The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
70 ■ THE WOLFPACKER DEFENSIVE LINE BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State produced four NFL Draft picks from its 2017 defensive line, but still found a way to capably replace them last fall. This year it has to reload again up front, after the graduation of two more starters — defensive end Darian Roseboro and defensive tackle Eurndraus Bryant — but the future still appears bright for the unit. The backbone of the Wolfpack's class of 2019 included Rivals.com four-star defensive tackles Joshua Harris and C.J. Clark, and three-star defensive ends Savion Jackson and Terrell Dawkins. Add in Coastal Carolina defensive end transfer Jeffrey Gunter, who is expected to red- shirt this season, and the front wall of the defense has been restocked with plenty of fresh talent. While the newcomers might find a role, it will be two fifth-year seniors and a sixth-year senior that will likely form the nucleus of the Wolfpack defensive line in 2019. Add in sophomore defensive tackle Alim McNeill and a group of younger defensive ends, and defensive line coach Kevin Patrick will have a lot of options to form what is expected to be an eight-man rotation. Fifth-year senior defensive end James Smith-Williams was awarded the team's coveted No. 1 jersey, and sixth-year senior defensive end Deonte Holden received good news from the NCAA this past offsea- son with another year of eligibility. McNeill, fifth-year senior defensive tackle Larrell Murchison and redshirt junior Val Martin will man the interior. Both Murchison and Martin are former junior college standouts. "All my seniors have a good wealth of experience," Patrick said. "James, Murch and Deonte, it's going to provide some dividends with the experience they have. THE RIGHT KIND OF BALANCE The Pack's Experienced Unit Is Joined By An Elite Class Of Newcomers Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Larrell Murchison was one of only three defen- sive players to start all 13 contests in 2018, and produced 34 stops, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN