The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472609
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER An Elite Unit BY MATT CARTER N C State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson has been a defensive assistant in college since 1996, when he was coach- ing defensive backs at Glenville State, a Division II school in West Virginia. Before coming to NC State, Gibson was a defensive coordinator at West Virginia, and he also served as an assistant at Arizona, Michigan and Pitt. The linebacker corps that he coaches at NC State, is, according to Gibson, as good as any group that he has ever coached. "In [my] years of doing this, I've never had a more talented group than what we have at linebacker right now, and they're all different in what they do," Gibson said. The leader is super senior Isaiah Moore. Before getting injured at Miami and missing the final five games last season, Moore had 43 tackles, including 5 for loss and a sack, plus 7 quarterback hurries, 3 pass breakups and an interception. "Smart, knows everything about the defense," Gibson said, describ- ing Moore. Fifth-year redshirt junior Payton Wilson led the ACC in tackles in 2020, but a shoulder injury limited him to just two contests last fall. "Payton is very athletic," Gibson noted. "He's kind of our wild dog." Then there is fourth-year junior Drake Thomas, who was named first-team All-ACC in 2021 after finishing with 100 tackles, including a team-high 13.5 for loss and co-squad-best 6 sacks. Thomas also led NC State with 3 interceptions and added 9 quarterback hurries. "Very smart, tough, makes plays all over the field," Gibson said of Thomas. LINEBACKERS SPOTLIGHT PLAYER JUNIOR DRAKE THOMAS NC State fourth-year junior Drake Thomas is not only considered one of the best linebackers in the ACC, but he is also regarded as one of the top play- ers at his position nationally. On3 has Thomas ranked as the No. 3 impact linebacker in the country. Thomas proved both his playmaking skills and his versatility last season. He led the Wolfpack defense in tackles (100), tackles for loss (13.5) and interceptions (3) while tying for the team lead in sacks (6). Thomas also filled in ably at middle linebacker once super senior Isaiah Moore went down in the Miami game with a knee injury, sliding over from his strongside position. "Being as smart as Drake is, knowing the scheme, it was an easy move for him," NC State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Tony Gibson noted. Going into last season, most of the headlines within the position group focused on Moore and fifth-year redshirt junior Payton Wilson. After 2021, Thomas may have elevated himself into the headliner of the group. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 1 Isaiah Moore R-Sr. 6-2 232 Chester, Va. 32 Drake Thomas Jr. 6-0 230 Wake Forest, N.C. 11 Payton Wilson R-Jr. 6-4 230 Hillsborough, N.C. RESERVES No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 26 Devon Betty So. 6-1 225 Carver Ranches, Fla. 27 Jayland Parker R-Fr. 6-1 215 Macon, Ga. 2 Jaylon Scott Jr. 6-1 225 Shelby, N.C. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 41 Caden Fordham R-Fr. 6-1 225 Ponte Vedra, Fla. 33 Jordan Poole R-Fr. 6-0 222 Oakboro, N.C. — Daejuan Thompson Fr. 6-3 200 Whiteville, N.C. 42 Torren Wright Fr. 6-2 205 Kannapolis, N.C. ■ PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★★★ NC State fifth-year redshirt junior Payton Wilson was touted as the potential ACC Defensive Player of the Year going into the 2021 season. At the midway point, some were boosting the case of Pack super senior Isaiah Moore. Despite missing the last five games, Moore was impressive enough to be honorable men- tion All-ACC. By the end of the 2021 season, fourth-year junior Drake Thomas received the second-highest vote total of all ACC defenders on the all-conference teams. EXPERIENCE ★★★★ Collectively, the trio of Moore, Thomas and Wilson have 80 career starts to their credit, all at NC State. Two key reserves, fourth-year junior Jaylon Scott and third-year sophomore Devon Betty, also had multiple starts last year. Scott finished with 30 tackles, including 4 for loss and 2 sacks. Betty added 39 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and a sack. DEPTH ★★★1/2 Betty and Scott proved last year that they can plug in for an injured starter and limit the drop-off. Betty in particular flashed a promising future for the Wolfpack. Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Tony Gibson was also "very excited" about the progress in spring of third-year redshirt freshman Jayland Parker. OVERALL GRADE ★★★★ On paper, the NC State linebacker corps is an elite unit. All three projected start- ers have legitimate NFL Draft aspirations if they have healthy, productive years. The added depth helps push NC State from having one of the best linebacker corps in the conference to being one of the top units in the country. BY THE NUMBERS 1 Where ESPN's David Hale ranks NC State's linebackers in the ACC. Hale wrote: "You know which team has an unquestionably great LB unit? That'd be NC State." 3 Number of NC State linebackers to make both the Phil Steele and Athlon All-ACC teams. On Athlon, fourth-year junior Drake Thomas and fifth-year redshirt junior Payton Wilson were first team and super senior Isaiah Moore third team. Phil Steele also had Thomas slotted on the first team but had Wilson third team and Moore fourth. 1993 The last time NC State had multiple first-team All-ACC linebackers. Damien Covington and Tyler Lawrence were both honored that year. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN DRAKE THOMAS