The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/535299
88 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2015 The situation at cornerback is similar to safety with Burris and Tocho combining for 50 collegiate starts. Redshirt junior Niles Clark and sophomore Mike Stevens worked their way into the rotation last year, and give the Pack an impressive top four at the position, although Barlow is not allowing his players to rest on their previous accomplishments. "It is nice to have those experienced guys, guys that have been battle-tested and proved that they can do it under pressure," he said. "But at the same time, we're still going to be pushing ahead so we can get the best out of them. They can get even better." Burris and Tocho, much like Hakim Jones, are proven so others follow, but that's not the only reason they are good leaders. "They're not only vocal, but they do everything right," Barlow explained. "That's exactly what you want the younger guys to see on a regular basis. "From top to bottom, the quality of kid in our room is awe- some." Every position in the secondary has an entrenched starter, but they are being pushed by backups to make the group an even big- ger strength for the defense. "What's going to help us is you can always get better as a group when you're competitive," Barlow said. "If the competition is there, nobody can relax and think they've got it made. "We've just got to continue to get better." ■ Cornerbacks Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 11 Juston Burris 5th-Sr. 6-1 207 Raleigh The Pack's most experienced player with 30 career starts also leads the team with 19 career passes broken up and five interceptions, one ahead of Josh Jones for most on the squad. 29 Jack Tocho Jr. 6-0 198 Charlotte, N.C. Broke out last year after starting down the stretch of his rookie season; he posted a team- best 11 passes broken up in 2014. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 25 Niles Clark R-Jr. 5-11 186 Marietta, Ga. Playing time increased as the year went on in 2014; he broke up two passes and posted 10 tackles, including one for loss. 30 Mike Stevens So. 5-11 190 Davidson, N.C. Broke up a pair of passes and posted seven tackles in 11 games as a true freshman. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 12 Nicholas Lacy R-So. 5-7 181 Pinehurst, N.C. Walk-on from Pinecrest High who recovered a fumble last season. 14 Malcolm Means R-So. 6-1 195 Great Falls, S.C. Only played 10 snaps from scrimmage, but tied for fourth on the team with four special teams takedowns; he also recovered a fumble. 19 Sean Paul R-So. 5-11 190 Vero Beach, Fla. Played on special teams in every game as a freshman, but missed all of last year with an injury. 22 Troy Vincent Jr. So. 5-10 199 Baltimore Played exclusively on special teams in eight games and recorded a pair of stops. Safeties Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 20 Hakim Jones 5th-Sr. 6-2 205 Henderson, N.C. Led the squad with 80 tackles last year; he has 12 passes broken up and three interceptions in his career, in addition to one forced fumble and a recovery. 2 Josh Jones R-So. 6-2 215 Walled Lake, Mich. Started eight times last year, but played heavily in all 12 contests he appeared in. He led the Pack with four interceptions, and ranked second with seven passes broken up and fifth with 56 tackles. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 24 Shawn Boone So. 5-10 194 Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Logged just 59 defensive snaps last year, but posted 16 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and a pass broken up. He ranked second with seven special teams tackles. 31 Germaine Pratt So. 6-3 234 High Point, N.C. Became the team's third safety as a true freshman and started when Josh Jones was sus - pended. He finished with 32 stops and defended three passes. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 41 Cole Boroughs R-Jr. 6-0 190 Asheboro, N.C. Walk-on from Asheboro High. 27 Kalen McCain R-Fr. 6-2 195 Durham, N.C. Redshirted last year; tied with two other players to lead all participants with six tackles in the spring game; he was the only backup to notch that many stops. 38 Jarius Morehead Fr. 6-1 185 Gibsonville, N.C. Safeties coach Clayton White said of the three-star recruit: "If we can't keep him off the field, it's because he's so athletic." 34 Dexter Wright R-Fr. 6-2 232 Wilson, N.C. Came to NCSU ranked by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect and his home state's No. 27 player; he redshirted last year. Nickel Backs Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 8 Dravious Wright Jr. 5-10 208 Vero Beach, Fla. Steadily improved last year and has continued to do so. The impressive athlete finished 2014 with 57 tackles, including five for loss, and forced two fumbles, while he also led the way with eight special teams tackles. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 10 Freddie Phillips Jr. Fr. 6-1 200 Pelion, S.C. Three-star early enrollee posted five tackles in the spring game to tie for second on the White team, which was made up of the reserves. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 26 Trace Batten R-Fr. 5-10 202 Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Walk-on was a prep teammate of Shawn Boone with great bloodlines — his older brother played at Auburn and his grandfather played at Florida. 33 Charlie Twitty R-Jr. 5-10 191 Raleigh Walk-on from Enloe High switched from wide receiver last year, but was limited to one game with injuries. Troy Vincent Jr. — the son of five-time Pro Bowler Troy Vincent, who is now the NFL executive vice president of football operations — played on special teams in eight games last year. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN