The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
JULY 2019 ■ 79 CORNERBACKS BY MATT CARTER N C State knows it has to improve its pass defense, and the good news is the defensive coaches firmly believe the unit has the cornerbacks to help make that happen. Cornerbacks coach George Barlow has been at NC State since 2014, and he said that this fall's roster "by far" has the most depth at his position group during his stay in Raleigh. "Most of the years we go into it really only being able to play two or three guys and just hoping that somebody doesn't get injured," Barlow said. "This year we should have as much depth as we've ever had." Barlow even suggested that he could have up to seven capable corners on the roster. The most experienced of that group is senior Nick McCloud. He started all 11 games he played in last year, and contributed 51 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up. The next tackle will be the 100th of his career, and he has 19 overall starts to his credit. Barlow said that McCloud is translating that experience into leadership. "He's done a good job of making sure the guys are working how they need to be working, not only the guys but also himself," Barlow said. "He is doing everything he needs to do to fix some of those things that he didn't do well in the fall. "… He's really taking a professional approach to everything he's doing. He's making the sacrifices." Junior Chris Ingram also returns after starting 12 of 13 games in 2018 and finishing with 39 tackles, a team-high nine passes broken up and an interception. "He's working on his speed, he's working on his change of direc- tion and he's working really hard in the weight room with changing his body," Barlow said. "Just like Nick, I am looking forward to him having a really good year because of his professional approach to getting better, and not only help himself but help this team get bet- ter on the back end." Both Ingram and McCloud will be pushed by others, including sophomore Teshaun Smith. The lengthy corner (6-3, 187 pounds) surprised Barlow by how quickly he was ready to play last year. "I thought he was going to have to redshirt and work into being a really good player. He was a pleasant sur- prise — excelling fast enough where we felt comfortable to put him into games," Barlow said. "The second half of the year he had a chance to play a lot and actually got to start a couple of games." Smith notched 11 tackles, one pass broken up and one interception during his rookie campaign, but he was limited in the spring, along with McCloud, due to an injury. That opened the door for others to get more reps. That included senior Kishawn Miller, who started the opener last fall over Ingram. A former junior college transfer, Miller is expected to make a jump in year two with the program. "I thought he had the most productive spring of probably any- body on the back end, not just at the corner position," Barlow said. "He made big-time jumps." A pair of gifted rookies also were able to get valuable reps in the spring — redshirt freshman and former safety Malik Dunlap and mid-year early enrollee Shyheim Battle, a four-star signing in the 2019 class. Barlow noted that the 6-3, 216-pound Dunlap has a lot of upside, calling him "a physical specimen." "One of his biggest issues is to continue increasing his football YEAR-BY-YEAR PASSES BROKEN UP TOTALS Year PBU 2018 51 2017 52 2016 51 2015 35 2014 48 2013 39 2012 36 2011 28 2010 35 2009 40 2008 37 Cornerback Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 7 Chris Ingram Jr. 6-0 186 Salisbury, N.C. In his first full season as a starter, he led the team with nine passes broken up, and added 39 tackles and his first career interception, which came against Marshall. 4 Nick McCloud Sr. 6-1 190 Rock Hill, S.C. Has started at least one game every season he has been at NC State, and has 99 tackles, 18 passes broken up and three interceptions in his career. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 28 Kishawn Miller Sr. 5-9 176 Buffalo, N.Y. Started his first career game at NC State in the 2018 season opener versus James Madison, and position coach George Barlow said he had the most productive spring of any defensive back. 8 Teshaun Smith So. 6-3 187 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Promising young corner started two games last season and recorded his first career pick during the overtime win at UNC. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 27 Shyheim Battle Fr. 6-2 183 Rocky Mount, N.C. The highly touted prospect was rated as a four-star talent by Rivals.com and picked NC State over Clemson. 33 Isaac Duffy R-Fr. 5-10 180 Binghamton, N.Y. Barlow called him one of the best walk-ons he's coached and expects him to play an active role on special teams. 24 Malik Dunlap R-Fr. 6-3 216 Charlotte The good-sized defensive back was the No. 35 prospect in North Carolina's 2018 class according to Rivals.com after helping Harding High win a state 4-A title. 6 Taiyon Palmer R-Fr. 5-11 185 Lawrenceville, Ga. The former Duke commit missed most of last fall and this past spring with injuries, but he is fully healthy this summer. "Most of the years we go into it really only being able to play two or three guys and just hoping that somebody doesn't get injured. This year, we should have as much depth as we've ever had." ■ Cornerbacks coach George Barlow ■ PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven Starters ★★★½ Senior Nick McCloud and junior Chris Ingram have had their moments. They combined to break up 17 passes and notch three interceptions a year ago, and should be more consistent in 2019 with their experiences. Experience ★★★ Every cornerback that started a game a year ago has returned: Ingram (12), McCloud (11), sophomore Teshaun Smith (two) and senior Kishawn Miller (one). Depth ★★★ Given that NC State returns four players with at least one start and has some promis- ing freshmen like redshirts Malik Dunlap and Taiyon Palmer and early enrollee Shyheim Battle waiting in the wings, it has as much depth at corner as it has enjoyed in years. Overall grade ★★★½ The potential is there for this to be one of the better cornerback groups since head coach Dave Doeren has been at the helm. However, the players have to live up to that.