SLEEPER ALERT: Defense
Several members of the staff at Inside Pack Sports pick their sleeper defensive player for NC State this upcoming season.
Junior Nickel Stephen Griffin
For me, Stephen Griffin is the ideal sleeper pick.
NC State has to replace Shawn Boone at nickel, and Boone made a lot of big plays last season for the Wolfpack. However, he was transitioning to nickel and was probably a better fit at safety.
Griffin brings a lot to the table.
A transfer from Tennessee, he had to sit out last season and very few outside of the program know anything about him. He has ideal size and athleticism to be a major playmaker at nickel where he can use his coverage skills to defend slot receivers and has the size and strength to be physical in the running game.
How big of a year Griffin has remains to be seen. He could easily be a breakout player, but because there is virtually no buzz about him, and he's set to play a critical position in the Wolfpack's defensive scheme, Griffin is certainly a sleeper player to watch in 2018. -- James Henderson
Senior Cornerback Maurice Trowell
Maurice Trowell has been a journeyman of sorts at NC State- from promising wide receiver to primarily special teams to cornerback.
His career was hampered to some degree early on with injuries and then the emergence of guys like Steph Louis, Kelvin Harmon and Jakobi Meyers dropped him down the wide receiver depth chart.
Like Johnathan Alston before him, Trowell made the move from receiver to cornerback during the spring. Certainly Trowell will need to learn the position on the fly but I love his athleticism and the fact that State lists him as the fastest player on the team.
When we watched workouts at State recently he was able to consistently stay step for step with Harmon and that's no easy task.
NC State desperately needs a second corner to emerge headed into the 2018 season and while there definitely could be some growing pains early on- just like when Alston transitioned to defense- I think the potential is there for Trowell to develop and become a solid contributor by season's end. -- Steve Williams
Sophomore Linebacker Brock Miller
Brock Miller took the 2016 season to redshirt and add weight. He was set to take some reps in 2017 when an early season injury kept him sidelined for the remainder of the year.
Heading into the 2018 season, Miller isn’t an expected starter at any position on the defense, but he should be back to 100% and ready to compete for a spot on the two-deep come the start of fall camp.
Miller enrolled at NC State with a ton of upside but the need to add weight and get his body ready. After two years in the program with Coach Thunder it’s time for the rubber to meet the road.
Should Miller stay healthy throughout camp, I could see him earning some back-up reps once the season gets going. -- Bryant Carson
Senior Cornerback Maurice Trowell
Maurice Trowell will get his shot, but it won't be at wide receiver as he was recruited to play.
Trowell does not have the same size as Johnathan Alston, who made the same move to cornerback last season, but he has solid athleticism and is at a position of need for the Wolfpack, so he will get a fair chance.
It will be interesting to see how quickly Trowell gets integrated into the lineup.
Alston received some run early. The depth of the unit, the needs relating to injury and how well Trowell adapts to the change will all be important factors into how many reps he receives.
Do not be surprised if he makes the most of the chance when he gets it. -- Rob McLamb
Junior Safety Jarius Morehead
There's been a lot of concern about the 2018 defense from Wolfpack fans. However, I don't think there will be much of a drop off, particularly because I expect the back seven will be much better than it was a year ago.
Jarius Morehead was graded as the fourth-best Wolfpack defender by Pro Football Focus and was second on the team in tackles in 2017. He gained a lot of valuable experience last year and was solid all year.
Why does he make this list?
Most of the talk revolves around Darian Roseboro and Germaine Pratt, plus who's going to replace departed defensive lineman and cornerbacks. Morehead hasn't gotten a lot of attention this offseason, but come September he will be one of the key cogs of the Wolfpack defense.
Although, I don't believe he will leave early for the draft after this year, I do think he will put himself on the radar of NFL scouts this year and set himself up to be the leader of the 2019 defense and be drafted after that season. -- Ethan Barry