The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1502339
JULY/AUGUST 2023 ■ 25 last season and before that at Virginia and BYU. Doeren noted that he has coached against offenses in which Anae was an assistant four times, "and each time the offense we defended was different." "He was one of the few guys you coach against that literally tweaks the offense based on the personnel within the sea- son," Doeren added. "And I think that's rare. "We all know what I've battled here injury-wise. I was looking for a guy that had some creativity, that had some flex- ibility." Doeren added that preseason camp will be significant in figuring out the personnel groups Anae wants to use, but the offensive coordinator was pleased with how the spring unfolded. "I'm basing this off other stops I've been at, this is probably the best start of all of them," Anae said. "I'm talking the four weeks of spring, this is probably the best start from that snapshot point." The biggest question entering the offseason once Devin Leary announced he was transferring was who would be the new starter at quarterback? When former Virginia signal-caller Brennan Armstrong announced he was going to be a graduate transfer at NC State, many assumed he would be the choice. Doeren confirmed that is the situation, noting that Armstrong's background in the ACC and in Anae's offense, when the two set multiple school passing records in 2021, gave him an edge over sophomore MJ Morris. "I think in the spring we started it as a competition, and as it went, you could see that Brennan's experience was just there," Doeren noted. Reloading On Defense Doeren doesn't sugarcoat what's gone on defense. Linebacker Drake Thomas, who many thought was the best defender in the ACC a year ago. A multiple all-conference safety in Tanner Ingle, who many attributed with making the defense go. An undisputed leader at linebacker in Isaiah Moore. Throw in all-conference performers Cory Durden at nose tackle and Tyler Baker-Williams at nickel, and NC State has five well-regarded starters from the Pack's recent run of stellar defenses trying to make NFL rosters this summer. "We're going to miss these guys," Do- eren admitted. "Those are some good players that aren't out there." However, due to good recruiting and also a two-year rash of injuries that got reserve players onto the field, NC State enjoys good depth on defense, and in many cases the next man up is a seasoned veteran. Plus, defensive coordinator and line- backers coach Tony Gibson is quick to note there are still some very valuable performers returning, including super senior linebacker Payton Wilson, super senior defensive lineman Savion Jackson, fifth-year redshirt junior nose tackle C.J. Clark and fourth-year junior Davin Vann in the front six of the stacked 3-3-5 defen- sive formation. In the secondary, the corner tandem of fourth-year junior Aydan White and fifth-year redshirt junior Shyheim Battle is one of the best in the country, and super senior Jakeen Harris and fourth-year ju- nior Devan Boykin have extensive starting experience at safety. "I feel good about the core group of guys that we have," Gibson noted. "My expectation is to be better than we were a year ago. "You never want to go backwards in this game, and I think that we've built our roster up. I expect to be better." That will not be an easy task. NC State was 19th both a year ago and in 2021 in total yards per game allowed. In points per game surrendered, the Wolfpack was tied for 14th in 2021 and improved to tie for 11th this past campaign. Doeren attributes part of that success to the uniqueness of Gibson's scheme, which helped play a role in his decision to go in a different direction on offense. His hope: that coming up with a game plan for NC State will provide some long nights this season for opposing coaches. "Defensively, we're a tough prep," Do- eren noted. "We do some unique things. "Offensively, now we have the same, and I think that gives us a little bit of an advantage when someone's preparing for us." ■ Pos. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. QB 5 Brennan Armstrong Gr. 6-2 210 7 MJ Morris R-Fr. 6-2 210 RB 3 Jordan Houston Sr. 5-10 190 2 Michael Allen So. 5-9 203 TE 6 Trent Pennix Gr. 6-3 235 29 Christopher Toudle R-Jr. 6-4 235 WR 15 Keyon Lesane Sr. 5-11 195 11 Juice Vereen Fr. 6-4 210 WR 8 Julian Gray R-So. 5-11 195 82 Terrell Timmons Jr. So. 6-2 190 SLOT 4 Porter Rooks Jr. 6-1 195 80 Kevin Concepcion Fr. 5-11 180 LT 74 Anthony Belton R-Jr. 6-6 336 76 Patrick Matan R-So. 6-4 304 LG 56 Lyndon Cooper R-So. 6-2 312 69 Dawson Jaramillo Gr. 6-5 305 C 54 Dylan McMahon R-Jr. 6-4 305 55 Rylan Vann R-Fr. 6-1 292 RG 53 Derrick Eason Gr. 6-4 315 75 Anthony Carter Jr. R-So. 6-3 310 RT 52 Timothy McKay R-Jr. 6-4 312 62 Jaleel Davis R-So. 6-6 310 Pos. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. LE 45 Davin Vann Jr. 6-2 272 47 Red Hibbler R-Jr. 6-2 260 NT 5 C.J. Clark R-Jr. 6-3 305 44 Brandon Cleveland So. 6-4 290 RE 9 Savion Jackson Sr. 6-2 280 13 Travali Price R-So. 6-4 272 SLB 2 Jaylon Scott Sr. 6-1 225 10 Caden Fordham R-So. 6-1 228 MLB 26 Devon Betty Jr. 6-1 225 27 Jayland Parker R-So. 6-1 215 WLB 11 Payton Wilson R-Sr. 6-4 242 33 Jordan Poole R-So. 6-0 225 LCB 3 Aydan White Jr. 6-0 185 14 Renté Hinton So. 6-3 212 RCB 7 Shyheim Battle R-Jr. 6-2 195 22 Teshaun Smith R-Sr. 6-3 185 FS 6 Jakeen Harris Sr. 5-10 195 20 Sean Brown R-So. 6-0 205 SS 12 Devan Boykin Jr. 5-10 192 Bishop Fitzgerald Jr. 6-0 190 NIC 8 Robert Kennedy R-Sr. 5-10 193 4 Cecil Powell R-Jr. 6-0 210 Projected Depth Chart