Behind the numbers: NC State’s secondary overcomes key injuries against Louisiana Tech

Before NC State’s Week 3 game against Louisiana Tech even kicked off, the Wolfpack was already without its top cornerback. By the time halftime rolled around, NC State lost its other corner with an undisclosed injury, forcing the reserves into action.  Senior corner Aydan White, who flirted with the NFL Draft and transfer portal in the offseason, was held out with an injury (he’s listed day-to-day moving forward). That made Maryland transfer Corey Coley, the Pack’s dime corner, start on the outside in the lockdown defender’s place.  And then when sophomore corner Brandon Cisse went down with an undisclosed injury in the first half against the Bulldogs, NC State had to play Villanova transfer Devon Marshall as the other outside corner.  With its top two corners on the sideline without pads under their jerseys by the midway point of the game, NC State’s creativity came into action. Redshirt sophomore Jackson Vick was inserted in the dime package, playing on the outside, while Marshall slid inside to cover the slot.  But despite the injury bug plaguing the cornerback room against Louisiana Tech, NC State’s backups played impressively well and stepped right into action when their numbers were called against Louisiana Tech’s air-raid inspired offense.  “I was really proud of the way that Devon Marshall came in the game, Jackson Vick, Corey Coley,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said afterwards.