The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532241
32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN emple linebacker Layton Jordan wanted to be a "superhero" when the Owls faced Navy in Week 8 of the 2022 season. He was fresh off a 2-sack performance the week before against Tulsa and was confident that he could fly around the field to stop the Mid- shipmen's rushing attack on his own. There was a problem, though: Jordan's mind- set went against what defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot preached. Instead of being in the right po- sition at outside linebacker in the Owls' 3-4 de- fense, Jordan had decided to "do his own thing." Eliot wasn't pleased, and it didn't matter to him that Jordan was one of Temple's top de- fenders. After watching the star player disregard his assignments early in the game, Eliot pulled him off the field for nearly a quarter to prove his point. "It was basically a wake-up call," Jordan re- called recently. "He said, 'I'll take you out, I've got other people to play for me.' That stuck out to me, because he was serious." Eliot has always been a detail-oriented coach. It's in his DNA, and that was evident during his one-year stint at Temple, as well as previous stops at Baylor, Kansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Florida State and with the Philadelphia Eagles. It's the same approach he is bringing to NC State as the Wolfpack's defensive coordinator. Eliot was hired on Dec. 31 after Tony Gibson left to become head coach at Marshall. "D.J. is a great addition to our staff," NC State coach Dave Doeren said in a prepared statement announcing the move. "He has STOPPING POWER NC State Hires D.J. Eliot And Charlton Warren To Oversee A Defensive Resurgence T Eliot spent time in the SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences, as well as the NFL, before being hired in December to succeed Tony Gibson as NC State's defensive coordinator. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL