The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER LINEBACKERS Standouts BY MATT CARTER N C State defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Tony Gibson may be the happiest posi- tion coach on the Wolfpack staff. Redshirt sophomore Payton Wilson's decision to return for a fourth season in Raleigh rather than turn pro meant a talented linebacker corps stays almost entirely intact from last season. "It's a strong group," Gibson acknowledged. "They have played a bunch of ball." Wilson is the headliner after leading the ACC in tackles last fall with 108 in 10 games, including a team-best 11.5 for loss and three sacks. He also had two interceptions, a pass breakup and hurried the quarterback six times. "He's a special player, and he's going to make a lot of money playing this game," Gibson predicted. Wilson is not the lone linebacker with considerable upside. Redshirt junior Isaiah Moore had 94 tackles, including 11 for loss and three sacks, while being one of just three defensive players to start all 12 games last year. He has 216 stops the last three seasons and is also the unquestioned leader of the defense. Sophomore Drake Thomas started all 10 games he played and had 58 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and three sacks. Redshirt junior Vi Jones, a former transfer from USC, started four of the 12 contests he played in during his debut season for the Pack and made 35 tackles, in- cluding five for loss and three sacks. He was also one of the Pack's best special teams performers, blocking three kicks, which tied for the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Further adding depth is sophomore Jaylon Scott, who started a game and had 16 tackles, with one for a loss, last year. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE PAYTON WILSON ESPN's David Hale is known for his statistical analysis of college football. When he analyzed NC State redshirt sophomore Payton Wilson, he noted that the Pack standout was with the leaders in a lot of noteworthy areas among ACC linebackers in 2020. Wilson was first in solo tackles (57), total tackles (108) and interceptions created (four); tied for first in fewest touchdowns allowed (zero), tackles for loss or no gain (25) and run stuffs (19); third in yards per target (4.5); fourth in tackle percentage (90.3 percent); and tied for fourth in pressures (16). Hale's brief summation after listing all the stats: "Wilson's good." PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 1 Isaiah Moore R-Jr. 6-2 236 Chester, Va. 32 Drake Thomas So. 6-0 238 Wake Forest, N.C. 11 Payton Wilson R-So. 6-4 235 Hillsborough, N.C. RESERVES 31 Vi Jones R-Jr. 6-3 227 Austin, Texas 2 Jaylon Scott So. 6-1 245 Shelby, N.C. 30 Seth Williams R-So. 6-0 244 Wake Forest, N.C. WAITING IN THE WINGS 26 Devon Betty Fr. 6-1 225 Carver Ranches, Fla. 27 Jayland Parker Fr. 6-1 202 Macon, Ga. 33 Jordan Poole Fr. 6-0 222 Oakboro, N.C. 41 Caden Fordham Fr. 6-1 214 Ponte Vedra, Fla. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★★½ NC State head coach Dave Doeren told the ACC Network's morning show "Packer and Durham" that he felt like the greatness of the linebacker corps was underappreciated and will be proven to be elite when people get to see them in person this fall. "Drake Thomas, Isaiah Moore, Payton Wilson and Levi Jones make up a really talented position group," Doeren said. "It's an aggressive group that's fun to watch." EXPERIENCE ★★★★ Wilson, Thomas and Moore started a collective 32 games last year, and Jones added four himself as a reserve. Plus, soph- omore Jaylon Scott started the bowl game due to injuries while playing in all 12 contests. That is five linebackers for three spots that have extensive experience. DEPTH ★★★ Jones is talented enough to start for a lot of programs in the country, and Scott flashed when given the opportunity. He had a crucial intercep- tion in the win over Duke. Furthermore, two early enrollees showed considerable promise in the spring game — Caden Fordham and Jordan Poole. OVERALL ★★★½ This may be the best linebacker corps for NC State since the 2010 team that had Nate Irving, Audie Cole and Terrell Manning, all of whom were drafted and played in the NFL. Wilson is a prime candidate for ACC Defen- sive Player of the Year, and Moore has a chance to solidify his status as a future pro. BY THE NUMBERS 2nd Is where Athlon Sports ranks NC State's linebackers in the ACC, trailing only Clemson's. The Pack's unit is ranked eighth nationally. 9 Tackles by early enrollees Caden Fordham (six) and Jordan Poole (three) in the spring game. Fordham also added a pick-six, and Poole forced a fumble. 52 Tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage by redshirt junior Isaiah Moore (27) and redshirt sophomore Payton Wilson (25). Moore leads the country in returning players at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, while Wilson is second. PHOTO BY GREGG FORWERCK/ COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS