NC State will soon be starting fall camp and gearing up for the season opener at Connecticut at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31.
The Wolfpack Central will start taking a look at the position groups going into fall camp and summarize where NC State stands. Today, the linebacker position is previewed.
Linebackers
Much like with the secondary, the transition this season at linebacker has been eased by reserves getting key snaps in the past due to injuries.
NC State lost outside linebacker Drake Thomas to professional football a year early, and middle linebacker Isaiah Moore graduated. Thomas and Moore went undrafted but the former is trying to make the Las Vegas Raiders, and Moore is in training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The biggest surprise is that outside linebacker Payton Wilson decided to return for his sixth year of college, and isn’t in a NFL training camp. The 6-foot-4, 242-pounder returned from shoulder injury last year and missed two games. Proving he can make it through a 13-game schedule will be something NFL scouts will keenly be watching.
Wilson was tied for third on the team last year with 82 tackles, to go along with 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, seven quarterback hurries and an interception. He could have even more blitz opportunities with Thomas gone.
Due to Wilson missing all but two games in 2021, and Moore suffering a season-ending knee injury in the sixth game that season, it gave junior Devon Betty and senior Jaylen Scott plenty of experience. That should pay off this season. They both played all 13 games last year.
The 6-1, 225-pound Betty has versatility at linebacker, but should settle nicely at middle linebacker. He had 12 tackles and a tackle for loss last year, but had 39 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss in 2021.
The 6-1, 225-pound Scott has reshaped his body and is poised for a solid senior year. He had 20 tackles and a tackle for loss last year. He had 30 tackles, four tackles fro loss and two sacks in 2021.
Projected starters: Sixth-year senior outside linebacker Payton Wilson; fifth-year senior outside linebacker Jaylon Scott; redshirt junior middle linebacker Devon Betty.
Projected backups: Redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Jordan Poole; redshirt sophomore middle linebacker Jayland Parker; redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Caden Fordham.
Comments: The first linebacker off the bench will likely be redshirt sophomore Caden Fordham, who probably would be a starter at several other ACC colleges.
The 6-1, 228-pound Fordham had five tackles in 13 games played last year. After Fordham, it’s more unclear.
Recruiting classmates Jordan Poole and Jayland Parker will get their chances as redshirt sophomores. Poole has grown to 6-0 and 225 pounds, and played well in the spring game. Poole had six tackles in 13 games last year.
Parker checks in at 6-1 and 215 pounds and is facing a key season in getting ready for a potential bigger role in 2024, or get passed by. He had one tackle in 10 appearances last year.
Redshirt freshman outside linebacker Daejuan Thompson has added 15 pounds since his days at Whiteville (N.C.) High, at 6-2 and 200 pounds. Fellow class of 2022 signee Torren Wright is at 6-2 and 217 pounds and could play in the middle. Thompson had three tackles in four games played last year.
NC State signed incoming freshmen Kamal Bonner and Kelvin McBride in the class of 2023.
Bonner was enrolled for the spring and he acquired himself quite well in the spring game. It wouldn’t be overly shocking if he became the second-string middle linebacker at some point, and takes over in 2024.
Positional previews
Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive line
Defensive line | Linebackers | Cornerbacks | Safeties/nickel | Special teams
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