NC State’s defense had a near-perfect performance in last year’s matchup against East Carolina, but with a new coaching staff and six offensive starters returning, the Wolfpack defense will need a strong performance to set the tone for this year. In 2018, Dave Huxtable’s defense held the Pirates to 104 total yards and only four first downs while forcing three turnovers.
That was last year’s ECU, which the Pack played after head coach Scottie Montgomery was fired, and which was short its starting quarterback. This year, ECU has retooled their coaching staff, hiring Mike Houston away from James Madison. Quarterback Holton Ahlers will be available for this one, and while NC State’s defense has the potential to be better than last year’s, it’s doubtful the unit replicates the success it saw in the Wolfpack’s 58-3 embarrassment of the Pirates. Let’s look at how each unit matches up:
Pirate offensive line vs Wolfpack defensive line
The good news for ECU is it returns four of five starters on the line. The good news for NC State is it returns half its starters on the line, and the Wolfpack had great success generating pressure against ECU’s starters last year with just a three-man rush.
Replacing Darian Roseboro is redshirt freshman defensive end Joseph Boletepeli, who has been receiving rave reviews from head coach Dave Doeren since this spring. Boletepeli beat out graduate end Deonte Holden for the job. In for Eundraus Bryant is Val Martin, who was buried in the depth chart last year but impressed during fall camp and has worked his way into a starting role over sophomore Alim McNeill. Holding down the boundary side of the line are returners Larrell Murchison and James Smith-Williams, who are primed to have big years as leaders of the defense.
Pirate running backs vs Wolfpack linebackers
ECU has a new starter at running back in Darius Pinnix, Jr. Pinnix rushed for 222 yards on four yards per carry last year. Against the Wolfpack last December, ECU could only muster 31 rushing yards, partly due to Ahlers missing the game. Ahlers led the Pirates in rushing last year with 592 yards, making him the key rushing threat for the Pack to stop.
Huxtable’s game plan last year was to force ECU to throw – rushing three and almost always leaving a linebacker to spy the quarterback. NC State’s defense will likely implement the same strategy this year, with the challenge of spying Ahlers falling to junior Louis Acceus. Acceus takes over Germaine Pratt’s weak-side linebacker position after backing up middle linebacker Isaiah Moore last year.
Pirate wide receivers vs Wolfpack secondary
Wolfpack fans will breathe a sigh of relief knowing ECU lost two of its starting receivers last year, Trevon Brown and Terrell Green. Deondre Farrier, the leading returning receiver, only mustered 372 yards last year and 2 touchdowns. NC State brings back three of four starters in the secondary, with sophomore Tanner Ingle moving from nickel to free safety to take over for Dexter Wright.
In last year’s matchup, the pressure caused by the defensive line created catchable balls for the secondary, which responded with interceptions by top corner Nick McCloud and strong safety Jarius Morehead. The two will try to attempt to repeat that performance against a better quarterback in Ahlers.
Redshirt junior defensive end James Smith-Williams pumps up the Carter-Finley crowd on Saturday, Nov. 3. Smith-Williams assisted on two tackles and recovered one fumble in the Wolfpack's 47-28 win against Florida State
