The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1502339
JULY/AUGUST 2023 ■ 35 Improved Depth Up Front BY MATT CARTER N C State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is blunt when as- sessing his defensive line. "We're deeper than we've ever been," he stated. Going on Year 4 with Gibson as the Pack's defensive coordinator and Charley Wiles as the unit's coach, there are valid reasons why Gibson feels that way. The Pack did lose a starter in All-ACC nose tackle Cory Durden, who exhausted his eligibility. Plus, Durden's top reserve for most of last year, Joshua Harris, transferred to Ole Miss. But NC State was able to add two veterans to the mix in junior col- lege import Jykeveous "Red" Hibbler and Cincinnati transfer Noah Potter. Throw in the return of key players like super senior Savion Jackson, fifth-year redshirt junior C.J. Clark and fourth-year junior Davin Vann, plus the development of promising younger players, includ- ing sophomore Brandon Cleveland and redshirt sophomore Travali Price, and the reasons for Gibson's optimism are apparent. Jackson and Vann were starters last year at defensive tackle, although Jackson's season was cut short after a knee injury in Week 7. Vann led all defensive linemen with 8 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. Clark took over for the injured Jackson, but he is returning inside to nose tackle in the middle of the front that uses three linemen. Clark started over Durden at the position in 2021 before suffering his own knee injury. Price had a pair of tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, and 7 quarter- back hurries in 13 games last season as a rookie. Only Vann had more pressures. Cleveland was the only defensive player in the 2022 recruiting class to burn his redshirt and registered 7 tackles, including 1 for loss and an assisted sack, in 6 games last year. Cleveland, who played on the edge in 2022, will move inside to back up Clark. DEFENSIVE LINE DAVIN VANN ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★½ Fourth-year junior Davin Vann may be a breakout per- former in 2023, and he could emerge as an All-ACC candi- date. However, will super senior Savion Jackson, the Pack's most consistent performer on the line prior to his knee injury, regain his prior form? And will fifth-year redshirt junior C.J. Clark flourish at nose tackle? If both of those questions are answered in an affirma- tive fashion, NC State's starting defensive line could out- perform this ranking. EXPERIENCE ★★★½ All three projected starters have played a lot of football. Among the reserves, redshirt sophomore Travali Price played all 13 games in 2022, and sophomore Brandon Cleveland saw action in six. Cincinnati transfer Noah Potter played 12 games last year for the Bearcats, and Red Hibbler played 30 games at Northwest Mississippi Community College, one of the top junior college football programs in the country. DEPTH ★★★ The first impressions that Hibbler and Potter made during NC State's spring practices left defensive coordina- tor Tony Gibson and defensive line coach Charley Wiles certain they have at least five players who can rotate on the two outside line positions. The only minor question is how well Cleveland can adjust to playing inside and back- ing up Clark. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ The strength is in the numbers. Vann is a potential All- ACC candidate, but the ability to rotate players in and out at the position without fear of drop-offs is what sets this unit apart. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER REDSHIRT JUNIOR RED HIBBLER During recruiting meetings last winter, NC State noticed a trend. With all the attention focused on the transfer portal and high school prospects, the junior colleges were being under-recruited. The defensive coaches saw an opportunity to land JUCO standouts who normally might have been ticketed to bigger-brand schools, and Hibbler is an example. Last season, he had 24 tackles for loss and 9 sacks at Northwest Mississippi Community College. The On3 Industry Ranking regarded him as the No. 14 available JUCO recruit nationally. Hibbler's junior college coach, Benjy Parker, was quoted as saying he believed Hibbler is an SEC talent. Wolfpack defensive coordinator Tony Gibson saw someone who compared favorably to Daniel Joseph, the former NC State defensive end who had 19 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks over two seasons in Raleigh. BY THE NUMBERS 1 Player on Phil Steele's preseason All-ACC teams — nose tackle C.J. Clark was third team. 3 Games against Power Five teams in which Savion Jackson graded out at 70.0 or bet- ter according to Pro Football Focus. Jackson played against four such squads before getting hurt. A 64.0 is considered a passing grade by PFF. 14 Where Phil Steele rates the NC State defensive line nationally, which is also fourth best in the ACC. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 5 C.J. Clark R-Jr. 6-3 305 New London, N.C. 9 Savion Jackson Sr. 6-2 280 Clayton, N.C. 45 Davin Vann Jr. 6-2 272 Cary, N.C. RESERVES No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 44 Brandon Cleveland So. 6-4 290 Tampa, Fla. 47 Red Hibbler R-Jr. 6-2 260 Louisville, Miss. 13 Travali Price R-So. 6-4 272 Lincolnton, N.C. 97 Noah Potter Gr. 6-6 274 Mentor, Ohio WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 46 Nick Campbell R-Fr. 6-4 290 Minneola, Fla. 99 D.J. Jackson R-Fr. 6-1 280 Sumter, S.C. 88 Isaiah Shirley Fr. 6-3 273 Boone, N.C. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP