NC State starting linebacker out for the season due to ‘medical reasons’
N.C. State announced on Monday they will be without one of their starting linebackers for this year.
Louis Acceus, who missed the final four games of 2019 due to an undisclosed injury, won’t play football anymore due to “medical reasons.” He missed at least two games last season due to a concussion, the N&O previously reported.
A release from the school said Acceus, a 5-11, 230-pound senior, will remain with the team as a student coach.
Acceus, who’s from Spring Valley, New York, has appeared in 32 games at N.C. State and started in nine. Before going down with the injury in 2019, Acceus registered 50 tackles from his outside linebacker spot.
At his Monday press availability head coach Dave Doeren said Acceus’ injury from last season has lingered. Doeren said the linebacker is not sitting out due to coronavirus concerns.
“For Louis the best thing for him was to become a coach,” Doeren told the media. “He’s excited about that, he’s been around the guys everyday and he brings great energy to the group and has tremendous respect from the coaches and his teammates.”
NC State’s next-man-up mentality
The next-man-up mentality N.C. State was forced to adopt last season will be in effect heading into the Wolfpack’s Saturday season-opener against Wake Forest.
In the first depth chart N.C. State has released, sophomore Drake Thomas (6-0, 236 pounds) was listed just ahead of junior Vi Jones (6-3, 230) at the other outside linebacker position. Junior Isaiah Moore (6-2, 242) and redshirt sophomore Payton Wilson (6-4, 240) will man the other two spots.
As a true freshman last season, Thomas, who played at Heritage High, finished with 34 tackles and an interception. Jones, a transfer from Southern California, appeared in 22 games for the Trojans before transferring to N.C. State. Both players have been “crossed trained” to learn all three linebacker positions, Doeren said, adding that multiple linebackers will be needed Saturday.
“There will be a rotation where you see multiple guys in and out so that we can play fast,” Doeren said. “We have to be able to match their (Wake Forest) tempo and have fresh bodies to do so.”
The Wolfpack’s depth chart
N.C. State’s two-deep depth chart featured eight true or redshirt freshmen in the lineup. No true freshmen are listed to start. The Wolfpack will play either Redshirt Shyheim Battle (6-2, 183) “OR” Malik Dunlap at right cornerback (Battle is listed above Dunlap), according to the depth chart. True freshman slot receiver Porter Rooks (6-1, 189) is listed as an “OR” behind graduate wide out Thayer Thomas (6-0, 195).
Doeren stressed that “OR” means there are multiple guys who are capable of starting at that spot and will play starters minutes. Rooks, the top recruit in the class of 2020, is the only true freshman on the two-deep.
“He’s just consistent,” Doeren said about Rooks. “He makes plays everyday, he’s just the same guy. For a freshman it’s hard that first semester and Porter is very mature, he learned the offense very quickly, he makes plays, he catches the ball naturally, he’s a good route runner. More than anything he’s earned trust because he’s the same everyday.”
Another “OR” heavy position is at running back. Junior Ricky Person, Jr. (6-1, 215) is listed first. Sophomores Zonovan Knight (5’11, 206), or Jordan Houston (5’10, 190) or Trent Pennix (6-3, 233) are also listed.
One noticeable shakeup is the Wolfpack’s offensive line. Sophomore Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu (6-4, 325) started five games at left tackle last season, but will start 2020 at right guard. Graduate Tyrone Riley (6-6, 305) will start at left tackle. Junior Grant Gibson (6-1, 300) will start at center, next to seniors Joe Sculthorpe (6-3, 307) and Justin Witt (6-5, 307).
Doeren said his plan is all about getting the best five on the field.
“For us to get our top five out there we felt that having Tyrone and Ickey on the left allowed us to do that,” Doeren said. “Behind those guys we have some depth where we can rotate on the offensive line. Ickey can always bounce back out to left tackle if Tyrone gets tired.”
Wake on tape, advantage Pack?
Wake Forest could enter Saturday’s game with one obvious advantage over N.C. State — the Demon Deacons have played a game. Wake Forest dropped its opener to Clemson, 37-13, in Winston-Salem on Sept. 12. So there will be no first-game jitters for the Deacs.
N.C. State, though, has film on the Demon Deacons. Because N.C. State hasn’t played a game, Wake Forest doesn’t have any on the Wolfpack.
“Getting on the field and seeing your team is a huge advantage for your own well being as a coach,” Doeren said. “The scouting aspect gives us an advantage of who they are replacing and how they are using them. For them not to have film on how Tim (Beck) is going to call it or Tony (Gibson) is going to call it is an advantage for us.”
Beck is the new offensive coordinator for N.C. State. Gibson is in his second season as the defensive coordinator.
Last season the Demon Deacons dominated the Wolfpack, 44-10, in Winston-Salem.
“They return a lot of guys who made a lot of plays,” Doeren said. “Last year in our game with them we were pinned inside our 10 multiple times by their punter. We turned the football over, we didn’t give ourselves a chance.”
The Wolfpack had three turnovers last season against Wake Forest.
“In any game it starts with you not beating yourself,” Doeren said. “That’s a huge point of emphasis for this football team.”
Since the Demon Deacons have one game under their belts, Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson knows which players are doing well and which ones aren’t.
“He’s seen how guys respond on game day,” Doeren said about Clawson. “You think you know who your guys are going into the first game, but as we all know all of a sudden some guys emerge on game day as a play maker.”
NC State vs. Wake Forest: Primetime game in an empty stadium
The short answer is no. N.C. State won’t allow any fans into Carter-Finley Stadium due to statewide COVID-19 restrictions.
An empty Carter-Finley Stadium on a Saturday night will be a unique experience. Doeren didn’t try to downplay it, acknowledging how much energy the fans bring to the game, especially games played under the lights.
“Our sideline team has to be great supporting each other,” Doeren said. “It’ll be unique playing in an empty stadium. We do have some sweet cutouts I saw.”
N.C. State gave fans a chance to purchase cutouts to be placed in the stands at Carter-Finley Stadium. Two of the cutouts that caught Doeren’s eye were a pair of former famous N.C. State students - actor Zach Galifianakis and Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher.
“There’s some comedy relief in the stands right now,” Doeren quipped.
But Doeren turned serious when it came to the absence of the students and fans.
“Not having the students there, not having our fans, our parents, that’s hard,” Doeren said. “To say that we don’t get energy from them would be a lift, we do.”
Wake Forest at NC State
When: 8 p.m., Saturday
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh
Watch: ACC Network
This story was originally published September 14, 2020 at 2:33 PM.
