The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JULY 2016 ■ 79 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 a Freshman All-America selection by Phil Steele (first team), Athlon (second team) and College Football News (honorable mention) in 2014. That's when Fernandez had 78 tackles, the most among line- backers and only two behind former safety Hakim Jones for team-high honors, despite the fact he missed one game. However, Fernandez's production dipped last year to 47 tackles. After hav- ing four games of double-digits tackles in 2014, Fernandez had none last fall. A rededication to the strength program had him playing some of his best football yet in the spring. "Jerod has really worked hard on his conditioning and has changed his body," Huxtable noted. "I thought his movement this spring was the best it's been since he's been here. "Jerod understands the defense really well, and he's been a starter for two years. The thing that was most impressive this spring about Jerod was how well he moved. He played faster … he was just more fluid and was able to get to where he needed to get to make plays." While Fernandez will lead the way at middle linebacker, Moore will try to continue his steady progression at weakside linebacker. He had a team-high 77 tackles last season, including eight for loss. In the spring game, Moore had an interception and broke up another pass, showing he is picking up where he left off. "Airius, like Jerod, has played so much football, and he really understands the defense and the linebacker position," Huxtable said. "He's an extremely hard worker, a smart football player and a great citizen. I'm just really excited about him and the kind of year he can give us." What Huxtable needs to figure out is who will play behind Fernandez and Moore. Sophomore Riley Nicholson is a strong candidate, given that he started four times last season. He played well at Florida State (six tackles, assisting on one for a loss) and versus Syracuse (nine tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass broken up). ■ By The Numbers 7 Years out of the last 10 that a linebacker led NC State's defense in tackles. 34 Career starts combined for redshirt junior Jerod Fernandez and junior Airius Moore. 247 Total number of snaps taken at linebacker by players others than Fernandez and Moore, 213 of which belong to sophomore Riley Nicholson. Linebacker Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 43 Jerod Fernandez R-Jr. 6-0 220 Lake Mary, Fla. After earning several Freshman All-American honors in 2014, saw his tackles total fall from 78, two off the team-high that year, to 47 last season, but his improved conditioning impressed the defensive coaches in the spring. 58 Airius Moore Jr. 6-0 237 Beavercreek, Ohio Started four games as a true freshman in 2014 and then emerged last fall when he led the team with 77 tackles, including eight for loss, while starting all 13 games. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 44 Ford Howell R-Jr. 6-1 240 Memphis, Tenn. Played 12 games last year and registered seven tackles, including 1.5 for loss. 32 Riley Nicholson So. 6-0 229 Kissimmee, Fla. Hard hitter earned four starts and had 31 tackles, including three for loss, during his true freshman season. 3 Germaine Pratt Jr. 6-3 230 High Point, N.C. Moved from safety to linebacker in the spring after accumulating 62 tackles, 1.5 stops for loss, four passes broken up, an interception, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in two years at free safety. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 47 Garrett Hooker Fr. 6-2 247 High Point, N.C. Was a Shrine Bowl selection coming out of Ledford High, where he had 167 tackles in eight games during his senior season before breaking a bone in his foot. Enrolled early at NCSU. 36 Brock Miller Fr. 6-4 210 Port St. Lucie, Fla. Had video-game stats as a senior at John Carroll High: 139 tackles (97 solo), 65 tackles for loss and 25 sacks. Picked NC State over Virginia Tech. 52 Cole Nigro R-Fr. 6-1 230 Raleigh Walk-on from Raleigh's Sanderson High. 48 Bryan Smith R-Jr. 6-2 237 Oxford, N.C. Walk-on played his high school football at Webb High and could carve out a role on special teams. 33 Matt Stevens Fr. 6-0 212 Charlotte Younger brother of NCSU junior corner Mike Stevens is a preferred walk-on from Hough High in Charlotte. ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters **½ There is potential for the duo of redshirt junior Jerod Fernandez and junior Airius Moore to prove better than this rating. If Fernandez can match his freshman year form and Moore continues to build off his first two seasons, the Pack has an experienced duo than can get the job done. Position coach and defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable appeared confident after spring practice that the two will give State what is needed. Experience *** Fernandez and Moore have started for most of their careers and combined to make 239 career tackles. There is little that the two have not seen at this point in their careers. There is also some experience behind them. Sophomore Riley Nicholson started four games as a rookie, and he was thrown into the fire for his first start: against then-No. 1 and eventual national runner-up Clemson. Depth ** The immediate backups are probably okay. Nicholson could prove to be a third starter for the Pack if he successfully builds off his freshman season, and Huxtable appears com- fortable with redshirt junior Ford Howell backing up at middle linebacker. The concern though is after those two. The wild card is junior Germaine Pratt, who shifted from safety to linebacker in the spring. The remaining options are a mixture of walk-ons and true freshmen. Depth at linebacker was one of Huxtable's top worries on defense. Overall Grade **½ Linebacker could be crucial to improved play by the defense. The projected starting combination of Fernandez and Moore has the potential to raise the play beyond this rat- ing, and backups like Nicholson, Howell and Pratt could also prove better than suggested. They have to show it on the field on a consistent basis first, however. Quick Facts Position Coach: Dave Huxtable (fourth season) Returning Starters: Jerod Fernandez (18 career starts) and Airius Moore (16) Starters Lost: None FYI: Both Athlon Sports' 2016 Preview and Phil Steele's 2016 College Football Preview both ranked NCSU's linebacking corps eighth out of 14 teams in the ACC … One of Moore's high school coaches at Beavercreek (Ohio) High was former NC State wide receiver Tramain Hall … Sophomore Riley Nicholson was a two-time first-team all-state selection by the Associated Press and was named the Central Florida Defensive Player of the Year in 2014 by The Orlando Sentinel … Freshman Garrett Hooker enrolled early after registering at least 126 tackles in his last three seasons at Ledford High in Thomasville, N.C. … Freshman Brock Miller's 25 sacks during his senior season at John Carroll High in Port St. Lucie, Fla., ranked 11th nationally in 2015 according to MaxPreps.com … Junior Ger - maine Pratt was actually rated as a linebacker by Rivals.com coming out of high school, checking in at No. 13 among outside linebackers in the 2014 class and No. 213 overall nationally regardless of position.