NC State football has some holes to fill
NC State kicked off its spring practices Saturday, but Tuesday’s third practice featured the first media availability.
NCSU head coach Dave Doeren hopes to build off the momentum from winning three out of the last four games in 2016, including a 41-17 thrashing of Vanderbilt in the Independence Bowl to finish 7-6. The Wolfpack have a strong nucleus of players back, but do have some key openings and are also using the spring to rest some injured players.
“We had great energy and have been really working hard on competing and playing smart,” Doeren said. “With the experience we have back, one of the areas that we can improve on a lot is the way we practice. You are playing against each other, so ultimately you want to stay safe and play on your feet, but you want to compete.”
NC State has four starters back on the defensive line, both linebackers and two players in the secondary — one cornerback and the strong safety. The offense returns eight starters, but in particular will need to find a new starting running back and center. Experience abounds for the Wolfpack, aided by Doeren's recruiting efforts in building toward the 2017 season.
“Having these guys that have been through the installations multiple times, guys who have been through game situations and guys who have fought to earn positions, it’s invaluable,” Doeren said. “Their opportunity to use that platform is important. They need to use it right.”
Senior Tony Adams and redshirt junior Garrett Bradbury will figure out the center position, with the runner-up remaining at guard.
“Garrett Bradbury played center last year all through spring ball, so it wasn’t like we were blind of ‘Can he do it?’” Doeren said. “Tony has done it before.”
The nickel spot is also up for grabs with sophomore Trae Meadows, junior Freddie Phillips and redshirt freshman Bryce Banks in contention. Phillips played nicked his freshman year and cornerback his sophomore season.
“Those three guys are long kids who can cover and all were high school corners,” Doeren said. “They’ve grown to long guys and all over 200 pounds. At that position, it’s a real hybrid, and you have to be in the box and tackle like Dravious [Wright, the graduated starter] was so good, but also be able to cover. Slot receivers in our league are no joke. They’ll get matched up on some good players.”
Sophomore Nick McCloud is expected to fill the cornerback need, and either redshirt junior Dexter Wright, sophomore Tim Kidd-Glass or redshirt freshman Isaiah Stallings could be the free safety.
“We kind of knew what Nick is ready to do,” Doeren said. “Dexter Wright was able to play a lot last year. We know what he is able to do with Josh [Jones] leaving [a year early for the NFL].”
NC State also welcomed back redshirt junior linebacker Germaine Pratt, a converted safety. He’s expected to push the veteran duo of seniors Airius Moore and Jerod Fernandez.
“We had him at all of our bowl practices, so we knew what he’d be able to do to help us at linebacker,” Doeren said.
One position that might be sorted out in the fall is running back. Replacing Matt Dayes won’t be easy and probably will be done by committee, but injuries have affected the numbers this spring.
Junior Reggie Gallaspy and redshirt sophomore Johnny Frasier are coming back from injuries. Junior Nyheim Hines and senior Jaylen Samuels will chip in at running back, joining fifth-year senior Dakwa Nichols.
“Dakwa Nichols has done a great job the first three days but those are the five people we will be working with,” Doeren said. “I look forward to all of them taking reps, and see how each guy can do and how we can use them.”
NC State feels good enough about its cadre of receivers to allow Hines to split time at running back. Having redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers make a permanent switch from quarterback to full-time wide receiver adds another weapon to the group.
“You think about it, [a year ago] Steph [Louis] was coming off a double shoulder [surgery] and Kelvin [Harmon] wasn’t here,” Doeren said. “Both those guys had incredible years. Steph was averaging almost 20 yards per catch (19.4) and Kelvin broke the freshman record for touchdowns (five).”
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