The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1000643
JULY 2018 ■ 71 OFFENSIVE LINE Tyler Jones will be in his third year as NC State's left tackle after starting some as a rookie at right tackle. Garrett Bradbury will be in his third year as a starter, including his second season at center. Versatile Terronne Prescod, who can play either guard or tackle, will be back for a second season as NCSU's starting left guard. Ledford has noticed that his fifth-year seniors are locked in for their final season in Raleigh. "I tell guys all the time — I wish you had ap- proached your freshman season like you guys are approaching your senior season," Ledford said. "They are really putting in work. "Tyler looks phenomenal right now, He's really thick and moving extremely well. Bradbury is about 15 percent body fat at 300 pounds, and looks great. Same thing with Big T [Prescod]. "Those guys are really playing for a lot this year. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys playing another season with each other, and I think that's important for them." While three-fifths of the offensive line is set with fifth-year senior starters, the Pack must replace Adams and Richardson on the right side of the line. Sophomore Joshua Fedd-Jackson started for an injured Adams in the 52-31 win over Arizona State in the Hyundai Sun Bowl and is line to take over at right guard on a full- time basis. "He has an aggressive demeanor about him," Ledford noted. "He's a tough, very physical kid that plays extremely hard — a guy that you like to have on the offensive line." The leader coming out of spring at right tackle is redshirt sopho- more Justin Witt, who started the season opener for a suspended Richardson at the position last year. "The good thing about it in the spring was you never noticed him doing anything bad," Ledford said. "Fundamentally, he has gotten really good. He had to get a little bit stronger, especially in the lower body. He's done that." Ledford is eager to see what former defensive end Tyrone Riley, a redshirt junior, can add to the mix. Riley was limited in the spring, but the coach sees a lot of potential in him. "He's a guy that I approached when I first got here," Ledford recalled. "I thought he'd be a really good offensive tackle because of his length. A lot of your tackles in the NFL look like power forwards, guys that can go and get you 20 points and 10 re- bounds. Tyrone looks like that. "He's a lean, cut kid that's really long, When I'm saying lean — all those guys are 300-pounders." Ledford added that redshirt sophomore Joe Sculthorpe is a "guy that you feel very good about at all three positions on the inside" RUSHING YARDS PER GAME BEHIND THE WOLFPACK LINE Year YPG ACC Rank 2017 176.4 6 2016 156.2 7 2015 202.5 4 2014 204.5 4 2013 162.7 7 2012 111.1 9 2011 104.8 11 2010 123.3 11 2009 120.9 9 2008 123.2 7 STARTERS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 65 Garrett Bradbury 5th-Sr. 6-3 300 Charlotte Has started 26 straight games, including every contest last season at center. He played 98 percent of the team's snaps (1,000 of 1,022) and was named honorable mention All-ACC. 66 Joshua Fedd-Jackson So. 6-3 332 Montvale, N.J. After a promising rookie campaign during which he started the Hyundai Sun Bowl for an injured Tony Adams, he is expected to slide into the graduated Adams' right guard spot on a permanent basis. 53 Tyler Jones 5th-Sr. 6-3 300 Stone Mountain, Ga. The starter of 32 career games led the team in snaps played last year (1,006 of 1,022) and hasn't missed a play in the last 20 ACC contests, dating back to 2015. 70 Terronne Prescod 5th-Sr. 6-5 331 Decatur, Ga. Stepped in at the vacant spot at left guard and started 12 of 13 games there last season, making a start at right tackle in the other contest. 67 Justin Witt R-So. 6-6 307 Chicago Started the season opener against South Carolina last season at right tackle and continues to transform his body. RESERVES No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 55 Tyrone Riley R-Jr. 6-6 285 Savannah, Ga. Moved from defensive end to offensive tackle in the spring, and will be in a battle with Witt for the starting right tackle spot in the fall. "He's got a very, very bright future ahead of him," offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford said. 71 Joe Sculthorpe R-So. 6-3 311 Hampstead, N.C. Started the Marshall game at left guard, and is the top reserve at guard and center while being groomed by Ledford as NC State's center of the future. 75 Jalynn Strickland Fr. 6-6 318 Waycross, Ga. Early enrollee thoroughly impressed the NC State coaches in the spring with his talent and length. "You would have never thought that he was supposed to be in the hallways of Ware County [High School] right now," Ledford noted in the spring. WAITING IN THE WINGS No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Hometown 64 Kahric Belle Fr. 6-6 292 N. Miami Beach, Fla. Rivals.com three-star prospect has impressive length and will play tackle. 52 Kendall Brown R-So. 6-4 280 Jacksonville, Fla. Athletic former high school defensive lineman with a 7-foot-1 wingspan made strides at tackle during the spring, according to Ledford. 56 Kollin Byers R-Fr. 6-4 276 Shelby, N.C. Ledford is hoping that Byers can learn how to handle the center position this fall. 73 Justin Chase R-So. 6-5 302 Chesapeake, Va. Has settled in at guard and will battle for a spot on the two-deep this fall. 68 Charles Fletcher R-Fr. 6-2 298 Greenville, N.C. Walk-on came to NC State from Rose High. 78 Gabriel Gonzalez Fr. 6-5 275 Mebane, N.C. Ledford is excited about this athletic three-star prospect that could potentially play any position on the offensive line. 79 Ben Kaiser 6th-Sr. 6-3 292 Pasadena, Calif. Walk-on who played at Pasadena Community College before transferring to NC State and was granted a sixth year after successfully beating a cancer diagnosis while at Pasadena. 74 Emanuel McGirt Jr. R-Jr. 6-6 306 Durham, N.C. Was a four-star recruit from Hillside High in the 2015 class, but he has been hampered by leg injuries since he's been at NC State. 61 Bo Ressler Fr. 6-7 285 Cary, N.C. Walk-on played at Green Hope High. 59 Liam Ryan R-Fr. 6-2 300 Cary, N.C. Walk-on played at Cary High before spending a year at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy. 62 Bryson Speas R-Fr. 6-4 276 Greensboro, N.C. The promising redshirt freshman is working at guard but could also play tackle. Ledford said, "I think he is definitely going to be a guy that we can depend on one day." 72 Philip Walton Jr. R-Jr. 6-6 305 Charlotte A good athlete who has gained strength and improved throughout his time in Raleigh. Offensive Lineman Roster ■ By The Numbers 13 Sacks allowed last season, the fewest at NC State since the 2002 Gator Bowl squad surrendered just 11. The 2017 total tied for fifth nationally. 180.5 Rushing yards per game during the five years under head coach Dave Doeren, compared to 116.7 yards per contest in the previous five seasons before Doeren's arrival. 314.0 Average weight of the projected starting five offensive linemen, slightly higher than last year's 313.6.