NC State Football Position Preview: Defensive Line
This is another position group that, under Head Coach Dave Doeren, has consistently been one of the strongest on the field. With over five players being drafted into the NFL from this group since taking over in 2013, Doeren along with Defensive Line Coach Charley Wiles look to have another solid year from within the trenches of the defense.
This year, the group will be headlined by fifth-year graduate Corey Durden. The Newberry, Florida native transferred into the program last year following a three-year stint with Florida State. Not only was he a first-team ALL-ACC performer last season but he also made the first-team Academic ALL-ACC list. Durden appeared in all 12 games for the Wolfpack in 2021, totaling 31 tackles and 3.5 sacks. While he did cost the team with some untimely penalties in certain key moments, he is certainly the leader of the group and looks to work his way up draft boards while utilizing his final year of college eligibility.
CJ Clark is someone that is entering the 2022 campaign with some vengeance. After starting the first three games of last season, he suffered a torn ACL in practice leading up to the big-time matchup with Clemson. Through those three games, the North Stanly High product out of New London, NC accumulated eight tackles. While his numbers may not be jaw-dropping, he can definitely be a wrecking ball to the offensive line, when healthy. And in just a small sample size, the RS Sophomore has shown the ability to move throughout the line, playing nose tackle, stretching into the B-gap as an interior lineman as well as rushing from the edge. He is currently not participating in Spring camp as he continues to rehab; hoping to be 100% for Week 1 in early September.
A true spark plug for this group is Clayton High alum, Savion Jackson. The Junior has appeared in 28 games over the span of his first three seasons tallying 51 total tackles, 4.5 of them for a loss. This edge-rusher has greatly benefitted from the strength and conditioning program that Coach ‘Thunder’ Burnette has put the team through, becoming a true physical specimen at 6'2", 290 lbs. You can add him to the list of players taking it slow this Spring, however, as he continues to bounce back from an injury that ended his season three games early in 2021. But as one of the more consistent players in the D-line room, you know what to expect when Jackson is in the lineup.
Probably the most versatile lineman on the team, Davin Vann will look to add on to what was really a breakout season for him in 2021. The true Sophomore from right up the road in Cary, NC gathered 26 tackles with four sacks a year ago. While he did the majority of his work as a backup to Durden last season, I expect Coach Wiley to find unique ways to get him on the field more often. And whether that be playing multiple defensive tackles, or perhaps moving Vann to one of the end positions, look for him to grow even more as a household name for Pack fans.
A player who is expected to see increased snaps this season is big man Joshua Harris. The fourth-ranked recruit in North Carolina four years ago out of Person High in Roxboro is another player that has really bought into the conditioning program ever since his first day on campus. As a freshman, he reportedly had reached upwards of 350 lbs. at one point during the season, which obviously hindered his ability to stay on the field. But there are rumblings of him now having lost over 50 pounds over the span of last season, which could allow him to fight for significant snaps this coming year, and not just be a bolster for goal-line packages.
Speaking of rumblings, there has been a lot of chatter coming out of the Wolfpack’s practices from the scout team over the past year, praising the play of Travali Price. The co-Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year is from North Lincoln High in Lincolnton, North Carolina. A four-star prospect a year ago, he has apparently been impressing many in practice reps and scrimmages, especially his fellow D-line mates. While it may be a tad difficult to earn snaps this coming season without asking for an injury, he will certainly have his moment to prove he belongs.
Another two defensive ends that have reportedly been practicing well are RS Freshmen Claude Larkins and Zyun Reeves. Larkins, a product out of Chaminade-Madonna High in Fort Lauderdale, Florida appeared in two games in garbage time a season ago, notching two tackles in the home-opener against USF. Reeves is a Winston Salem native out of East Forsyth High and medically redshirted last season to continue rehabbing an injury sustained in high school. While garbage time may be the only chance they see snaps this coming season, they are set to be a part of the future of the position for NC State.
Projections:
LE
NT
RE
Reserves: RS Sophomores Jerome Williams and Alec Neugent, Sophomore Dorienne Young and Freshman DJ Jackson
With Graduate student Daniel Joseph’s eligibility expiring and Ibrahim Kante transferring out of the program, the defensive line will not necessarily have the reinforcing depth that they had to begin the 2021 season. But that does not mean that there is a lack of experience or skill. If the core six-man rotation of Clark, Durden, Jackson, Vann, Harris, and Price can stay healthy, which is a big ‘if’ considering this defense’s injury-plagued past, State has a good chance of repeating as the conference’s best rushing defense; and ultimately, contending for an ACC title.
