Spring Spotlight: Linebacker

SPRING SPOTLIGHT: QUARTERBACKS

SPRING SPOTLIGHT: TAILBACKS

SPRING SPOTLIGHT: TIGHT ENDS

SPRING SPOTLIGHT: WIDE RECEIVERS

SPRING SPOTLIGHT: OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

SPRING SPOTLIGHT: DEFENSIVE ENDS

SPRING SPOTLIGHT: DEFENSIVE TACKLES

RETURNING CONTRIBUTORS
#56 Nate Irving: 6'1 227 - Redshirt Sophomore
#44 Ray Michel: 6'0 224 - Redshirt Junior
#43 Thomas Barnes: 5'11 200 - Sophomore

NC State must replace three starters at linebacker after losing seniors LeRue Rumph, James Martin, and Ernest Jones. There isn't much experience at the position and plenty of youth, but several of the players possess major upside.

A key to the Wolfpack's late-season success in 2007 could have been the emergence of young players such as outside linebacker Nate Irving.

A redshirt freshman in 2007, Irving totaled 14 tackles and two tackles for a loss over the first six games of the season. Following the FSU game, the Wolfpack had a bye week and the extra work on fundamentals seemed to really pay off for Irving.

In the next game against East Carolina, he tallied five tackles in just 23 snaps. That effort led to Irving earning the first start of his career the following week versus Virginia, and he didn't disappoint. In the victory, Irving's six tackles and two tackles for a loss were instrumental, and he used those back-to-back efforts to springboard a great individual finish to the season.

Nate Irving

Over the final six games, including four starts, he tallied 38 tackles and five tackles for a loss. He ended the year totaling 52 tackles and seven tackles for a loss, finishing seventh and third respectively on the team in those two categories.

Throughout the course of each game, Irving would flash the big-play potential that some feel he can bring on a consistent basis in 2008.

At 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, he has good size,above-average quickness, and outstanding instincts. His ability to shed blocks and make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage is a big asset for the Wolfpack. If NC State's defense is going to improve this season, Irving will be a major factor. He has the potential to be an All-ACC performer at some point in his career, and if he continues to progress he should be the Pack's leader at linebacker.

Likely to man the middle for NC State will be Ray Michel. At 6-foot and 224-pounds, Michel is undersized, but he has very good quickness and a nose for the football.

He earned his first start in the season finale against Maryland, totaling seven tackles in the home loss. Michel finished the year with 43 tackles and two tackles for a loss, serving mainly as a backup to James Martin.

NC State will need the experienced redshirt junior to provide some leadership and stability at middle linebacker. Already low on quality depth and experience, Michel and Irving must continue improving and stay healthy for the Wolfpack.

The final returning contributor is Thomas Barnes. Barnes surprised most by playing as a true freshman in 2007. In 10 games, he tallied 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and four quarterback pressures. His biggest play of the season came in the win over Wofford. Playing in his first game, Barnes recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.

A playmaker, the Pack mainly used Barnes as a blitzer on obvious passing situations, allowing him to apply pressure on the quarterback.

At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, he's extremely undersized but is very explosive and can make big plays. Like all of the Wolfpack's linebackers, he lacks ideal experience.

POTENTIAL IMPACT NEWCOMERS
#34 Robbie Leonard: 6'0 194 - Redshirt Senior
#41 Dwayne Maddox: 6'2 220 - Freshman
#52 J.R. Sweezy: 6'5 245 - Redshirt Freshman
#42 Audie Cole: 6'5 215 - Redshirt Freshman

With just three linebackers returning who played the position in 2007, NC State needs to have the newcomers ready to contribute.

The biggest move in the offseason was the shifting of linebacker John Ware to strong safety and moving senior Robbie Leonard from safety to outside linebacker.

"From what I've seen of Leonard it's probably a good move for him where he'll be in the right spot for him and to help our defense," head coach Tom O'Brien stated after Saturday's scrimmage.

At 6-foot and 194 pounds, Leonard is undersized, but the former walk-on is tough and some regard him as pound-for-pound one of the hardest hitters on the team.

He played in five games as a junior at safety, recording 20 tackles and a tackle for a loss. He is instinctive, make plays, and will likely be a situational-down linebacker for the Wolfpack.

Dwayne Maddox

True freshman Dwayne Maddox enrolled in January and has been thrown into the mix right away at middle linebacker. A prep standout from Shelby (NC) Crest High School, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder comes in with a big-time reputation. O'Brien believes enrolling early will benefit Maddox in the long run.

"[Dwayne] Maddox has been thrown to the fire," O'Brien recently statd. "It's really tough for him because we've got him playing middle linebacker now. He got his head turned around a few times today... it's tough for him today but it's going to be that much better for him in August when he starts because I think he realizes if he was back at Crest High School in the cafeteria right now he wouldn't be in the same position he'll be come August. That's helped."

Redshirt freshmen J.R. Sweezy and Audie Cole are intriguing options. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Sweezy worked at defensive end last fall but was moved to middle linebacker in the spring.

A prep linebacker at Mooresville (NC) High School, Sweezy is a fluid athlete with a high-motor and good instincts. The key for him will be if he can handle the position at his massive size. If he struggles or Maddox really progresses, a move back to defensive end could be in the cards for Sweezy, a player with a huge upside and the versatility and size to play a couple of positions.

Like Sweezy, Cole has upside. A three-year starter at quarterback in high school, this is Cole's first season at linebacker. Extremely raw, the potential is there for Cole to impact at strongside linebacker. He has good natural athleticism and his size gives the Wolfpack a nice option on the outside.

Leonard, Maddox, Sweezy, and Cole will be joined in the fall by three true freshmen who hope to come in and earn playing time: William Beasley, Sterling Lucas, and Terrell Manning. North Carolina's top player in the 2008 class, Manning seemed destined to play but a late-season injury could force him to redshirt as a true freshman. Beasley and Lucas have the measurables needed to contribute right away, but the key for them will be if they can adjust to the speed of the game quickley enough to see the field in their first seasons.

KEY BATTLES
Irving appears to have one position locked down, and Michel should hold off Maddox at middle linebacker, but that could be an interesting battle. Maddox has more size, but Michel is the experienced player. If Maddox can continue improving, he'll likely push Michel, but the real battle should be at strongside linebacker.

As it stands now, Leonard and Cole are listed on the depth chart at strongside. They are complete opposites in terms of measurables, but both appear to be high-motor guys. The strongside normally defends the tight end in pass coverage so Leonard, a former safety, should have the edge there. However, Cole did play safety in high school so it's likely he'll be adequate in coverage as well.

William Beasley

If neither player can step up and seize the position, NC State may turn to one of the true freshmen or try and get its best three linebackers on the field. Maybe that means moving Barnes or Maddox to strongside? Could they slide Irving over and let Barnes play weakside linebacker? What about Beasley or Lucas?

IDEAL SITUATION
Ideally, NC State has to stay healthy. Numbers are already low, so they can't afford any losses, particularly with Irving and Michel.

It would be big for the Wolfpack if Irving continues his progression and develops into the playmaker he has the potential to become. If he can do that and Michel is reliable inside, the Pack then needs to find another linebacker capable of locking down the strongside position.

Because the team will be so young in 2008, it might be ideal for one of the younger players to step up and win the strongside linebacker job, setting the stage for all the linebackers to return the following season.

POST-SPRING PREDICTIONS
Irving, Michel, and Leonard enter the fall as the starters at linebacker. Michel keeps being pushed by Maddox, who plays as a true freshman. At the end of the day, one of the enrolling freshmen will end up being a factor because the three coming in are too talented for one of them to not be ready to play.

Either way, NC State needs to find a solid rotation at linebacker because out of all the positions, this one will be the biggest question mark for the Wolfpack in 2008.