The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
94 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 DEFENSIVE LINE Getting To Know: Tyrone Riley NC State redshirt sophomore defensive end Tyrone Riley originally dreamed of playing college basketball, but learned during his junior year of high school that his best opportunities at the next level would come via football. He was a lanky 6-6, 210-pounder at Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Baptist, but colleges were confident he'd fill out. NC State won an intense recruiting battle with Kentucky, where he originally committed. Riley picked up at least 16 scholarship offers in the process, and Rivals. com rated him as a three-star prospect, the No. 60 player in Georgia and the No. 27 weakside defensive end in the class of 2015. Riley transformed his frame during his redshirt season, putting himself in position to log some valuable playing time last year. "I was just eating and working out," he said. "They have good control over your food plans." The now 285-pounder began last year as a third-string defensive end, but worked his way into becoming part of the rotation behind star Bradley Chubb. He ended up logging nine tackles in 132 plays over the course of 11 games. He was able to play defensive end in nine of the contests, and had a season-high 30 snaps, five tackles and one sack in the loss at Louisville. "It has helped me tremendously," Riley said. "I'm a lot faster and I know what is going on. My teammates are motivating me. It's fun." Riley is the epitome of the emphasis former defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen put on recruiting height and wingspan. "I am able to get leverage on people before they even put their hands on me," said Riley, who is majoring in sports management with a minor in business manage - ment. "That helps me a lot." Riley will always remember his first career sack, which was against eventual Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson during the third quarter of the Cardinals' 54-13 win on Oct. 22, 2016. "That was the best feeling ever to get that sack," Riley said. "Most people don't know that I played safety and linebacker in high school. I never played defensive end until arriving at NC State." — Jacey Zembal Riley recorded his first career sack against eventual Heisman Tro- phy winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville last fall. PHOTO BY JACEY ZEMBAL year. Hill handles the nose tackle duties and helps elevate the play of his teammates, and Jones has an explosive first step off the snap. "Jones and Chubb have similar games — they take a lot of shots and are very athletic, where B.J. and Street are more steady," Pat- rick said. "You know they are always where they are supposed to be. "Justin probably has as much athletic ability as anybody. He's one of the strongest on the team." Junior Eurndraus Bryant, junior college transfer Larrell Mur- chison and redshirt freshman Ben "Shug" Frazier provide depth at tackle. Roseboro plus redshirt sophomores Tyrone Riley and James Smith-Williams will help form a rotation with Street and Chubb at end. Redshirt junior defensive end Deonte Holden could also be a factor if he stays healthy. ■ Quick Facts Position Coach: Kevin Patrick (first season) Returning Starters: NT B.J. Hill (31 career starts), DE Bradley Chubb (26), DE Kentavius Street (21) and DT Justin Jones (16) FYI: Phil Steele's College Football Preview ranked the NC State defensive line No. 3 nationally … Phil Steele's also tabbed senior Bradley Chubb as a second-team All- American, the No. 5 defensive end nationally and first-team All-ACC … Senior Justin Jones was listed as the No. 12 defensive tackle in the country and fourth-team All-ACC by Phil Steele's … In addition, Phil Steele's ranked senior B.J. Hill as the No. 24 defensive tackle and third-team All-ACC, plus listed senior Kentavius Street and junior Darian Roseboro as the No. 24 and No. 30, respectively, defensive ends in the country … Athlon rated NC State's defensive line No. 7 nationally and No. 4 in the ACC … Athlon listed Chubb as a preseason second-team All-American and first- team All-ACC pick … Street & Smith's named Chubb a second-team preseason All- American and first-team All-ACC … Lindy's tabbed Chubb as the No. 3 defensive end prospect for the 2018 NFL Draft, the No. 3 defensive end among college players, a second-team All-American and first-team All-ACC, plus picked him No. 6 overall in the ACC for NFL Draft talent … Lindy's named Hill and Jones third-team All-ACC … Freshman defensive tackle Ben "Shug" Frazier helped Buford (Ga.) High win 4-A state titles from 2012-14 and reach the championship game in 2015. ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters **** The hype machine has been off and running going into the 2017 season, with the expectations of possibly five future NFL players lining up on the NC State defensive line. All four starters are back in senior ends Bradley Chubb and Kentavius Street, and senior tackles Justin Jones and B.J. Hill. Add in junior end Darian Roseboro, who has played the equivalent of a starter's snaps, and the Wolfpack should end up being among the nation's best. Chubb, in particular, will challenge for All-ACC and All-America honors. Experience **** About the only inexperience NC State has is with new defensive line coach Kevin Patrick. The four seniors have combined to play in 149 games, plus Roseboro and junior tackle Eurndraus Bryant have combined for 51 appearances their first two years. Depth *** The depth is pretty solid thanks to Roseboro and Bryant, plus redshirt sophomore defensive ends James Smith-Williams and Tyrone Riley, who have been in the rotation in the past. The lone newcomers to the group could be redshirt freshman Ben "Shug" Frazier, who comes in highly regarded out of powerhouse Buford (Ga.) High, and junior college defensive tackle transfer Larrell Murchison of Louisburg (N.C.) College. Overall grade **** The Wolfpack recorded 37 sacks last year, and the defense held opposing offenses to 3.3 yards per carry and 35 percent on third-down conversions. The key to taking the unit and the defense to the next level is an even more productive pass rush, which creates more sacks, forced fumbles and quarterback hurries.