4. College Football News Preview 2020: NC State Wolfpack Defense 3 Things To Know
– The defense generated a nice pass rush and was okay against the run, but it got hit way too much and too hard through the air, and overall it couldn’t seem to catch any sort of injury break. Nine of the top 12 tacklers should be back, starting with a promising linebacking corps that should crank up the stats.
Outside linebacker Brock Miller took off to Boise State, but 238-pound leading tackler Payton Wilson and 240-pound Isaiah Moore is back after making 69 and 53 tackles, respectively. Throw in 223-pound Louis Acceus – a tackling machine before he got hurt in the second half of last year – and this position is a plus.
– The line is going to need some work after losing star Larrell Muchison from one tackle spot. The depth took a hit with four players hitting the transfer portal, but former Penn State star recruit Daniel Joseph is coming in to work on one side, likely across from junior Ibrahim Kante. 6-2, 315-pound Alim McNeill will handle the nose – after doing a great job at getting to the quarterback – in a nice rotation with former JUCO transfer Val Martin.
– The secondary has to be stronger. It can tackle, but there were a grand total of two interceptions from the DBs, and both came from senior cornerback Chris Ingram. Junior safety Tanner Ingle was second on the team with 68 tackles, but losing safety Jarius Morehead and corner Kishawn Miller is a problem, even for the nation’s 103rd-ranked pass defense.
NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Top NC State Wolfpack Players