With the departure of SI.com All-American Nate Irving, an off-season storyline for N.C. State was how the team would replace its senior leader on defense. With the progression of spring practice and the growing familiarity of new players lining up in different positions, some of State’s most vital defensive play makers have started to develop confidence.
Fifth-year senior Audie Cole, who tied for the team lead in tackles (97) a season ago, has moved over from the strong-side linebacker position to replace Irving. The senior out of Monroe, Mich. said that the change has brought a challenging learning curve.
“I’m learning every day,” Cole said. “I’m still making mistakes, but I’m doing more things right than I was earlier in the spring. Everything happens quicker and you have to make quicker decisions. You’re dealing with big ole’ linemen and if you’re hesitant, they’re on you quick.”
Cole is joined in the linebacking corps by sophomore D.J. Green, who spent last season playing the safety position in eight different contests. Cole said that Green has done well with the transition considering his age and minimal experience at linebacker.
“D.J. is going to be good,” Cole said. “He’s an athlete, he can run and he can hit. He just needs to figure it out. He’s still young. I remember when I was in my sophomore year and I couldn’t tell you what to do out here. But he’s learning and he’s picking things up quickly. I know he’ll do a good job.”
One of the main reasons for Green’s swap of positions is that the Pack appears set at the safety position with juniors Earl Wolff and Brandon Bishop returning to their starting positions in the secondary. However, Green’s athleticism he displayed last season as a valued special teams member has made him a strong candidate to line up alongside Cole this upcoming fall.
“I feel pretty confident,” Green said. “I love it. I know the older guys are going to help keep me in check, so everything should work out.”
For Green, one of the most challenging aspects of the position change has been footwork. The former all-state safety out of Macon, Ga. played in all 13 games last season as a true freshman.
“At safety I did a lot of running sideways,” Green said. “I just have to get out of that habit. It’s more shuffling than running. After that, it’s just about getting into the backfield.”
As coach Tom O’Brien enters his fifth season in Raleigh, expectations are on the rise after a 9-4 season and victory in the Champs Sports Bowl. With several questions that still need to be answered, O’Brien said his self-described “experiment” of putting Green in at strong-side linebacker will take time to develop.
“He’s a work in progress,” O’Brien said. “He has the ability, he’s working hard, and I think he’ll do fine out there. Only time will tell.”
While spring practice does not traditionally produce profound headlines, Wolfpack fans may be greatly encouraged by a broad observation from the nine-year marine veteran.
“We’re more mature than we’ve been at this point in the past,” O’Brien said. “We understand where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to do. There’s more experience out there, so there’s not as much indecision, not as many missed assignments and as many goof-ups.
“They know where they are supposed to be. Now it’s just a question of whether we can get there and get there fast enough to be a good enough football team.”
The third annual Kay Yow Spring Football Game will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Meanwhile, the Pack’s regular season will begin with a September 3 contest with the Flames, the Liberty University team.
