The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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80 ■ THE WOLFPACKER CORNERBACKS IQ, so we can get all that athletic ability going where it needs to be," the coach explained. Barlow sees some similarities between Battle and where Smith was after he enrolled. "Physically, he just needs to get in the weight room, get a little bit faster and get a little bit stronger," Barlow said. "He definitely has the elite skill set for a guy that is 6-1 or 6-2 to be able to play the corner position." The wild card in the cornerback room is redshirt freshman Taiyon Palmer. After choosing not to sign in the early December signing period, Palmer saw his stock explode with offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida and Notre Dame before the one-time Duke commit signed with NCSU. However, he has been limited with injuries thus far. "The last part of spring he got healthy," Barlow noted. "He's been doing an awe- some job through the summer working out. "The little that I've seen on him shows he definitely has the skill set to play the position. He just needs to stay healthy." Together, the group has the depth to not only overcome injuries — but, more importantly to Barlow, also push each other. "These guys are being held accountable for everything, every rep, every play," Barlow stated. "Knowing that there is somebody behind them is going to make us that much better as a unit." ■ Getting To Know: Teshaun Smith NC State discovered its future at cornerback would be in good hands after newcomer Teshaun Smith earned a pair of starts last year. The then true freshman played on only special teams in three of the first five games, and accumulated just five snaps on defense in game six. He then started the next two games, at Syracuse and against Florida State, and became a regular contributor at corner down the stretch. Smith finished with 11 tackles, one pass broken up and an intercep - tion (against North Carolina) in 322 total plays. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native was one of only three true fresh- men to start multiple games in 2018. "I feel like I have become more mature," said Smith, who is major- ing in sports management. "Certain situations that I used to mess up in, I don't mess up any more. "I'm just growing as a player and a person." Smith better understands the defensive formations against certain schemes after being thrown into the fire. He is aiming to be in a rotation with projected starters Nick McCloud, a senior, and Chris Ingram, a junior. "I feel like I am way more comfortable," Smith said. "Going through fall camp last year, everything was so fast because I hadn't played college football before. Everything was moving at lightning speed. Now, I'm more comfortable." Another aspect that Smith took advantage of when he arrived at NC State was the power of film study. "I learned that understanding the different tendencies of the wide receivers or the scheme the offense runs can help you make plays all over the field," he said. "Since the last game of the season, I've been watching film [of opponents] and trying to get better every day." Rivals.com rated Smith a three-star prospect coming out of West - ern High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He picked NC State over Nebraska, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and Vanderbilt, among his 16 offers. He learned his height at cornerback makes him a valuable prospect. "The average cornerback is 5-11, 6-0, but I'm a bigger corner at 6-3 with long arms," Smith said. "It is quick for me to get my hands on them." Another drastic change since high school is the addition of 15 pounds of muscle thanks to working with strength and conditioning coach Dantonio Burnette. "Malik Dunlap might be the strongest cornerback at 216 pounds," Smith admitted. "I'm going to say I'm the fastest, but I'm biased." — Jacey Zembal Smith was one of three true freshmen, along with fellow defensive back Tanner Ingle and kicker Christopher Dunn, to start multiple games last season. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN ■ By The Numbers 4 Interceptions made by NC State's cornerbacks in each of the last two seasons. 6-0¼ Average height of NC State's cor- nerbacks. 25 Years since a Wolfpack corner has been drafted in the first round by the NFL (De- wayne Washington at No. 18 by the Minnesota Vikings). Seven other corners have been drafted since then. Quick Facts Position Coach: George Barlow (sixth season) Returning Starters: Chris Ingram (13 career starts) and Nick McCloud (19) Starter Lost: None FYI: Athlon ranks the NCSU defensive backs No. 8 in the ACC … Senior corner Nick McCloud is one of just two players on the roster from the state of South Carolina, join- ing Oregon/Wake Forest graduate transfer Tabari Hines, a wide receiver from Florence ... Junior Chris Ingram played at Mooresville (N.C.) High and previously had listed that as his hometown until changing it to Salisbury, N.C., this spring … Although listed from Buffalo, N.Y., senior corner Kishawn Miller played his high school ball at Mill Creek High in Hoschton, Ga., where as a senior he returned three of the five interceptions he had for touchdowns … Rivals.com rated freshman Shyheim Battle as the No. 12 prospect in the state in what was a loaded year for talent in North Carolina and the No. 30 corner - back nationally in the 2019 class.