The Wolfpacker interviewed the various NC State assistant coaches about the newcomers on defense. This week’s installment will focus on some of the defensive positions — linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. Here is the past one on the offensive line.
NC State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable:
On redshirt freshman C.J. Hart:
“Calvin is a young player that’s going to play the Will linebacker position for us, and I think has got a lot of good talent and tools. It’s going to be his experience — he’s got a lot of reps in the spring and I saw him get better in the spring. He’s worked extremely hard this summer and he’s going to get a lot more reps in fall camp. He’s a guy that I see is going to be in our two-deep, has the ability to be in our two-deep and give us some valuable play next year.”
On USC transfer Levi Jones:
“Long, tall, very athletic, can really run. I think his ceiling is so high. I think he’s still learning to play the game because he’s young and he needed to work on some fundamental development, but boy is he a very talented kid and very excited about him.”
Could redshirting Jones as a transfer be good for him?
“It could be. He came in at about 201, and the last report he was up to like 223. He’s just taken off since he’s been here, but if he’s forced to redshirt I think it would good for him. I’d love for him to be eligible to give us another bullet to play with out there, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing for him or us. We’ll just see where it falls.”
On freshman Jaylon Scott:
“He came in early in January, had a few bumps and bruises. He’s a little bit behind right now knowing the defense, had some developmental work to do, but has the talent, has the ability. I don’t want to say anybody is going to redshirt at this point, but he’s a guy that could probably use it. We’ll go into fall camp and he’ll get some work and we’ll make that decision at the end of fall camp. I think he’s a guy that has got good size and ability and is going to be a good player for us in the future.”
On freshman Drake Thomas:
“I was really pleased with Drake and am very excited about Drake. Extremely smart, understands football, picks concepts up fast. Has a great work ethic, good movement in space. I think he’s going to be a really good football player and just a guy that loves the game and is going to work very hard at everything that he does. I am really excited about Drake and I feel like he’ll be in the two-deep and play next year as a freshman.”
On redshirt freshman Payton Wilson:
“He is wearing the carpet out, just back and forth. He can’t wait to get on the field and honestly I can’t wait to get him on the field either. He has worked so hard in the rehab. I think our athletic training staff has done a great job with him to get him ready. He’s been turned loose.
“He looks good in his movement, his change of direction. I am just really, really excited about Payton. It’s been a year and a half since he’s played and there’s going to be some rust and we’re going to have to knock some rust off, but from what I’ve seen from him this summer he is moving really well. He’s been learning the defense. Now, he’s going to have to get the reps in it to really get comfortable with it, but man I’m really excited about him. I can’t wait to get him on the field and I can see him play.”
On being patient with Wilson:
“I’ve wanted him out there. I’ve got to be patient and be smart and listen to the trainers. I know it’s been so hard on Payton. I know that he is just super excited for fall to come and be out there. The other thing about Payton is when you’re injured like that for such a long time it’s hard to feel a part of the team because you’re standing on the side and you’re watching everybody else work and sweat and go through the grind of the game. You feel separated, and I know that’s bothered him just as much as not being able to be out there to perform. I’m excited for him that he’s now 100 percent and is going to be involved in every area of everything that we do.”
NC State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable:
On redshirt freshman C.J. Hart:
“Calvin is a young player that’s going to play the Will linebacker position for us, and I think has got a lot of good talent and tools. It’s going to be his experience — he’s got a lot of reps in the spring and I saw him get better in the spring. He’s worked extremely hard this summer and he’s going to get a lot more reps in fall camp. He’s a guy that I see is going to be in our two-deep, has the ability to be in our two-deep and give us some valuable play next year.”
On USC transfer Levi Jones:
“Long, tall, very athletic, can really run. I think his ceiling is so high. I think he’s still learning to play the game because he’s young and he needed to work on some fundamental development, but boy is he a very talented kid and very excited about him.”
Could redshirting Jones as a transfer be good for him?
“It could be. He came in at about 201, and the last report he was up to like 223. He’s just taken off since he’s been here, but if he’s forced to redshirt I think it would good for him. I’d love for him to be eligible to give us another bullet to play with out there, but it wouldn’t be a bad thing for him or us. We’ll just see where it falls.”
On freshman Jaylon Scott:
“He came in early in January, had a few bumps and bruises. He’s a little bit behind right now knowing the defense, had some developmental work to do, but has the talent, has the ability. I don’t want to say anybody is going to redshirt at this point, but he’s a guy that could probably use it. We’ll go into fall camp and he’ll get some work and we’ll make that decision at the end of fall camp. I think he’s a guy that has got good size and ability and is going to be a good player for us in the future.”
On freshman Drake Thomas:
“I was really pleased with Drake and am very excited about Drake. Extremely smart, understands football, picks concepts up fast. Has a great work ethic, good movement in space. I think he’s going to be a really good football player and just a guy that loves the game and is going to work very hard at everything that he does. I am really excited about Drake and I feel like he’ll be in the two-deep and play next year as a freshman.”
On redshirt freshman Payton Wilson:
“He is wearing the carpet out, just back and forth. He can’t wait to get on the field and honestly I can’t wait to get him on the field either. He has worked so hard in the rehab. I think our athletic training staff has done a great job with him to get him ready. He’s been turned loose.
“He looks good in his movement, his change of direction. I am just really, really excited about Payton. It’s been a year and a half since he’s played and there’s going to be some rust and we’re going to have to knock some rust off, but from what I’ve seen from him this summer he is moving really well. He’s been learning the defense. Now, he’s going to have to get the reps in it to really get comfortable with it, but man I’m really excited about him. I can’t wait to get him on the field and I can see him play.”
On being patient with Wilson:
“I’ve wanted him out there. I’ve got to be patient and be smart and listen to the trainers. I know it’s been so hard on Payton. I know that he is just super excited for fall to come and be out there. The other thing about Payton is when you’re injured like that for such a long time it’s hard to feel a part of the team because you’re standing on the side and you’re watching everybody else work and sweat and go through the grind of the game. You feel separated, and I know that’s bothered him just as much as not being able to be out there to perform. I’m excited for him that he’s now 100 percent and is going to be involved in every area of everything that we do.”
