Doeren Confirms Stevens Will Miss Opener

NC State senior cornerback Mike Stevens sustained a leg injury in practice and will be sidelined indefinitely according to head coach Dave Doeren.

"It's been leaked out somehow about Mike Stevens, so I'll comment on that briefly," said Doeren.  "Mike did have a lower leg injury, and he's doing better than expected.  It's not surgical, and he won't miss a ton of time. He won't play in the opening game.

"I have no idea how long [Stevens is out]. Originally it was said he'd be out potentially four weeks, but to see him in the weight room, he's lifting, bending, he's doing really well. We're hopeful that Mike will be back quickly because he had a great camp."

Stevens is one of the Wolfpack's most experienced players.  He started every game of the 2016 season before missing the Independence Bowl with an injury and he played more snaps in 2016 (805) than any other returning player on defense (despite missing one whole game).

Doeren talked in-depth about the other options at cornerback.

With Stevens sidelined, Nick McCloud and Johnathan Alston are slated to start.

"It provides an opportunity," he said.  "Nick McCloud played in our last two games and had a good offseason. He gained a lot of weight which he needed to do and has good length.

"Johnathan Alston redshirted last year and moved to DB and did it for this reason.  We thought this would be a season that Johnathan could be a really good player on that side of the football if he took advantage of his year in the developmental program. He did that. He was our Scout Team Player of the Year when we redshirted him. 

"He'll get a great opportunity to play and I know he's excited to play... this won't be a deal where he's nervous. He's really excited to play in this football game."

The duo will be backed up by a trio of players with minimal experience.

"Nick Lacy is a redshirt senior who has earned a scholarship," said Doeren.  We know we can put Nick in the game and he'll execute and play hard.  James Valdez and Bryce Banks are now in the two-deep and both have come a long way.

"Bryce Banks was 165 pounds when he got here... he's played nickel, safety, and corner and has had a great camp.

"James Valdez, I'm proud of him. He's grown up a lot.  I suspended him for academic reasons and he got an A in summer school. He's done a great job in fall camp, and he has earned his way back in the two-deep."