Pack Defense Making Their Headlines Too

RALEIGH, N.C. – While the NC State offense has been lighting up the scoreboard this season, the other side of the board has been noticeably dark thanks to the play of the Wolfpack's defense.

"I'm excited that the kids are playing the way they are, together," said head coach Dave Doeren. "I think the energy that they have is fun to see."

Three games into 2018, the Wolfpack leads the AC and ranks ninth nationally in scoring defense – allowing just 13.3 points per game. With only 40 points scored by the opposition thus far, it marks only the fifth time since 2000 that NC State has allowed 40 or less points in its first three games.

The Wolfpack leads both the nation (along with Auburn, Utah and West Virginia) and the ACC by allowing just four total touchdowns. And of those four touchdowns, only three have been scored by the opponent's offense (Marshall scored on a fumbled kickoff return).

NC State is the only team in the nation to conceded fewer than four offensive touchdowns, and the three given up by the Wolfpack's defense are the fewest over the first three games of a season since 2004 (two).

All three of the offensive touchdowns scored on the Wolfpack's defense this season have come in the first half.

"I think our defensive kids are playing with good energy," said Doeren. "I think they're playing hard. They're not always perfect. We're missing some tackles here and there, but the guys are playing hard. That's the thing you like to see. They're playing off of each other."

The impressive numbers for the scoring defense include opponents trips into the red zone. The Pack has allowed just two touchdowns and four field goals in nine opponents trips inside the red zone. That .667 mark ranks 12^th in the FBS.

Leading the charge is redshirt-senior Germaine Pratt. Originally a safety with the Pack, Pratt moved to linebacker last season and is in his first year as a starter.

Pratt is the ACC's top tackler thus far, tallying 10 stops per game in his first three games as a starter. His average ranks 12^th among all Power 5 players.

Pratt is the first Wolfpack player to lead the team in tackles in each of the first three games of the season since 2005. That season, Stephen Tulloch led the Pack in each of the first seven.

"I do think Germaine Pratt, being as athletic as he is, has helped us," said Doeren.

The Pack is now done with non-conference portion of the schedule, and will now play ACC conference games the rest of the way.

Up first is a matchup with 3-1 Virginia this Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.

"Going into league play, each week it's different," said Doeren. "They have so many option plays, zone plays and different schemes. Now it's the ability to transform what you do week in and week out and be good against something completely different.

"That's the fun part of it. That's the challenge you have as a defensive coach in college football right now."

Players Mentioned

Germaine Pratt

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