The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/846301
98 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2017 LINEBACKERS bit like a wild horse that refused to be tamed when he got here. I've just seen him mature and grow up. "He does a really good job being a leader and holding guys ac- countable. He had to learn that because there were times he wasn't doing exactly what he was supposed to do." The nickel position featured seniors Dravious Wright and Niles Clark in a platoon last year. Clack typically played on obvious pass- ing downs, though Wright improved in that regard as the season went on. Sophomore Trae Meadows and junior Freddie Phillips Jr. will compete for the vacant spot at nickel. Phillips has also played cor- nerback during his Wolfpack career. Meadows came through with a big interception against Vander- bilt in the Independence Bowl win and could have the lead going into fall camp. "Trae is going to be a very, very good player for us," Huxtable said. "He's a very good athlete and did a really good job this spring. At the nickel position we don't have the experience that we had last year with Dravious and with Niles, but both Freddie and Trae are very good athletes and will have an opportunity to develop at that position to be good players for us." ■ Then-freshman weakside linebacker Brock Miller was regularly men- tioned by the NC State coaches as one of the redshirts who performed well last year. He was named the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year, gained some valuable weight and made the transition from a dif - ferent role that he played at John Carroll Catholic High in Fort Pierce, Fla. Miller knew if he did well this past spring, the coaches would notice it. It proved to be a different environment compared to just trying to give the offense a "good look" on scout team. "It was definitely a lot different this spring," he said. "It makes you come to practice with a different mindset. You are coming here ready to work and not just give a look. It motivated me a lot more." Rivals.com rated Miller as a three-star prospect in the class of 2016, but his recruitment got intense down the stretch. The Wolfpack beat out Virginia Tech for his commitment — but that didn't stop other colleges from coveting Miller, who played outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme at John Carroll. NCSU held off Florida, Miami (Fla.) and Ole Miss during his senior year to sign him. NC State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable recruited Miller out of high school, and now is coaching him in college. Miller's loyalty to Huxtable proved to be the difference. "He recruited me hard," Miller said. "He came to basketball games and even came to basketball practices. He was calling me every day and face-timing me." NCSU head coach Dave Doeren's defensive background also proved advantageous in securing Miller's commitment. "He was really good friends with my high school coach," Miller said. "I was able to talk to Coach Doeren early and build a relationship with him." Miller had a dominant senior year, tallying 139 tackles, 65 tackles for loss and 25 sacks in just 12 games. He even found time to catch 24 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns, and rush 20 times for 106 yards and three scores. "I was a stand-up defensive end, so I was off the edge almost every time," Miller said. He focused on gaining weight in his first year on campus. He was about 211 pounds when he arrived and exited the spring listed at 6-3 and 228 pounds. He hopes to reach the 235- to 240-pound range. "It has been all hands on deck," Miller said. "I've had a hard time in the past gaining weight, and I've been getting help from the nutritionist, weight room people." — Jacey Zembal Getting To Know: Brock Miller ■ By The Numbers 2 Interceptions by fifth-year senior linebacker Jerod Fernandez his redshirt freshman year against Heisman Trophy winner and future No. 1 NFL Draft pick Jameis Winston of Florida State. He added two more in 2015 and one last year. 5 Games where a linebacker led NC State in tackles last year. Fernandez at least shared the team high in tackles in four games, and senior weakside linebacker Airius Moore achieved the honor in the bowl game against Vanderbilt. 200 Career tackles by senior linebacker Airius Moore, including 25 behind the line of scrimmage. He led the Pack in tackles as a sophomore with 77 and added 86 a year ago. Quick Facts Position Coach: Dave Huxtable (fifth season) Returning Starters: Jerod Fernandez (30 career starts) and Airius Moore (30) Starters Lost: NIC Dravious Wright (37) FYI: Phil Steele's College Football Preview ranked senior Airius Moore as the No. 36 outside linebacker in the country and listed the Wolfpack's linebacking corps No. 34 nationally … Athlon rated the Wolfpack linebackers as the 10th-best group in the ACC … Redshirt 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 … Freshman Louis Acceus was a high school teammate of incoming freshman offensive lineman Joshua Fedd-Jackson. Miller — who racked up 139 tackles, 65 tackles for loss and 25 sacks during his final season at Fort Pierce (Fla.) John Carroll Catholic — was tabbed as NC State's Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year last season. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN