The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER SAFETIES "He's just so knowledgeable of the game," Gibson noted. "He can cover up his deficiencies by how smart he is. He can play, he knows what it's like on Saturdays and game days. "He knows how to prepare, how to work. He studies a lot of film, asks a lot of questions. He's like having another coach on the field. He's a leader of the defense, not only just in the DB room." While Morehead is likely entrenched at strong safety, free safety is a battle between senior Tim Kidd-Glass and sophomore Tanner Ingle. "Both of them had good springs I thought," Gibson said. "I thought they got better. Both of them need to work on man coverage, be a little better with technique and some different things, but I feel really good about both of those guys. "I feel good about them in their run support. They'll come up and hit you. We just got to get them better in the coverage aspect." Kidd-Glass started 10 games at the position in 2017 and was part of a rotation with starter Dexter Wright last season, playing safety off the bench in every game. Meanwhile, Ingle started the first seven games of the 2018 season at nickel. Gibson praised Kidd-Glass for his knowledge of the defense. "That's what puts him ahead of some of the other guys at this point … he understands the game really well and understands what he wants and understands our calls," Gibson said. The coach has no concerns about Ingle's size (5-10, 186 pounds) at safety. "I want football players, and Tanner is a really good football player," Gibson said. "He can fit in a lot of different positions." Providing more depth will be physically imposing redshirt junior Isaiah Stallings, who stands 6-4 and 220 pounds, and sophomore De'Von Graves, a former four-star signing. "[Stallings is] very athletic for his length," Gibson said. "There's not many guys obviously running around this campus that have that body." "[Graves is] very athletic, can run, has got great cover skills and will stick his face on you. He's a kid that's got to play and give us some valuable reps. He's got to be in the mix." ■ NC State recruited freshman early enrollee Khalid Martin for three years, first with former safeties coach Clayton White, who offered him in 2016, and then the last year- and-a-half nickels coach Aaron Henry led the pursuit. According to East Forsyth head coach Todd Willert, Henry proved to be a difference maker for Martin, who picked the Wolfpack over Virginia Tech. "Coach Henry is a different guy," Willert said. "If everybody in the business was like Coach Henry, the business would be a lot better. "He is upfront and he means well, and he's great when he sits down with these young kids. The relationship I've built with him has been awesome." "Coach Henry made sure to reach out and be cool with my parents," Martin added. "They just have been on point from day one. "He lets you know he's not just a recruiter, but he is here as a friend. He'll talk to you and if you have any questions, whether as a man or about life, you can talk to him — he has open doors." Martin's decision to commit to NC State was part of a huge two-day span July 9-10 when four-stars defensive tackle Joshua Harris from Person High in Roxboro, N.C., and running back Zonovan Knight from Southern Nash High in Bailey, N.C., also pledged to the Pack. Martin though had reached his decision before then. "[Father's Day] is when I kind of knew where I was going," Martin said. "My grandpa always wanted me to go to NC State. When I told him the news, it was wonderful. It was music to his ears and he was happy." Martin had some pointers on the recruiting process and what lies ahead in college football from some of his older former teammates at East Forsyth. Cornerback Madison Cone signed with Wisconsin in 2017 and running back Christian Beal inked at Wake Forest the same year. "Hard work is not something you can do once," Martin said. "Madison used to always tell me, 'Success has rent that is paid every day.' You just have to work every day. "When you feel like you have accomplished something, don't stop." Martin is taking that approach to NC State. He was able to enroll early, weeks after leading East Forsyth to its first state title since 1992. He got off to a slow start in the spring because he missed the first couple of weeks of practices with an illness. But after that new safeties coach Tony Gibson gave Martin plenty of reps and noted that his freshman is "very athletic." "He just has to get down his understanding of the defense and what we want and how we want it," Gibson said. — Matt Carter Just weeks after leading East Forsyth High School to its first state title since 1992, Martin enrolled early at NC State. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN ■ By The Numbers 4 Interceptions accounted for by safeties last season — a team-best three by fifth- year senior Jarius Morehead and one by Dexter Wright, who graduated after 2018. 23 Runs of at least 20 yards allowed by NC State last season, tied for 98th out of 130 teams at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. 50 Pass plays of at least 20 yards allowed by the Wolfpack in 2018, tied for 110th in the FBS. Quick Facts Position Coach: Tony Gibson (first season) Returning Starters: Jarius Morehead (26 career starts) Starters Lost: Dexter Wright (15) FYI: Athlon ranks the NCSU defensive backs No. 8 in the ACC and had fifth-year senior Jarius Morehead as a second-team All-ACC selection … Morehead hails from the same high school (Eastern Guilford) that produced the Holt brothers, star NC State football players Torry and Terrence; and the Yow sisters, who included former legendary NC State women's basketball coach Kay, recently retired Pack director of athletics Debbie and former NCSU All-American women's basketball player Susan … Incoming freshman Cecil Powell was named first-team All-Broward County as a senior for the largest clas - sifications (6A-8A) … Powell also had a successful track season in 2019, reaching the state championship meet finals in the 400 meters, long jump and triple jump … Rookie Khalid Martin was tabbed as a Freshman All-American in 2015 by MaxPreps.com and his older brother Nique is a junior wide receiver at North Carolina Central. Getting To Know: Khalid Martin