During every fall camp, college football fans wonder which of their team’s freshmen will play and which will redshirt. When NC State head coach Dave Doeren arrived in 2013, he played most freshmen. Of the seven draft picks taken in April’s NFL draft, only one, offensive lineman Will Richardson, redshirted. Doeren changed his tune the last two years.
Only three scholarship freshmen in 2016 and five scholarship freshmen in 2017 played (former linebacker Raven Saunders played as a true freshman in 2017 but was recently dismissed). A lot of factors go into whether or not players play as true freshman, but due to the graduation of nine starters on defense and four starters on offense not coming back next year, more freshman will be pressed into duty for the Pack in 2018.
Another wrinkle in the Wolfpack’s plans is the new NCAA rule that allows players to play in up to four games per year, and still qualify for a redshirt. Let’s take a stab at which players in the incoming freshman class on defense will play and which will redshirt in 2018.
Defensive lineman Alim McNeill
McNeill has an argument as the Pack’s highest-profile recruit this year, but he’s also converting from playing linebacker in high school to playing with a hand in the dirt, either inside or outside, so I don’t think this is as cut and dry as many seem to assume. I think this would be a tougher decision if NC State wasn’t replacing four seniors who are off to the NFL. At the end of the day, McNeill will be too athletic to keep off the field.
Verdict: Play
Defensive lineman Joseph Boletepeli
A name to know for Wolfpack fans. The local defensive end from Heritage High School is brimming with potential. It would not be surprising to see Boletepeli develop into the best player out of this entire recruiting class, even ahead of guys like McNeill, running back Ricky Person and linebacker Payton Wilson. Because he enrolled early, Boletepeli has had an additional half year to work in a college weight room and impress the coaches.
Verdict: Play
Defensive lineman Derrick Eason
The Wolfpack held off a late charge from Notre Dame in Eason’s recruitment, and has another young player who can compete for playing time along the front four. However, it’s unlikely that three true freshman find their way onto the field, especially when there’s so many other options. The Pack plays eight defensive lineman per game, so it needs nine or 10 who can play any given week, so that gives Eason a chance, but at the end of the day, it will be better for Eason to redshirt and space out the scholarships along the defensive line.
Verdict: Redshirt
Defensive lineman Davontae McCrae
McCrae will have an opportunity to crack the rotation, but like Eason, he’s best served spending a year focusing on the weight room and contributing on the field down the road.
Verdict: Redshirt
Defensive lineman Val Martin
Martin was a last minute pickup for the Wolfpack and a very good one at that. He’s not eligible to redshirt because he redshirted while at Iowa Western Community College, so he’ll try to crack the rotation and help out on the interior of the defensive line. He has three years to play for the Pack.
Linebacker Payton Wilson
Wilson is the crown jewel of the 2018 recruiting class for Doeren because he was committed to archrival UNC-Chapel Hill for six months and then the Pack held off the likes of Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame to earn his signature. Wilson tore his ACL in October and enrolled early to help with rehab. He’s also already big for a linebacker, so there’s a very real possibility he moves to defensive end, following the same career path that Bradley Chubb took. Because of his injury, Wolfpack fans won’t get to see Wilson until 2019, where he will be along the defensive line.
Verdict: Redshirt
Linebacker Calvin Hart
Hart is another newcomer that flew under the radar in the Pack’s recruiting class, but the Wolfpack did beat out Texas A&M for his commitment. According to 247 Sports, Hart’s high school, American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, produced seven players, all on the defensive side of the ball, in the 2018 class that signed with Power Five teams. Five of those seven players were four stars and among the top 38 players in the state of Florida, including the top two cornerbacks in the entire country. It’s quite possible that he was overlooked in the recruiting process because his teammates were so talented. With the uncertainty surrounding Wilson and the recent dismissal of Saunders, Hart has an opportunity to carve out a role, even if it’s just on special teams.
Verdict: Play
Cornerback De’Von Graves
Graves was the first commitment in the 2018 class and the Pack held off serious interest from Tennessee and Virginia Tech to get him to Raleigh. Had he not committed so early, Graves likely would have been higher ranked and earned more offers from high-major teams. As an early enrollee, Graves has every opportunity to earn playing time with two departed senior cornerbacks and could end up as the freshman with the most playing time in the Fall.
Verdict: Play
Cornerback Taiyon Palmer
NC State fans probably won’t complain if Doeren makes a habit out of signing recruits who were the highest-ranked commits to UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke. Along with Wilson, Palmer was committed to Duke for over a year before decommitting and picking the Pack over the likes of Nebraska and Tennessee. The problem as it relates to Palmer playing in 2018 is that NC State generally doesn’t play more than four or five cornerbacks in a season. With Graves already with a head start to earn playing time, will two true freshman earn playing time? That’s the uphill battle Palmer faces. However, I think Palmer will show enough early in the year to earn playing time for the rest of the year.
Verdict: Play
Cornerback Kishawn Miller
Miller is a junior college product who has three years to play two. He goes against the grain in recent years in terms of physical traits of cornerbacks. After pursuing mostly tall and long cornerbacks, Miller is only listed at 5-foot-9 and 168 pounds. Even though he’s already on campus, Palmer and Graves will be ahead of him on the depth chart.
Verdict: Redshirt
Cornerback Tanner Ingle
Ingle is another cornerback on the smaller side, but he showed exceptional athleticism and physicality in high school. It remains to be seen whether he will play corner or nickel in college. Unlike the other freshman, Ingle has the chance to see the field because of his ability on special teams. Ingle will be in the competition to replace Nyheim Hines in the return game as soon as he steps on campus. However, the Pack will be able to find somebody else who has already redshirted to replace Hines and Ingle will have a year to adjust to the college game.
Verdict: Redshirt
Cornerback Teshaun Smith
If you think the Pack signed a lot of players in the secondary this year, you aren’t alone. Obviously some of these cornerbacks could move around, including Smith who has the height to move to safety, but signing five cornerbacks when only two at a time play is a lot. Because of the numbers, Smith has a lot of work ahead of him if he wants to play in 2018.
Verdict: Redshirt
Safety Tyler Baker-Williams
Baker-Williams is another local product from Southeast Raleigh High School. The Pack offered him at camp last year and really likes his athleticism in the defensive secondary, even though 247Sports lists him as a wide receiver. He’ll contribute early in his career on special teams, but it won’t be his freshman year.
Verdict: Redshirt
Safety Malik Dunlap
Dunlap is another newcomer who may not stay at the position he was brought in at. He’s already listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. Once he is on campus and spends a year in the weight room, it is very possible he plays the majority of his career at linebacker.
Verdict: Redshirt
Kicker Chris Dunn
As highly anticipated as this class is, Dunn is in all likelihood, the most anticipated recruit in recent memory. He will be the field goal kicker from day one, although he may not handle kickoffs until his second year.
Verdict: Play
