COACH TALK: Henry Excited For Nickels To Show What They Can Do

NC State nickels coach Aaron Henry is always smiling, but he really lit up when asked about the progress his players have made throughout fall camp. 

"All those guys, they bring something different to the table," he said of the nickels.  "I’m excited for every last one of them. Just what they can do, great package for all of them. The ability to go out there and make plays and play all of them. All those dudes are really, really special athletically and mentally. I’m really excited for Saturday."

With Freddie Phillips, Stephen Griffin, and Tanner Ingle, Henry understands his position is deep.  Despite losing last year's starter, Shawn Boone, Dave Doeren stated as much previously when he talked about the improved depth at nickel.

"He took the words right out of my mouth," Henry said of Doeren's comments.  "I don't recall in my coaching career being this deep at that position. Literally three-deep, and any of those guys can go out there and change the game.

"I’m all smiles. Go out there and play hard. I’m excited for these young men, I couldn’t be more excited for a group of guys because they are all eager to learn, they are all 'yes sir, no sir' guys. They’re all hungry for correction, hungry to get better. All of them want to be really good players and be elite. Anytime you have a kid who’s extremely coachable and respectful and wants to get better, you have some special young men."

Doeren released the depth chart on Monday, and all three made the two-deep.

Redshirt junior Freddie Phillips is slated to start and it's been a tough 12 months for Phillips.  He tore his Achilles in the opener last year against South Carolina, and that forced him to miss the rest of the season.  He then tore the same Achilles again three months later... another setback.

However, through hard work, the resilent Phillips is back.  His position coach, Aaron Henry, raved about Phillips.

"I don’t think you understand what that kid has been through," Henry said.  "Freddie is an experienced player, and you can’t coach experience.  He’s played a lot of ball games here for us. He’s a physical kid, very intelligent.

"Throughout camp, he’s been able to battle back since he’s been sore from the injuries. Just fighting through and showing resilience and showing how bad he wants to be out there. I think for that kid, I’m most excited for him because of the injuries he’s coming off of. Two of them, that’s unheard of. For that kid to still move the way he does is incredible."

Redshirt junior Stephen Griffin manned the position all spring and was the presumed starter, but he missed all of fall camp before returning to the field just recently.  What does he add to the group?

"His return is going to add a whole bunch," Henry said, laughing.  "I’ve got a great problem in my room. All of them bring a different dynamic to the table. They are all very intelligent players.

"Stephen was the starter going into camp and has been out a little bit. He’s working his way back, trying to bust his butt. You’re going to see him out there. It’s crazy because they are all very talented and have a different dynamic to their game. They all have the playmaker ability."

Both upperclassmen have earned their roles, but it's clear that true freshman Tanner Ingle has also earned snaps.  The talk of fall camp, Ingle received plenty of reps with Griffin out and Phillips being eased back in.

Henry knew he was getting a special player when the staff recruited Ingle out of Orlando (FL) Dr. Phillips High School.  However, what has really impressed Henry has been Ingle's mental makeup and football IQ.

"I was very fortunate to work with Coach Huxtable in his recruitment because that’s his area," Henry said.  "We worked hand-in-hand to get that kid here, and we were fortunate enough to land him.

"We do a lot defensively. The typical freshman doesn't come into this program and pick stuff up the way he has. Coach Doeren talked about his mental aptitude.  The kid is brilliantly smart, very intelligent. I usually don’t have expectations for freshmen coming in because I think as a coach you can be let down. You can let the kid down if you tell him your expectations. I want you to pick up the playbook, learn the playbook, and we’ll see where you fit in fall camp. He’s been fortunate enough to go out there and play his butt off, but he's picked up the playbook so fast. I’ve never seen a kid at that age pick up our playbook so fast. I haven’t."

Henry gave an example of Ingle's knowledge of the game.

"Something came up in practice, and before we corrected it as a staff, that morning he asked, ‘Coach if they gave us this motion, wouldn’t we make this adjustment,'" Henry said. "I told him, 'We could, but we probably won’t.’

"We met as a staff later and Coach Hux wanted that exact adjustment Tanner suggested. He’s playing the game in his mind. He’s thinking in advance, more than other guys. It’s really cool because he understands concepts, he understands formations, he understands splits... what receivers are going to give you. Then he goes out in one-on-ones and plays like a corner."

Football IQ is critical to succeed, but you need to be able to play, and Henry reiterated that Ingle can get it done on the field, as well.

"He will stroke you," Henry said, laughing.  "He will run right through you. He’s physical. He’s fast. Seeing him workout and train in high school, I knew how fast he is.

"I’m telling you, he’s genetically gifted. I know he has a small stature according to some, but he’s genetically gifted. He just sees the game different than everybody. If you went out and watched practice and didn’t know better, you would think it was his third year in the program, but he was in high school eight months ago. It’s just crazy."

Between the three there is going to be constant competition, and Henry believes that competition will allow the rotation to work itself out.

"We are the Wolfpack, and you let the wolves hunt," Henry said.  "In a perfect world, would you like all of them to be in there and get a shot? Yes, that’s in a perfect world. I think it’s based off the game and what’s going on. I would hate to sit here and tell you something and then I don’t do it.

"It’s based off the flow of the game. Obviously Coach Doeren and Hux will have a lot of input in it. I’m just the middleman. Just trying to make sure those guys get in the right position and play extremely hard. Whoever is out there, I can promise you, you’ll get their best."