The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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JULY 2017 ■ 97 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 LINEBACKERS linebacker Riley Nicholson and redshirt freshman weakside line- backer Brock Miller will work their way on to the field. NC State defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable, who also coaches the linebackers and the nickel position, is encouraged by the various options at his disposal. "It's fun to coach guys that have been in the system as long as Jerod has, as long as Airius," Huxtable said. "If something wasn't right, they know how to fix it." The coach is also optimis- tic about the depth he has at the position. "I have guys that I feel very comfortable about put- ting into the game," Huxtable said. "There's no reason why they can't play hard every snap. Where Airius and Jerod have been warriors and have played a lot of snaps, now Ri- ley, Germaine and Brock can go in and give us a good performance." Moore has always been steady and can play both linebacker spots. Fernandez lost his starting position to Nicholson two years ago before he regained it, and then started 12 contests a season ago. Huxtable is encouraged by how Fernandez has matured and has high expectations for him. "Jerod has grown up so much," Huxtable said. "He was a little Linebacker Roster STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 4 Jerod Fernandez 5th-Sr. 6-0 227 Sanford, Fla. Finished second on the team with a career-high 88 tackles (4.5 for loss) and an intercep- tion. Has 213 tackles (11.5 for loss) and five interceptions in 38 career games (30 starts). 58 Airius Moore Sr. 6-0 237 Beavercreek, Ohio Attempting to be a three-year starter, and he's coming off arguably his best season with 86 total stops, 13.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recov- eries. Boasts 200 tackles, 25 stops for loss and four sacks in 39 career games (30 starts). RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 32 Riley Nicholson Jr. 6-0 237 Kissimmee, Fla. Battled injuries the last two years while starting four games his freshman year and once last year. Finished with 12 tackles in 105 defensive snaps in nine games played on defense (11 contests overall) last year. 3 Germaine Pratt R-Jr. 6-3 235 High Point, N.C. The former Rivals.com four-star prospect shuffled between linebacker and safety last spring, but then redshirted in the fall after shoulder surgery in April 2016. Accumu - lated 62 tackles, 1.5 tackles 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 15 Louis Acceus Fr. 6-0 210 Spring Valley, N.Y. Incredibly productive for Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional High. The former Rivals. com three-star prospect had 314 career stops, including 46 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks. 42 Danny Blakeman Fr. 6-2 227 Raleigh Walk-on who attended Leesville Road High. 36 Brock Miller R-Fr. 6-3 228 Port St. Lucie, Fla. Had massive stats his senior year at John Carroll Catholic High, amassing 139 tackles (97 solo), 65 tackles for loss and 25 sacks. 41 Isaiah Moore Fr. 6-3 220 Chester, Va. Ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 31 overall player in Virginia in the class of 2017 by Rivals.com. Produced 106 tackles, 29 stops for loss, 15 sacks and three interceptions his senior year at Bird High. 43 David Pierson R-Fr. 6-0 228 Wendell, N.C. Walk-on who was a three-year starter at Corinth Holders, and then did a post-gradu- ate year at Jireh Prep in Indian Trail, N.C. 29 Raven Saunders Fr. 6-1 220 Riviera Beach, Fla. Attended Oxbridge Academy his first three years of high school, and finished up at Dwyer High in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Had 63 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and eight sacks his senior year. 49 Matt Stevens R-Fr. 6-0 228 Charlotte The younger brother of NCSU senior corner Mike Stevens is a preferred walk-on from Hough High. 44 Fredrick Strickland R-So. 6-2 202 Harrells, N.C. Walk-on who attended Harrell Christian Academy. Nickel Back Roster STARTER No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 20 Trae Meadows So. 6-2 190 Greensboro, N.C. Was originally headed to Navy coming out of high school, but altered his plans to enroll at NC State following a year at Naval Academy Prep. Snagged an intercep- tion against Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl. RESERVE No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 10 Freddie Phillips Jr. Jr. 6-1 208 Pelion, S.C. Has played both cornerback and nickel during his NC State career, but has seen most of his action on special teams. Contributed eight tackles in 25 career games. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 47 Cayman Czesak Fr. 6-2 200 Wilmington, N.C. Walk-on who amassed 171 tackles, seven forced fumbles and three sacks his senior year at Laney High. NC State's Leading Tacklers The Past Decade Year Name Tackles 2016 Josh Jones 109 2015 Airius Moore 77 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 ■ Preseason Analysis **** Among country's best; *** Among ACC's best; ** Solid or has potential; * Too unproven Starters *** Some intrigue was added to the linebacker competition after head coach Dave Doeren praised former safety Germaine Pratt, a redshirt junior weakside linebacker, this spring. If Pratt can crack the lineup, it will be an impressive achievement, considering fifth-year senior middle linebacker Jerod Fernandez has started the last three years and senior weakside linebacker Airius Moore has started the last two seasons. Last fall, Fernandez was second on the team with 88 tackles and Moore was right be - hind him with 86. Sophomore Trae Meadows might have the early advantage at nickel. Experience **** NC State is loaded with experience, even including the second-string players on the depth chart. Moore and Fernandez have combined for 77 games played and 60 starts. Pratt has played in 26 games and started once at safety, and junior middle linebacker Riley Nicholson has played in 24 games with five starts. Depth *** NC State bemoaned its depth at linebacker last year, which required Fernandez and Moore to play a heavy workload. The hope was for Nicholson to form a rotation, but he suffered a minor injury last year and missed two games, and had two other contests where he just played special teams. If Pratt and Nicholson don't win starting jobs, they'll combine with redshirt freshman Brock Miller to provide quality depth, health permitting. Meadows and junior Freddie Phillips Jr. will handle the nickel spot. Overall Grade *** Veterans such as Moore, Fernandez, Nicholson and Pratt all played a little sooner than anticipated, but they should be ready to play their best ball this season. The key for NC State's linebackers and nickel is to find more ways to create turnovers and come up with key third-down stops, giving the offense as a whole more time to rest.