Facing off against a talented team that has produced a strong start to the season, the NC State football defense played a key role in helping defeat a dangerous Northern Illinois 24-17. A week removed from giving up 59 points, the highest Wolfpack mark since 2012, the defense responded in a big way to regain control of the season.
Despite a below average day offensively, the NC State defense helped shoulder a substantial piece of the load. In a game in which it forced four turnovers and scored a defensive touchdown, it provided the needed firepower that NC State has been desiring.
Defensive line
Through five games, graduate defensive end Davin Vann has continued to stake his claim as the most valuable player on the Wolfpack defense. Amassing a season-high 10 tackles while collecting a sack, this has added yet another chapter for a season in which he has continually proved to be a stable backbone to the defense. Though his stats may not pop off the charts, he has continually proved himself capable of doing the dirty work.
This was evidenced early in the third quarter. With the Pack clinging to a narrow three-point lead, Vann and the defense looked to quiet the Huskies’ threat. They proceeded to do just that as Vann burst through the line to sack quarterback Ethan Hampton. While pulling him down for a monstrous 20-yard loss, he stripped the ball as junior defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland leapt on the ball. This helped give the offense the ball back deep in the red zone, resulting in a short touchdown which helped eventually put the game away.
Linebackers
So far, the NC State defensive front has seen a regression in regards to its run defense. This week, it faced an offense which has shown its ability to run the ball with dual-threat running back Antario Brown. Despite allowing Brown to tally 114 yards and a score, he was held to average around four yards per carry and the rest of the Huskies rushers were limited to six total yards from scrimmage.
Redshirt junior linebacker Caden Fordham helped lead the defense amid a season-high 13 combined tackles, which included a pair of tackles for loss and a sack. He was complemented by redshirt junior linebacker Sean Brown, who collected 13 total tackles of his own and a takedown on the quarterback.
This season, NC State has struggled to put pressure on the quarterback. Against NIU, the Pack collected three sacks — two of which were a product of the linebacker core. With Fordham and Brown contributing to this facet of the game, they helped contribute to halting the Huskies’ running and passing attack.
Secondary
Facing off against the Huskies, the NC State defense faced a passing game that had proven to be efficient throughout the season. The Pack responded by compiling a performance in which it limited Hampton to completing less than 50% of his passes for only 159 yards and an interception. This comes a week after allowing nearly 200 passing yards in the first half alone.
Despite some struggles in the secondary, one cannot deny the efficiency of the defense to churn game-changing plays through a pair of turnovers. In the second quarter, senior safety DK Kaufman blitzed to the blindside of Hampton and forced a strip sack that he recovered and took to the house to give NC State a second quarter lead. Proving his versatility, Kaufman has shown his capabilities in pass coverage as well as rushing the passer as he has 28 tackles on the season with an interception and two forced fumbles.
The rest of the secondary also put in a solid effort, which included senior safety KJ Martin who tallied seven total tackles along with a pass breakup. Sophomore cornerback Brandon Cisse and junior corner Devon Marshall each collected six tackles as well with Cisse collecting a pass defended as well. With the Huskies attempting to mount a late fourth quarter comeback, it was Marshall who leaped for the game-sealing interception.
