Predicting NC State's Depth Chart

Of all the years I've written about this team, this is one of the hardest depth charts to try and predict. Offense is relatively easy, but there are a lot of new faces and undefined (to us) roles on the defense. Regardless, here I take my best shot at predicting State's two deep. We made some assumptions based on old Eliot film and what we know about the defensive scheme that he's carried through his career. Some of this will be wrong.

Quarterback

CJ Bailey | Lex Thomas

Obvious. Hoping for a sizable step forward from the sophomore quarterback. Thomas is the clear backup. Will Wilson has some arm talent but is a ways away.

Running Back

Hollywood Smothers | Duke Scott

Also obvious. Hollywood has a chance to be an all-league player. Scott beat out Kendrick Raphael for the second-team reps back in the spring, which has led to some buzz for the young back.

Wide Receiver

Noah Rogers | Keenan Jackson

Wesley Grimes | Ashton Locklear

Terrell Anderson | Teddy Hoffman

These don't matter much. All of these guys will rotate in and align in different places. Rogers and Jackson are my two favorite receivers on the team. Both could be in for nice years. State doesn't have a prototypical slot body, so you'll probably see more rotation there. A lot of talent in this room.

Y - Tight End

Justin Joly | Dante Daniels

Joly is probably the best player on the team. Expect him flexed out and running a high volume of routes. He and Cody Hardy will fill very different roles, so I broke up these positions. Joly did play as an attached tight end some last year, and he will a little bit this year, but probably not as often.

H - Tight End

Cody Hardy | Ian Flynt

Hardy will play out of a three-point stance a lot. State will want to run some counter this year, and he's the key to that. Expect him to run some routes out of an attached alignment as well.

Right Tackle

Teague Andersen | Darion Rivers

Not much to say here. Andersen was brought in to fill this spot and he will play every down here.

Right Guard

Kamen Smith | Val Erickson

Competition here could continue into the season. Both guys could play and probably will play. Don't count out someone like Sowells finding time here also.

Center

Jalen Grant | Spike Sowells

Another battle that won't be decided week one. State has two centers its feels comfortable playing, and that's pretty neat.

Left Guard

Anthony Carter | Brock Stukes

I'm a noted Anthony Carter fan. He'll be a three-year starter this season. Good technique player and good drive blocker.

Left Tackle

Jacarrius Peak | Rico Jackson

Peak is State's best lineman. Depth here is a big concern.

Field Defensive End

Travali Price | Sabastian Harsh

Both these guys will play a lot. Price stands to benefit from more time as a 5 technique. I put him here as the field end because I think it makes more sense for his profile as a guy who can offer some speed off the edge while still allowing you to stem to odd spacing. Same for Harsh.

Nose Tackle

Brandon Cleveland | Chazz Wallace

Brandon Cleveland is State's best defensive player. He will get everything he can handle and may see fewer double teams this year as a result of the DC change. Watch out for Josiah Victor here.

Boundary Defensive End

Isaiah Shirley | Joshua Alexander-Felton

I like Alexander-Felton a lot. Both of these guys got some run last year as 4i ends, and I think they can fit as the boundary side end that can play anywhere from a 2 tech to a 4i on the side of the bench backer. It all really depends on what fronts Eliot wants to rely on.

Bench Backer

Cian Slone | Tra Thomas

You may hear this referred to as the jack backer as well. Slone is a great fit here as an edge pressure aficionado. I'd bet on him taking a large portion of the reps.

Mike Backer

Caden Fordham | AJ Richardson

Fordham seems healthy again. I want to see him get a full season at the mike. Richardson has impressed me a lot and will absolutely see the field. I think you may see these two together some with Sean Brown as the field backer against heavier personnel.

Will Backer

Sean Brown | Kenny Soares

I'm putting Brown at will but you may see him as the field backer some. Soares can play a number of different places but he'll be on the field.

Nickel/Field Backer

Jackson Vick | Jaren Sensabaugh

This is my prediction when State plays from a true nickel package where this player is a true DB. It's still unclear exactly what we'll see from Eliot with this spot and what type of body he wants to have here.

Corner

Devon Marshall | Jivan Baly

Marshall will be a stalwart for State's secondary this year.

Corner

Brian Nelson | Jamel Johnson

Both Nelson and Johnson are G5 transfers, but I liked the tape of both against P5 competition. Both will see the field. A couple of "diamond in the rough" candidates reside here.

Safety

JJ Johnson | Zack Myers

Johnson is one of the better portal pickups of the offseason. He can play. Expect him to get maximum snaps.

Safety

Ronnie Royal | Rente Hinton

I'm going out on a limb and picking Royal to win this job, but both these guys will see the field.