The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1137844
JULY 2019 ■ 83 SAFETIES team's Defensive Back of the Year after the 2018 campaign. His 57-yard pick-six at Marshall was the fourth-longest intercep- tion return for NCSU since 2000, and he was named the ACC De- fensive Back of the Week afterward. Morehead has been NC State's second-leading tackler in each of the past two years. Safety Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 34 Tim Kidd-Glass Sr. 6-1 206 Danville, Va. Had 35 tackles, an interception and two passes broken up while starting 10 of 13 games in 2017. Followed that up by making 31 tackles, 4.5 stops for loss, a sack, two passes broken up and two forced fumbles last season (no starts). 31 Jarius Morehead 5th-Sr. 6-1 220 Whitsett, N.C. Led NC State with three interceptions last year and is the leading returning tackler with 81. Has five picks and eight passes broken up in his Wolfpack career. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 14 De'Von Graves So. 6-1 197 Appomattox, Va. The former Rivals.com four-star recruit played in a total of eight games and saw 33 snaps at cornerback last year, but has moved to safety. 10 Tanner Ingle So. 5-10 186 Orlando, Fla. Started seven games last year at nickel, and finished the season with 44 stops, three tackles for loss, one sack and two forced fumbles in 13 games played. 22 Isaiah Stallings R-Jr. 6-4 220 Fayetteville, N.C. Had eight tackles last season playing behind Morehead, with half of them coming on special teams. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 36 William Brown III 5th-Sr. 5-8 197 Raleigh Walk-on who attended Cardinal Gibbons. 25 Khalid Martin Fr. 6-2 200 Tobaccoville, N.C. Was a four-year starter at East Forsyth High who finished his career with 287 tack - les and 13 interceptions, returning five for touchdowns, and helped his team to a state 4-A title as a senior. 19 Cecil Powell Fr. 6-1 191 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. One-time Baylor commit broke out as a senior at Piper High with 45 tackles, eight interceptions (one pick-six), four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Senior Tim Kidd-Glass' one career interception came in 2017 against eventual College Football Playoff participant Clemson. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN ■ PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven Starters ★★★½ Fifth-year senior Jarius Morehead has the potential to be an All-ACC performer at strong safety. The Pack has some experienced options to choose from at free safety in senior Tim Kidd-Glass and sophomore Tanner Ingle, but a starter had not been deter - mined by the end of spring. Experience ★★★ Morehead has as much experience as any player on NC State's roster, and both Kidd- Glass (10) and Ingle (seven) have started games in their careers. Redshirt junior reserve Isaiah Stallings has played 130 career snaps on defense, and sophomore De'Von Graves got onto the field on defense in five games a year ago. Depth ★★★½ Gibson said that Ingle and Kidd-Glass will battle for the starting job at free safety, but it is likely both will see action regardless of who gets the nod. Stallings provides a capable backup for Morehead. "He's a guy we feel like we can put in the game and never lose a beat," Gibson said. It's also possible that Graves can work himself onto the field. Overall grade ★★★½ Morehead is a strong starting point for the safeties, and if the tandem of Kidd-Glass and Ingle can effectively man the opposite back-line spot, then NC State could be in as good a shape there as it has been under head coach Dave Doeren and cut down on the big plays allowed by the defense a year ago.