The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472609
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER A Lot To Like BY MATT CARTER N C State lost its best offensive lineman from the 2021 season, consensus first-team All-American Ikem "Ickey" Ekwonu, to the NFL, but five players who started mul- tiple games in 2021 have returned. That became a reality when the NCAA granted Chandler Zavala an extra year of eli- gibility after initially denying his request for a sixth season. Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren confessed he was "shocked" by the ruling, but needless to say also pleased. "We get a guy back who's experienced and who we think is really talented, if he's healthy," Doeren said of Zavala, who played five games last year before injuring his back. The return of Zavala at left guard, All-ACC contender and super senior Grant Gibson at center and fourth-year redshirt sophomore Dylan McMahon, a 12-game starter a year ago, solidifies the interior. Do-it-all lineman Bryson Speas' decision to return as a super senior gives NC State three sixth-year players along the line. Speas could factor at either left or right tackle this fall. Fourth-year redshirt sophomore Timothy McKay worked effectively in a pla- toon with Speas at right tackle a season ago and may be ready for a starting assignment. Zavala's return and Speas' ability to play anywhere but center allows multiple pos- sibilities up front. "At the end of the day, we'll end up playing our five best guys, whoever they are," offensive coordinator Tim Beck affirmed. OFFENSIVE LINE SPOTLIGHT PLAYER SUPER SENIOR BRYSON SPEAS NC State offensive coordinator Tim Beck is not one to underappreciate the value of a versatile line- man. He points to the NFL for a main reason why. "They draft you as a lineman," Beck noted. "NFL teams carry eight linemen, that's it. Having a guy that can play every position on both sides is really big." That's why the return of super senior Bryson Speas, a 6-3, 315-pounder with 26 career starts, is important for NC State. "One thing about Bryson that goes unnoticed is his ability to play every po - sition but center," Beck stated. "He plays both tackles and guard. He can play inside or outside. For his future stock, that's really good." "Speas has always been our fix-it-all guy," NC State head coach Dave Do- eren added. Speas' 26 starts have been spread out at three different positions – both guard spots plus right tackle. The latter is where Speas lined up first string for all 12 games a year ago, accumulating a career-best Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 69.9 for the season. A 64.0 rating is considered about average for a PFF grade. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 50 Grant Gibson R-Sr. 6-1 310 Charlotte, N.C. 52 Timothy McKay R-So. 6-4 315 Raleigh 54 Dylan McMahon R-So. 6-4 305 Savannah, Ga. 56 Bryson Speas R-Sr. 6-3 315 Greensboro, N.C. 64 Chandler Zavala R-Sr. 6-5 325 Boynton Beach, Fla. RESERVES No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 74 Anthony Belton R-So. 6-6 330 Tallahassee, Fla. 57 Lyndon Cooper R-Fr. 6-2 316 Carrollton, Ga. 53 Derrick Eason R-Jr. 6-4 315 Norfolk, Va. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 75 Anthony Carter Jr. R-Fr. 6-3 300 Charlotte, N.C. 62 Jaleel Davis R-Fr. 6-6 315 Hamlet, N.C. 71 Thornton Gentry R-Fr. 6-4 310 Chapin, S.C. 72 Sean Hill R-Fr. 6-3 315 Snellville, Ga. 76 Patrick Matan R-Fr. 6-4 310 Chevy Chase, Md. — Jacarrius Peak Fr. 6-6 300 Valdosta, Ga. — Rylan Vann Fr. 6-1 270 Cary, N.C. Positional Grades ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★★ Super senior center Grant Gibson was named to the preseason first-team All-ACC squad by both Athlon and Phil Steele, and sixth-year senior guard Chandler Zavala was named third team by the latter. With two all-con- ference candidates up front, the Wolfpack appear to have one of the better offensive lines in the league. EXPERIENCE ★★★½ Five players who started at least five games in 2021 are on the roster. Super senior Bryson Speas' return gives the Pack potentially three starters, along with Gibson and Zavala, who are in their sixth year of col- lege football. Additionally, fourth-year redshirt sopho- more tackle Timothy McKay played an average of 26.8 snaps per contest while logging at least 17 in every game last season. DEPTH ★★★ NC State already returns six players who have experience in the ACC, and the offensive coaches are grooming former junior college transfer Anthony Belton, a redshirt sophomore tackle, to take on a larger role. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck noted that Belton received more reps in the spring than any other lineman. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ NC State needs to improve its run block- ing from a season ago, when the Wolf- pack finished 13th out of 14 ACC teams in rushing yards per game (126.2). Doeren, however, noted that the loss of Zavala at midseason impacted that performance, and the Pack remained a good pass protecting squad, allowing the fourth-fewest sacks in the conference. BY THE NUMBERS 5.2 Average amount of years in col- lege of the Wolfpack's projected starting five. 36 Consecutive games started at cen- ter by super senior Grant Gibson. 71.5 Sixth-year senior Chandler Za- vala's season score from Pro Football Focus (PFF) through five games before his injury. That was second-best on the line in 2021 behind Ikem Ekwonu's 91.6. BRYSON SPEAS PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS