The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523120
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ❱ ❱ ❱ LINEBACKERS REBUILDING BOOM BY ETHAN MCDOWELL N C State has enjoyed a lofty standard of linebacker play for the entirety of defensive coordinator Tony Gibson's tenure. Payton Wilson, Isaiah Moore and Drake Thomas each surpassed 90 tackles in at least one season and received All-ACC accolades while helping build a tradition of excellence. Now, a new era begins in Gibson's 3-3-5 system. Se- nior Devon Betty and redshirt junior Caden Fordham are both back after playing significant snaps in 2023. Redshirt junior Sean Brown moved to linebacker after emerging as a standout safety last fall. In addition to those three upperclassmen, all of whom are projected starters, the Pack will rely on an inexperienced but talented group to fill out the room. "It's just got to be a rotation," Gibson said. "You're not going to replace what Payton Wilson did a year ago. I'm not saying it's impossible, but you don't replace a guy like that." Gibson is spending this offseason figuring out how to keep the starters fresh. Wilson recorded 138 tackles in 2023 on his way to ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Jaylon Scott, last year's starter at Sam, played 819 snaps and rarely came off the field. NC State will have to replace a lot of snaps and more than 200 tackles, but Gibson said he's pleased with what he's seen so far. "We have to have five or six guys to be able to rotate and keep guys healthy," he said. "That's the key for us. I like our group, like where we're at. We are young in the linebacker room, but I love the potential right now." The likely starters have all impressed. Brown will slot into the Will position, the spot Wilson starred in last year, alongside Betty at Sam and Fordham at Mike. Redshirt freshmen Kamal Bonner and Kelvon McBride will see action at the outside spots, while redshirt junior Jayland Parker and junior Wyatt Wright will compete for snaps in the middle of the Pack's defense. "We've got some great talent, and it's my job to develop that," Gibson said. "We'll be OK." SPOTLIGHT PLAYER REDSHIRT JUNIOR SEAN BROWN Brown played seven linebacker snaps last season, moving up from safety to fill in for Payton Wilson on a game-deciding drive against Clemson. He led NC State in tackles that day with 11. The redshirt junior moved to the Will spot full-time this offseason, and nu - merous sources praised his play during spring practice after making the posi- tion switch. "The thing that's really, really helped that room is moving Sean Brown," Gib- son said. "Moving Sean Brown down in the box is big for our program and our defense." Brown is one of the players already standing out in summer workouts. He's listed at 6-foot, 207 pounds on NC State's roster, and Gibson is not expecting him to bulk up too much. When the coordinator arrived in Raleigh, he thought the linebackers were too heavy. Gibson said Brown was around 215 pounds as of mid-June and will probably end up at 220 by the fall. He recorded an elite 86.6 Pro Football Focus tackling grade last year. BY THE NUMBERS 1,534 Total snaps played by Jaylon Scott and Payton Wilson last year that NC State needs to replace. 13 Freshman Elijah Groves was listed as the No. 13 line- backer nationally in the On3 Industry Ranking. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 0 Sean Brown R-Jr. 6-0 207 Charlotte 8 Devon Betty Sr. 6-1 232 Carver Ranches, Fla. 10 Caden Fordham R-Jr. 6-1 228 Ponte Vedra, Fla. RESERVES No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 34 Kamal Bonner R-Fr. 6-2 195 Moultrie, Ga. 36 Kelvon McBride R-Fr. 6-3 210 Mobile, Ala. 27 Jayland Parker R-Jr. 6-1 221 Macon, Ga. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Year Ht. Wt. Hometown 25 Wyatt Wright Jr. 6-0 215 Bridgeville, Del. 28 Joshua Ofor Fr. 6-1 220 Jonesboro, Ga. — Elijah Groves Fr. 6-5 208 Cross Plains, Tenn. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★ Caden Fordham and Devon Betty shared snaps at middle linebacker last fall. They combined for 86 tackles and both played critical roles in the rotation. The upperclass- men are now primed to play alongside each other. Betty will slide outside, a position he played in a rotational role in 2022. Brown recorded 66 tackles as a safety last fall, and his physicality should translate well to his new position. EXPERIENCE ★★ All three projected starters have played meaningful snaps for the Pack, but now they're asked to step into starring roles. NC State is optimistic about their potential. Betty, Fordham and Sean Brown have All-ACC potential, but the team does not have the same proven production as in previous years. DEPTH ★★ Both Kamal Bonner and Kelvon McBride have been drawing praise from NC State's coaching staff since they arrived on campus. They do not have on-field experience, but they're both athletic playmakers with plenty of potential. McBride really im- pressed during the spring game. OVERALL ★★ Tony Gibson's previous NC State linebacker corps have ranged from good to great, and that trend should continue. This will be his first season without Moore, Wilson and Thomas, but his track record inspires confidence. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP SEAN BROWN