NC State’s Defense Is Getting a Total Overhaul | What to Expect from DJ Eliot
Fall camp is underway in Raleigh, and NC State fans are buzzing about the offense — but the real intrigue is on the defensive side of the ball. James Henderson and Phillip Danford break down the Wolfpack’s biggest shift in years: a new defensive coordinator, a new scheme, and a revamped personnel strategy under DJ Eliot.
This deep dive covers:
- Why Tony Gibson's 3-3-5 stack wore out its welcome
- What Eliot brings from the Dave Aranda coaching tree
- Scheme changes: Quarters coverage, multiple fronts, personnel matching
- Nickel and safety questions: Ronnie Royal, Sean Brown, and position shuffles
- Key newcomers: Cian Sloan, Sebastian Harsh, AJ Richardson, Tra Thomas
- The pass rush problem — and how the portal might’ve solved it
- Explosive play prevention and the need for schematic flexibility
CHAPTERS
00:00 Fall Camp Begins – Defensive Focus
00:26 Tony Gibson Out, DJ Eliot In
01:03 Scheme Shift: More Multiplicity & Quarters Coverage
02:55 Breaking Down Front Seven Adjustments
05:00 Ronnie Royal’s Fit in the New Scheme
06:50 Nickel Back Dilemma
08:34 Deep Linebacker Room – Who Steps Up?
10:27 Cian Sloan & The "Jack" Role
13:17 Need for a Pass Rush
14:22 Explosive Play Struggles in 2024
17:00 From Single High to Bend-Don't-Break
18:00 Personnel Matching Returns
20:12 Dave Doeren’s Strategic Pivot
22:04 ECU Matchup & Scheming in Secrecy
23:21 Two-Deep Breakdown – Defensive Line
26:49 Linebackers: Starters and Transfers
28:34 Projecting the Nickel Position
