NC State post-spring football position reset: Linebacker
NC State’s spring practice has come and gone and the transfer portal is closed for new entries. The Wolfpacker is taking a look at every position going into summer workouts.
The Pack’s linebacker room has a big void to fill without Payton Wilson, who is now in the NFL, but the red and white has a capable group that will be tasked with establishing the middle of NC State’s defense. Here are three things we know, two questions answered during spring practice and one prediction moving forward ahead of the 2024 season.
The scholarship personnel
Senior Devon Betty, redshirt junior Sean Brown, redshirt junior Caden Fordham, redshirt junior Jayland Parker, junior Wyatt Wright, redshirt freshman Kamal Bonner, redshirt freshman Kelvon McBride, freshman Cannon Lewis, freshman Joshua Ofor, freshman Zane Williams
Post spring departures: None
3 things we know
– It will be hard to replace Wilson. He was an all-time talent to come through NC State’s program, earning the Bednarik and Butkus Awards this past season. Wilson turned his 138 total tackles, including 17.5 tackles for a loss and six sacks, into a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, there is a void in the middle of the Pack’s defense without Wilson and the red and white has to find a way to replace that production. It won’t be through one player, but the Wolfpack linebackers as a unit will have to step up to replace what Wilson did over his time in Raleigh.
– Redshirt junior Sean Brown impressed during spring practice in his new position. He transitioned from safety to linebacker going into the spring, and his athleticism moved well at the spot. Brown is continuing to learn at linebacker, but his small sample size from last season proves that he is more than capable of doing it. He logged five tackles at linebacker on the final drive in NC State’s win over Clemson last season after Wilson exited the game early with an injury. Brown, a 6-foot linebacker, added some weight over the offseason to appear to look the part in the middle of the Wolfpack’s defense. His ability to continue to develop when the team resumes practice in August will be key in Brown’s production during the 2024 season.
– NC State thought it found a starter in the portal with Auburn’s Cam Riley. He committed and all was well — until it was not. Riley eventually decommitted and pledged his allegiance to Florida State earlier this week. That leaves an open scholarship for the Wolfpack to work with, but at this point, the red and white has not pursued many linebackers in the transfer portal, signaling it appears to be comfortable where the position group is at now.
2 questions answered through spring practice
– Where does Wyatt Wright fit into the Wolfpack defense? It seems like Wright will have a rotational spot on NC State’s defense this fall. He can compete for a starting spot in fall camp, and Wright has the skill set to do so within Tony Gibson’s defense. The junior college transfer logged 82 total tackles in 10 games last season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. That was an uptick from his freshman year with 14 tackles in seven games at Fresno City College in 2022. Wright is a hard-hitter, which fits the Pack’s defense well, so he will be one to watch in fall camp and the early stages of the 2024 season.
– Is Kamal Bonner a starter? At this point, possibly. There’s a spot up for grabs on the unit after Riley decommitted. Redshirt junior Caden Fordham and senior Devon Betty are a key rotational group at MIKE linebacker, while Brown is likely to start at SAM. Bonner was set to be the backup WILL linebacker behind Riley, but now that he is not going to arrive on campus, the redshirt freshman could get a shot to start in 2024.
1 prediction
– Brown will have a career-best season in tackles at linebacker for the Wolfpack. He had a breakout year at safety last season with 66 total tackles, five passes defended and two interceptions. In his role at linebacker, Brown will be able to use his tackling skills at an elite level, while also being able to utilize his pass defense over the middle.
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