The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
JULY 2019 ■ 71 DEFENSIVE LINE "We are going to get our four best on the field and then our next best sitting behind them ready to roll. We'll have eight ready to roll." Smith-Williams finished with 37 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble in his first season as a starter. He started his career playing nickel, but is now a 6-3 and 260-pound defensive end. "James is a special human being," Patrick said. "He is a team player, and if you ask him to do something, he does it." Holden battled injuries his first four years, but remained healthy last sea- son and played in all 13 games, start- ing in two of them. He had 21 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. The 6-4, 247-pounder played had only five games from 2014- 17, and then spent the spring semester in France studying abroad as part of his global luxury and management dual master's program. "Deonte has a certain charisma that attracts people around him," Patrick noted. Murchison transferred in two years ago from Louisburg (N.C.) College, but wasn't ready to carve out a role in 2017 and redshirted. He started all 13 games last fall, though, one of only three defensive players to do so. He contributed 34 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks, plus he had a memorable interception against Florida State. YEAR-BY-YEAR SACK TOTALS Year Sacks Yards 2018 35 197 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 Defensive End Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 55 Deonte Holden 6th-Sr. 6-4 247 Landover, Md. Entered last year with just 29 career defensive snaps played, but logged 410 in 2018 and tied for second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss despite just two starts. Was granted a sixth year to build on last fall's breakout success. 1 James Smith-Williams 5th-Sr. 6-3 260 Raleigh The converted linebacker has gone from wearing No. 39 to the coveted No. 1 jersey this season. Suffered season-ending injuries in 2015 and 2016 and was a reserve in 12 games in 2017, but broke out last fall as a first-time starter to tie for the team lead in sacks (six) and tie for second in tackles for loss (9.5). RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 99 Joseph Boletepeli R-Fr. 6-4 258 Raleigh The former Rivals.com three-star prospect played in three games and had two tackles in 32 plays, but the coaches protected his redshirt status under the new NCAA rules. 52 Ibrahim Kante R-So. 6-4 250 New York Has played at both tackle and end for the Pack. Last year, he appeared in all 13 contests with one start, and tallied 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble. 97 Xavier Lyas R-So. 6-4 235 Plant City, Fla. Did not begin playing football until his junior year of high school, but provides a burst off the edge, which he showed in getting two sacks against Florida State on just 23 snaps in his NCSU debut last fall. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 89 Terrell Dawkins Fr. 6-4 232 Concord, N.C. Racked up 89 stops, 25 tackles for loss and 13 sacks for Cox Mill High during his senior campaign, and totaled 22 sacks over his last two years. 94 Jeffrey Gunter Jr. 6-4 260 Durham, N.C. The former Riverside High standout played his first two years at Coastal Carolina, but decided to transfer following a coaching change and picked the Pack over Syra - cuse. He will redshirt this fall, but is coming off a season in which he had 49 tackles, five sacks and 14 tackles for loss for the Chanticleers. 90 Savion Jackson Fr. 6-3 268 Clayton, N.C. Compiled 70 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks his senior year at Clayton High, and finished his prep career with 177 tackles, 58.5 stops for loss and 22.5 sacks. Defensive Tackle Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 29 Alim McNeill So. 6-2 311 Raleigh The nose tackle played in all 13 games with one start in 2018, and contributed 24 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three passes broken up and one forced fumble last year. 92 Larrell Murchison 5th-Sr. 6-3 291 Elizabethtown, N.C. The former Louisburg (N.C.) College transfer redshirted in 2017, and the move paid off last year. His best outing was a six-tackle, three-sack performance in the victory over Virginia. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 95 Derrick Eason R-Fr. 6-4 286 Norfolk, Va. Played at both end and tackle during his first year at NC State, but seems to be set - tling into the latter spot. He has a good chance to contribute this season. 56 Val Martin R-Jr. 6-2 297 Marietta, Ga. The former Iowa Western Community College transfer played in four games last year and redshirted. He had six tackles in 66 plays, including getting four stops in 31 snaps at Louisville. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 42 Danny Blakeman R-So. 6-2 275 Raleigh Walk-on from Leesville Road has gained 17 pounds since last year. 58 C.J. Clark Fr. 6-3 298 New London, N.C. A consensus four-star prospect who was ranked between No. 173 and 276 overall nationally by the three major recruiting services. 44 Joshua Harris Fr. 6-4 352 Roxboro, N.C. Highly recruited big man who chose NC State out of a final five that included the Wolfpack, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio State and Tennessee, and enrolled early before tying for the team high with seven stops in the spring game. 96 Dante Johnson R-So. 6-3 285 Apopka, Fla. Redshirted his freshman year and rehabbed from a knee injury suffered in high school. He again had injuries last year and did not play in a game. ■ PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven Starters ★★★½ NCSU should have some speed off the edge with fifth-year senior James Smith-Williams and sixth-year senior Deonte Holden, while fifth-year senior Larrell Murchison is also poised for a good final season. Either sophomore Alim McNeill or redshirt junior Val Martin will handle the nose tackle duties. Experience ★★★ The trio of Smith-Williams, Holden and Murchison have been in college for a collective 16 years, so experience isn't an issue for the Wolfpack. Even the backups at defensive end — such as Ibrahim Kante and Xavier Lyas — are entering their third year of college football. Depth ★★ Kante and Lyas could be joined by redshirt freshman Joseph Boletepeli and freshman Sav- ion Jackson at defensive end. Martin will be in the defensive tackle rotation if he doesn't start and massive freshman Joshua Harris made a great first impression this spring. Jackson was listed as high as the No. 50 overall prospect nationally, while Harris had a high of No. 143. Overall grade ★★★½ NC State has a good blend of veteran holdovers and some up-and-coming talent. The key will be to develop an edge pass rusher to help in obvious passing situations. That could easily be Smith-Williams or perhaps even Lyas. Overall, the Wolfpack have a lot of players to turn to and should play at least eight defensive linemen.