 Lincolnton, N.C. Compiled 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last year. His father, Johnny Roseboro, passed away the week before the seventh game of the season at Pittsburgh. 80 James Smith-Williams R-Jr. 6-3 262 Raleigh The converted linebacker has played in 24 career games, recording 27 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 44 Joe Babros Jr. 6-4 243 Mission Viejo, Calif. Notched 28 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in eight games for Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo last fall. 97 Xavier Lyas R-Fr. 6-4 236 Plant City, Fla. Enrolled at NC State for 2017 spring practice and gained 28 pounds during his redshirt year. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 99 Joseph Boletepeli Fr. 6-4 257 Raleigh Enrolled early and practiced with the Wolfpack this past spring. The Rivals.com three- star prospect played at Millbrook High his first three years, and then played for former NCSU and NFL standout Dewayne Washington at Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage. 95 Derrick Eason Fr. 6-4 245 Norfolk, Va. Signed with NC State after a brief flirtation with Notre Dame. He was named Virginia's Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year at Norview High. 55 Deonte Holden 5th-Sr. 6-4 247 Landover, Md. Redshirted his first year in Raleigh, and then has missed parts of three years due to an assortment of injuries. Logged 10 plays over four games last year and made one tackle. 52 Ibrahim Kante R-Fr. 6-4 266 New York Graduated from Bronx (N.Y.) Cardinal Hayes in 2015, but elected to spend a post-grad - uate year at Trinity-Pawling School in New York. Gained 31 pounds during his redshirt season and played some defensive tackle during the spring. 37 Jessie Malit R-Fr. 6-3 247 Concord, N.C. Walk-on from Cox Mill High gained 32 pounds during his redshirt year. Amassed 171 career tackles and 22 sacks in high school. 93 Camden Woods Fr. 6-3 240 Raleigh Walk-on from Wake Christian Academy. Year-By-Year Sack Totals Year Sacks Yards 2017 30 197 2016 37 258 2015 32 175 2014 30 236 2013 20 115 2012 33 225 2011 38 242 2010 42 284 2009 24 159 2008 23 144