The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2015 The bigger question mark at linebacker is who will back up the soph- omore duo. There are several atypical candidates leading the way, two of which did not begin their respective Wolfpack careers on scholarship. Redshirt sophomore Ford Howell was a recruit in Wake Forest's 2014 class, but after one redshirt year Howell left Winston-Salem and enrolled at Iowa Western Community College. He started 12 games for the team that reached the national title game for junior colleges and made 67 tackles. He arrived at NCSU — ironically the school he originally com- mitted to before his senior season at University High in Memphis, Tenn. — as a walk-on in January, but Howell made a big impression in the spring. "What a great get that was," Huxtable noted. "I am really excited about him, and what he did this last spring and how quickly he picked things up. He's a football player." Howell ended spring as Fernandez's backup, while former walk-on Ernie Robinson III, a redshirt junior who received a scholarship last fall, was Moore's reserve. Robinson, according to Huxtable, has great respect from his teammates. "Ernie is probably our strongest linebacker, got a great work ethic, works extremely hard in the weight room," Huxtable said. "He's a very self-disciplined kid. He's a very smart kid and just has a great work ethic and is very eager to learn. "In the meetings, I can see it in his eyes. He's very passionate about football." The wild card at linebacker could be M.J. Salahuddin, a redshirt junior who missed last season after knee surgery. He started five games as a sophomore in 2013 and made 25 tackles that year, includ- ing two for loss. Huxtable believes Salahuddin is a leader in his room and is smart enough to play either linebacker position. "Before he got injured, he was really playing at a high level, was really prac- ticing well," Huxtable re- called. A pair of early enrollees and redshirt sophomore Ar- temis Robinson will battle to get on the depth chart. Robinson, Huxtable noted, is a talented linebacker but needs to stay healthy. He missed last season with shoulder surgery. The two newcomers are Riley Nicholson from Osceola High in Kissimmee, Fla., and James Smith-Williams from Raleigh Millbrook. Nicholson has a chance to see the field this fall, at least on special teams, after an impressive spring. "He's played linebacker since he was knee high to a grasshop- per," Huxtable said. "He's been in the box, having to read and recognize and react to things. He's a very instinctive kid, and he's a tough kid." Smith-Williams is a good athlete, but he will be adjusting to playing linebacker. He played primarily defensive end his senior season but runs well enough to get a look at nickel in the spring. Huxtable said that Smith-Williams will go to Will this fall. "James is an extremely bright kid, long and athletic, and has a great upside," Huxtable said. ■ Getting To Know: Ford Howell Linebacker Ford Howell is a redshirt sophomore at NCSU, as one might have anticipated when Howell verbally committed to the Wolfpack in the spring of 2012. The route Howell, who played for University School in Mem- phis, Tenn., took to become that redshirt sophomore at NC State was anything but anticipated. After committing to NCSU, then coached by Tom O'Brien, Howell changed his pledge to Wake Forest. He spent a year in Winston-Salem, red- shirting, before leaving for Iowa Western Community College. After Howell made 67 tackles, including seven for loss, and helped Iowa Western to the NJCAA title game last fall as its starting middle linebacker, word about him reached NC State head coach Dave Doeren and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Dave Huxtable. Howell said that he was receiving noticeable attention from smaller Football Bowl Subdivision schools, specifically identifying Akron and Wyoming, but Howell's heart was to come full circle and be at the school that he always wanted to attend. "Everything just fell into place," Howell said. "Just felt like I was finally where I should be, finally where I wanted to be. It took me a while to get here, and I kind of had a strange journey, but I feel like I am in the right spot. "I was lucky enough to catch the attention of Coach Hux and Coach Doeren at junior college and have them want me to get back over. I love them for that, for sure." Howell was honest in reflecting on the past, admitting his regrets to ever switching his commitment in the first place. He said that coming out of high school, external forces pulled him toward different directions, and he let that get to him rather than making a decision for himself. "It definitely would have been a whole lot easier if I would have just stayed the course," he said. "It's a huge regret for sure. I am the luckiest dude ever to get to a redo. Not too many people get to have that kind of opportunity." Thus Howell said he was probably one of the few NC State players flashing a smile during those early-morning offseason workouts. "I've enjoyed all of it because, once again, this is where I wanted to be and I had the chance to be here, and I'm happy to have the chance to play, give my best effort," Howell said. "It's worked out pretty well so far." Despite learning his third defense in three years, Howell feels comfortable with NCSU's scheme of two linebackers in the box. He has also established a good rap - port with Huxtable. On April 11, Howell played in his first spring game at NCSU. His parents were in the stands, watching him play in the uniform he was almost destined to wear. — Matt Carter ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters **½ Redshirt sophomore Jerod Fernandez proved his worthiness as a starter in the ACC last season. He recorded double-digit tackles in four contests and was mentioned on numerous Freshman All-America teams. Sophomore Airius Moore also flashed his po - tential, recording eight tackles, two stops for loss and a sack in his first career start at Louisville. At a minimum, the two look like a solid starting combination. If they continue to progress, they could prove to be even better than that. Experience *** Fernandez and Moore are both sophomores, but they also logged extensive playing time last season and thus are battle-tested. The return of redshirt junior M.J. Salahuddin, who missed last season with a knee injury, adds more experience. Salahuddin started five games as a sophomore and played on special teams as a true freshman. Depth **½ Salahuddin's return could be the key to the depth question. If he is fully healthy and can regain his prior form, Salahuddin becomes a major piece on the two-deep. Otherwise, the second-stringers could be a couple of unproven players, although redshirt sopho - more Ford Howell has experience as a starting linebacker last year for one of the top junior colleges in the country and impressed coaches during the spring. Overall Grade **½ At a minimum, NC State looks like it has a solid linebacker corps. The starting com - bination of Fernandez and Moore should get the job done in the middle of the defense. Both are heady players. Fernandez proved his value in coverage last year while Moore's aggressiveness worked well on blitzes. If they continue their development without any setbacks, and Salahuddin and Howell, or others, both provide depth, the Pack is in good shape. NC State's Leading Tacklers The Past Decade Year Name Tackles 2014 Hakim Jones 80 2013 Robert Caldwell 105 2012 Earl Wolff 145 2011 Audie Cole 132 2010 Nate Irving 97 Audie Cole 97 2009 Audie Cole 85 2008 Ray Michel 102 2007 DaJuan Morgan 117 2006 Pat Lowery 109 2005 Stephen Tulloch 134 HOWELL