When looking up and down one of the best defensive lines in the ACC, NC State’s success begins with junior defensive end Bradley Chubb.
Chubb leads the team in sacks (six) and tackles for a loss (11.5), and he ranks fifth in total tackles (38). Don’t be confused by the statistics though, Chubb admits that he struggled in the beginning of the season.
“In the first couple of games I think I was trying to do too much,” Chubb said.
Once ACC play began the pieces came together. Chubb recorded two tackles for a loss to go along with two sacks against Wake Forest.
“Coach Nielsen helped me slow things down and really just see the things I need to do and how to execute them,” Chubb said.
Chubb’s most dominating performance of the season so far occurred during Carter-Finley Stadium’s 50th anniversary against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In Hurricane Matthew, Chubb took over the game recording three and a half tackles for a loss and three sacks in the 10-3 win.
The defensive end received ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his performance.
“That felt great,” Chubb said. “Playing in the hurricane, it was a fun game to play in. To get an honor like that was just amazing.”
The acclaim Chubb is receiving did not come without plenty of hard work and dedication. The defensive star put in work during the summer.
As if the 6-foot-4, 255-pound frame wasn’t imposing enough, Chubb was encouraged to put on roughly 25 pounds during the summer.
“Beginning of fall camp I was about 280, but I’m about 270-275 now,” Chubb said. “But that was a thing the coaches, and I wanted to do so I took on the role and did what I needed to do.”
Bulking up during the offseason wasn’t the only role Chubb took on. He was named one of four team captains for the season. His coaches and teammates say he is an influential leader in the locker room.
“Bradley’s a hard worker,” said defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. “He leads by example. He plays really hard and I think he’s bringing some guys along with him. When the other guys see how hard he plays they want to hold up their end as well.”
Nielsen’s praises don’t stop with Chubb; he believes this is one of the best defensive lines he’s coached in his three years at NC State.
“These guys have come a long way,” Nielsen said. “We’ve recruited all of them. We’ve developed. The credit all goes to them. They’ve done everything we have asked them to do, in the weight room, on the practice field, in order to have success.”
Chubb may be the leader of this defensive line, but players like fellow juniors B.J. Hill, Kentavius Street, Justin Jones and sophomore Darian Roseboro, to name a few, cannot go without mention.
Roseboro ranks second on the team in both tackles for a loss (8.5) and sacks (five). Street also ranks third behind Chubb and Roseboro in tackles for a loss (seven) and sacks (4.5). This is a defensive line with no clear weak link.
While this is a formidable defensive front, Nielsen and Chubb believe there is still room for improvement.
“We could tackle a little bit better,” Nielsen said. “I think we could definitely get more tackles for a loss, cause another takeaway.”
Chubb echoed his coach’s remarks saying, “We need to keep focusing on one play at a time, don’t look ahead, focus on our fundamentals and stay on the mindset of doing our job not trying to do too much.”
Chubb and the Wolfpack are back in action this Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium as they face quarterback Deondre Francois and the Florida State Seminoles.
