The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/112604
of signees who could make some noise after they get on campus this summer. Another positive is the fact that, despite the losses, NC State still has more experience returning to the position than it did last year, when the Pack entered the season with the entire group combining for a total of 488 career snaps on defense (459 of which belonged to Lucas), two starts and 95 tackles in 64 games, which mostly consisted of just special teams appearances. This year���s group has totaled 184 tackles and more than 1,065 career defensive snaps in 139 combined appearances and 14 starts. Junior Rodman Noel, who started five games and made 42 tackles (six for loss) in 2012, will be a key figure in NC State���s linebacking corps this year. photo by ken martin Dowdy, who paced the team with 16.5 tackles for loss and ranked third with 88 total stops last fall, left NC State after the Music City Bowl. The defense, which lost five of last year���s top six tacklers, does boast junior linebackers Rodman Noel and Brandon Pittman, who combined for seven starts and 76 tackles, including 10 for loss, last year. The Pack will also benefit from the return of senior D.J. Green, who started the first seven games of 2011 and recorded 33 tackles, including five behind the line of scrimmage, and an interception before he missed the remainder of the season with a foot injury and then was ruled in- eligible to compete last fall after he tested positive for a banned substance. The good news is that all three linebackers are athletic ��� both Noel and Green started their collegiate careers as oversized safeties. True sophomore M.J. Salahuddin returns after he played in every game last year, but mostly on special teams, and special teams demon Zach Gentry is also back for his final year of eligibility. Senior Robert Caldwell also played on special teams following his transfer from the College of the Desert, and redshirt senior Ryan Cheek, as well as redshirt freshman Drew Davis, are also back for 2013, while the team adds a trio Can the Pack replace three standouts in the secondary? Last year, the NC State secondary was a major area of strength for the team ��� safety Earl Wolff was a consensus firstteam All-ACC selection, while counterpart Brandan Bishop quietly earned all-conference honors from the back line three times during his career. Former All-American cornerback David Amerson had a down year, but was still named second-team All-ACC and hauled in five interceptions. However, all three are gone after Amerson left early for the NFL Draft. Now, the secondary must do some rebuilding. The good news is that former safety Dontae Johnson, a senior, emerged opposite Amerson as a sure-tackling cornerback, while last year���s NCAA suspension of former cornerback C.J. Wilson, who has also exhausted his eligibility, opened the door for redshirt sophomore Juston Burris to see the field. The youngster debuted with three interceptions last fall, which was tied for second on the team. Both Johnson and Burris check in taller than 6-1 and they give the Pack experience after combining for 114 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions and 14 passes broken up last season. There are several other players that could factor into the competition, including fifth-year senior Jarvis Byrd and redshirt freshmen Niles Clark and Marchez Coates, in addition to the trio of signees. Safety is the biggest secondary question mark after Wolff and Bishop manned the position for much of the last three and a half years. The oldest players on the back line are redshirt sophomores Hakim Jones, who had an interception last fall, and Tim Buckley, a Penn State transfer, and both played on special teams last year. Redshirt freshmen J.J. Jones and Josh Sessoms are also in the mix, while Doeren noted at his National Signing Day press conference that several signees could contend for early playing time at both positions. ��� 56��� ������ the wolfpacker 54-56.Five Q's For Spring FB.indd 56 2/26/13 2:36 PM