The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/699450
84 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2016 Cornerbacks Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 38 Mike Stevens Jr. 5-11 190 Charlotte Earned 10 starts as a sophomore and had 21 tackles, five passes broken up and an interception. 29 Jack Tocho Sr. 6-0 200 Charlotte An early-season injury limited him to three starts last year, and he had 20 tackles, three passes broken up and an interception. Has 17 career passes broken up and four picks. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 15 Johnathan Alston Sr. 6-0 203 Bunn, N.C. Made the switch from offense to defense in the spring and quickly impressed. Caught 39 passes for 391 yards and three scores in three years at wideout. 10 Freddie Phillips Jr. So. 6-1 200 Pelion, S.C. Moved over from nickel after playing almost exclusively on special teams as a true fresh - man last fall. 25 Sean Paul R-Jr. 5-11 192 Vero Beach, Fla. Nagging injuries have limited Paul's chances to get on the field, but he was healthy this spring and impressed corners coach George Barlow. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 19 Bryce Banks Fr. 6-2 184 Columbia, Mo. Enrolled early at NC State and participated in spring practices. Had more than 40 tackles as a senior at Rock Bridge High. 36 William Brown III R-Fr. 5-10 185 Raleigh Walk-on from Cardinal Gibbons High. 13 J.J. Givens Fr. 6-2 174 Richmond, Va. Rated as a three-star recruit, the No. 13 player in Virginia and the No. 46 safety nationally by Rivals.com. Made 89 tackles and six interceptions as a senior at Atlee High. 12 Nicholas Lacy R-Jr. 5-7 182 Pinehurst, N.C. Walk-on from Pinecrest High who played last season on a scholarship. Was Co-Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year. 21 Nick McCloud Fr. 6-2 175 Rock Hill, S.C. Ranked as a three-star talent, the No. 9 senior in South Carolina and the No. 54 safety in the country by Rivals.com. Made 68 tackles and six interceptions as a senior to help South Pointe High win a state title. 30 James Valdez Fr. 6-0 189 Orangeburg, S.C. Was a three-star prospect and the No. 14 player in South Carolina's 2016 class according to Rivals.com. Safeties Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 24 Shawn Boone Jr. 5-10 201 West Palm Beach, Fla. Earned his first two career starts last year, but was hampered by injuries. Credited with being an intelligent safety that can get the defense lined up right. 11 Josh Jones R-Jr. 6-2 215 Walled Lake, Mich. Has 19 career starts, and in two years he has compiled 120 tackles, four stops for loss, 1.5 sacks, nine passes broken up and five interceptions. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 31 Jarius Morehead R-Fr. 6-1 213 Whitsett, N.C. Shared Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year honors with Lacy while redshirting last season. 14 Dexter Wright R-So. 6-2 232 Wilson, N.C. Physically gifted safety played on special teams last year, notching a couple of tackles, but made strides in learning the defense this spring. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 34 Tim Kidd-Glass Fr. 6-0 206 Danville, Va. Rated as a three-star recruit and the No. 22 prospect in Virginia by Rivals.com. 37 Josh Sessoms 5th-Sr. 6-2 198 Wilson, N.C. Played last year at wide receiver after spending the previous two seasons at safety. Returned to defense this spring. Led NCSU with nine special teams tackles in 2015. 22 Isaiah Stallings Fr. 6-4 205 Fayetteville, N.C. Regarded as a three-star prospect, the No. 23 player in North Carolina and the No. 39 safety nationally after racking up 159 tackles and six interceptions as a senior at Terry Sanford High. Nickel Backs Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 8 Dravious Wright Sr. 5-10 208 Vero Beach, Fla. Hard-hitter has started 25 games in the last two years. Totaled 43 tackles, 4.5 stops for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery last season. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 6 Niles Clark 5th-Sr 5-11 186 Marietta, Ga. Transitioned to nickel from corner midseason and made a quick impact, intercepting passes against Florida State and Mississippi State. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 26 Trace Batten R-So. 5-10 202 Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Walk-on was a prep teammate of Shawn Boone at Dwyer High. His older brother played at Auburn and his grandfather played at Florida. Quick Facts Position Coaches: George Barlow (cornerbacks, third season) and Clayton White (safeties, fourth season) Returning Starters: NB Dravious Wright (25 career starts), S Josh Jones (19) and CB Mike Stevens (10) Starters Lost: CB Juston Burris (43) and S Hakim Jones (36) FYI: The nickel backs work with the linebackers under defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Dave Huxtable during practice … Athlon Sports' 2016 Preview listed the Pack defensive backs as the ACC's 12th-best unit, while Phil Steele's 2016 College Football Preview ranked them ninth in the league and No. 41 nationally … Se- nior cornerback Jack Tocho has already graduated from college, earning a degree in accounting in three years … Wright and redshirt junior cornerback Sean Paul were teammates at Vero Beach (Fla.) High … Freshman safety Isaiah Stallings played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game in 2015, and freshmen cornerbacks Nick McCloud and James Valdez were both selected to play in the North-South All-Star Game in South Carolina … Redshirt freshman safety Jarius Morehead is a graduate of Eastern Guilford High, the same school that produced the Holt broth- ers (Torry and Terrence) and Yow sisters (Debbie, Susan and Kay). Senior nickel Dravious Wright appeared on SportsCenter's Top 10 last year after he sacked Troy's quarterback with a big hit, which forced a fumble, and then recovered the loose ball. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN