The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545830
32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ❱ ❱ ❱ LINEBACKERS PORTAL PROVIDES TALENT INFUSION BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN T hree years ago, freshman Miami linebacker Popo Aguirre spent a November night watching former NC State great Payton Wilson fly around Carter-Finley Stadium with ease. Now a senior, Aguirre is looking to follow in the Butkus Award winner's footsteps with the Wolfpack. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Aguirre arrived in Raleigh this off- season via the transfer portal boasting plenty of experience af- ter serving as a rotational defender for the Hurricanes the past two years. He helped Miami reach the national title game last season and has worked to instill a championship mindset in the Wolfpack's locker room. What does that mindset look like? "Winning. Nothing but winning," said Aguirre, who posted a career-best 43 tackles last year. "That starts off every day — how we practice, how we eat, how we sleep, all those things." Aguirre arrived just days after the College Football Playoff championship game. NC State defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot was thrilled to welcome him aboard. "He's a veteran player. He's played in the spotlight. He's played in big games. He's played in the ACC," Eliot said. "He understands the importance of communication and sound assignment. It's good to have him because of his experience." While Aguirre headlines the new-look linebackers room, he wasn't the Pack's only instant-impact portal pickup. NC State also brought in former Penn State special teams standout DaKaari Nelson, a senior who projects to play next to Aguirre, and fifth-year senior Harvey Dyson, who will slot in at the Jack outside linebacker spot after arriving from Tulane. The veteran trio has combined to appear in 100 games in their collegiate careers, bringing maturity and leadership to the Wolfpack's linebackers. Dyson is known for having a re- lentless, game-altering motor; a year ago, he led the American Athletic Conference with 8 sacks. The Wolfpack is eager to see how its revamped linebacker corps will fare with all the new faces. To date, the most-impactful addition to the roster has been Aguirre, largely because of his effect on the team's chemistry. "He's got a big personality. He's competi- tive, and he wants to learn," coach Dave Doeren said. "With his experience being at Miami and helping build that program into what they were last year, he's learned a lot. He knows what to do and what not to do in the locker room. He brings some valuable background information to our team in that way." BY THE NUMBERS 6 Harvey Dyson's career-best single-game quarterback pressure total, which came last season when he suited up for Tulane in a win at Tulsa. 169th Sterling Dixon's national ranking, per Rivals, as a consensus four-star recruit out of Mobile (Ala.) Spanish Fort High. 513 Total defensive snaps Popo Aguirre played as a rotational linebacker in three seasons at Miami. ■ POSITIONAL GRADES ★★★★ Among country's best; ★★★ Among ACC's best; ★★ Solid or has potential; ★ Too unproven STARTERS ★★★ Popo Aguirre and DaKaari Nelson are ready for their opportunity to be full- time starters. Harvey Dyson is a game-wrecking player off the edge who fills the Wolfpack's Jack outside linebacker role extremely well. This veteran trio has played a lot of football and figures to execute at a high level. EXPERIENCE ★★½ The Pack's starting trio have all appeared in games over multiple seasons. But of the team's top backup options, only Ke'Von Carter, AJ Richardson and LaCorian Hodge have played consistent rotational snaps at linebacker. DEPTH ★★★ NC State likes its depth. It might even be possible for a few true fresh- men to see action. The linebackers room was flipped from two years ago, but the Pack has what it needs to fit D.J. Eliot's defensive scheme. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ NC State has a good mix of experienced linebackers ready to expand their roles. This position group had to be retooled during the offseason, but the staff set itself up for long-term success. PROJECTED DEPTH CHART STARTERS No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Hometown 0 Popo Aguirre Sr. 6-1 235 Fayetteville, Ga. 5 Harvey Dyson 5th 6-2 248 Cedar Hill, Texas 19 DaKaari Nelson Sr. 6-3 232 Livingston, Ala. BACKUPS 25 Sterling Dixon Jr. 6-2 221 Spanish Fort, Ala. 35 LaCorian Hodge So. 6-2 217 Arlington, Texas 15 AJ Richardson Sr. 6-1 235 Kings Mountain, N.C. WAITING IN THE WINGS 42 Ke'Von Carter So. 6-3 223 San Antonio, Texas 32 Caleb Gordon Fr. 5-11 226 Gastonia, N.C. 33 Ziggy Moore Fr. 6-2 210 Pittsburgh 44 Jordan Moreta Fr. 6-1 223 Union City, N.J. 30 Zane Williams Jr. 5-11 228 Wake Forest, N.C. SPOTLIGHT PLAYER FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR HARVEY DYSON Dyson is a proven player from his time at Tulane, but he transferred to NC State looking to grow as a pass rusher. In Wolfpack defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot, he saw someone who could help him do that. "He made it short and simple and just told me what I could work on," Dyson said, describing Eliot's pitch to him when he was in the portal. "That's what I'm all about, just getting better." The 6-foot-2, 248-pound defender has brought an elite work ethic to Raleigh. He will be counted on to get after opposing quarterbacks and could be in for a big season. For now, his main goal is to simply keep improving. "Whether it's a lift or meeting, I'm just trying to get better every single day," Dyson said. "Everything else will fall into place." PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL POPO AGUIRRE