NC State fall camp observations: Defense
NC State returned to the practice field for its first day of fall camp as it prepares for the highly-anticipated 2024 season Wednesday morning in Raleigh. The Pack featured nearly every player on the field as it gets set to embark on a nearly five-month long marathon of a season.
Here are TheWolfpacker.com’s observations of the Pack’s defense from the first day of fall camp.
Defensive line
Graduate defensive end Davin Vann returned to his leadership role on the field, using his voice at times on the field. The veteran looked slightly bigger in his uniform with a new addition of lean muscle. Vann led the first-team group, joined by junior Brandon Cleveland at nose tackle and redshirt junior Travali Price had the other starting defensive end spot.
Redshirt junior Red Hibbler (in a new No. 4 jersey) was at second string defensive end with graduate Noah Potter on the other side alongside redshirt sophomore nose tackle DJ Jackson. Redshirt freshman defensive end Isaiah Shirley and senior nose tackle Chazz Wallace were with the third team defense during the open practice period. Wallace, a Colorado transfer, brings considerable size to the Wolfpack defense and will push Jackson for the reserve nose tackle job.
Linebacker
The Wolfpack’s linebacker corps was as expected to open fall practice. Redshirt junior Sean Brown led the group with vocal leadership, while graduate Devon Betty and redshirt junior Caden Fordham were with the first team group. Fordham was also able to heard using his voice to identify mock formations from the Wolfpack’s staff members mimicking an offensive formation early in practice.
Redshirt junior Jayland Parker ran with the second team linebackers, alongside redshirt freshmen Kamal Bonner and Kelvon McBride.
Cornerback
NC State did not have any surprises at cornerback on the first day of fall camp. Senior Aydan White paced the first-team group, while sophomore Brandon Cisse was lined up as the other starter. Cisse looked smooth, even though he added muscle in the weight room this offseason. He will bring a unique dynamic to the Pack’s cornerback room with his elite combination of size and speed this fall.
The second-team unit was led by former Villanova transfer Devon Marshall opposite of Maryland transfer Corey Coley Jr. on the outside. Coley is pushing Cisse for a starting spot and that will be a position battle to keep an eye on as Western Carolina approaches in less than a month.
Safety/Nickel
Auburn transfer Donovan Kaufman appeared with the starting group at safety, along with senior Bishop Fitzgerald (who is in No. 7 this fall). Kaufman is a physically-imposing safety that is more than ready to fit into Tony Gibson’s defense. He looks different compared to the rest of NC State’s safeties, bringing a unique sense of physicality to the room. Ohio State transfer Ja’Had Carter worked as the starting nickel for the Pack.
Akron transfer Kerry Martin Jr. and redshirt freshman Zack Myers were the second-team safeties, while Maryland transfer Tamarcus Cooley worked at backup nickel.
Projected starting safety Devan Boykin, who is recovering from a knee injury suffered during the Pop-Tarts Bowl preparation, was not in uniform as he works to return to the field. He is progressing in his rehab and seemed to be moving well with the Wolfpack.
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