The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JULY 2018 ■ 89 LINEBACKERS BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State could have one of its fastest groups of linebackers in years. The athleticism of fifth-year senior Germaine Pratt, sopho- more Louis Acceus and redshirt freshman Isaiah Moore has defen- sive coordinator and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable optimistic. The youth movement led by Acceus and Moore is needed due to the graduation of middle linebacker Jerod Fernandez and weakside linebacker Airius Moore, who combined for 86 career starts. NC State made the move to a 4-2-5 defense a few years ago, us- ing the "Mike" and "Will" linebackers. Pratt will handle the Will duties, but both positions have some overlap. "Now with the spread offense, your Mike and your Will have to be similar players," Huxtable said. "They have to play in the box and they have to play out of the box. The days of that old Mike linebacker playing tackle to tackle are pretty much dissolved. "Your Mike linebacker, along with your Will, they have to be able to do it all." Pratt rotated with Fernandez and Moore while coming off the bench last year, but he is poised to become one of the elite lineback- ers in the ACC. The former safety has morphed into a 245-pounder, and contributed 69 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two intercep- tions last year, one of which was a pick-six. "He's still learning his run fits a little bit, although he has come a long ways," Huxtable said. Acceus and Moore will be competing for the middle linebacker position. Acceus played special teams in 12 games last year, while Moore redshirted. "It's a game of movement — and in our league there are a lot of spread teams — and Louis reads things fast," Huxtable said. "He plays fast with his eyes, so he plays fast. "His speed is going to allow him to be able to run and gain more space and make more plays because he is fast and he can run." The two class of 2017 recruits were both standouts in the Kay Yow Spring Game in April, with Acceus playing with the starters and Moore on the second string. Huxtable expects both to play, regardless of who starts. "Louis and Isaiah are in great competition right now, both in the same class," Huxtable said. "Isaiah is a little bit bigger. Like Louis, he's got a willing heart. He's hungry. He wants to play after being redshirted last year. He's smart. "I think his physical tools are very similar to Louis. Louis might be a step faster, Isaiah might be a little bit more physical because he's bigger." The wild card could be the healthy return of redshirt sophomore weakside linebacker Brock Miller, who had five tackles in six NEXT WAVE OF TALENT A Speedy Group Of Youngsters Bolster The Linebacking Unit Linebacker Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 2 Louis Acceus So. 5-11 224 Spring Valley, N.Y. Was the fourth-leading tackler on special teams last season with four after seeing action in 12 games. 3 Germaine Pratt 5th-Sr. 6-3 245 High Point, N.C. Played safety his first two years, and was felled by a shoulder injury that caused him to redshirt in 2016. He made the move to weakside linebacker last year and flourished. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 36 Brock Miller R-So. 6-3 231 Port St. Lucie, Fla. Had big stats his senior year at John Carroll Catholic High, totaling 139 tackles (97 solo), 65 tackles for loss and 25 sacks. Ranked second nationally in TFLs and ninth in sacks. 41 Isaiah Moore R-Fr. 6-2 235 Chester, Va. Produced 106 tackles, 29 stops for loss, 15 sacks and three interceptions his senior year at Bird High. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 54 Evin Bellamy R-Jr. 6-2 225 Leland, N.C. The walk-on from North Brunswick High moved from defensive end to linebacker. 30 Calvin Hart Fr. 6-1 207 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Compiled 92 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks his senior year, and helped Ameri - can Heritage High win the Florida 5A state title in 2016 and 2017. 50 Ezekiel Jennette So. 5-11 229 Durham, N.C. Walk-on is a product of Southern Durham High and spent a year at Durham Tech. 43 David Pierson R-So. 6-1 232 Wendell, N.C. Walk-on who was a three-year starter at Corinth Holders, and then did a post-graduate year at Jireh Prep in Indian Trail, N.C. 48 Bryce Swackhammer Fr. 6-2 218 Clayton, N.C. Walk-on from nearby Clayton High will compete for the best name on the team. 11 Payton Wilson Fr. 6-4 236 Hillsborough, N.C. Was a dominant performer at Orange High, earning a spot in the U.S. Army All- American Game. However, the former North Carolina verbal commit suffered an ACL tear his senior year. He had 103 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 10 sacks on defense, and produced 754 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns on offense before going down. 49 Seth Williams Fr. 6-2 220 Wake Forest, N.C. Preferred walk-on addition in the 2018 class comes from nearby Wake Forest High. Year Name Tackles 2017 Jerod Fernandez 98 2016 Josh Jones 109 2015 Airius Moore 77 2014 Hakim Jones 80 2013 Robert Caldwell 105 2012 Earl Wolff 145 2011 Audie Cole 132 2010 Nate Irving 97 Audie Cole 97 2009 Audie Cole 85 2008 Ray Michel 102 NC STATE'S LEADING TACKLERS THE PAST DECADE ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters *** NC State should have one of its most athletic linebacker units in years, and that upside could pay off as the season unfolds. Fifth-year senior Germaine Pratt is a converted safety, and the duo of sophomore Louis Acceus and redshirt freshman Isaiah Moore are both explo - sive linebackers. Acceus received the nod with the first-stringers in the Kay Yow Spring Game. Experience ** Pratt has been through the battles and brings leadership, but he'll be surrounded by rela- tive newcomers. Acceus, Moore and redshirt sophomore Brock Miller will all have key new roles. Miller, with 14 plays, is the only one of that trio to take a defensive snap in college. Depth **½ The depth may not have many game reps, but it does bring potential. Moore was credited with 10 tackles in the spring game, and was a productive three-year performer at Chester - field (Va.) Bird High. Miller injured his shoulder against Louisville last year and missed the rest of the season, but finished with five tackles in six games played. Overall Grade *** The gut instinct is that Pratt takes his game to another level and the younger linebackers show flashes of being future standouts. Pratt will need to become an All-ACC performer for the Wolfpack to have one of the top linebacking units in the league.