What redshirt freshman LB Kamal Bonner brings to NC State's defense in new starting role

After NC State star linebacker Caden Fordham went down with a season-ending injury in practice last week, the Wolfpack was left reeling to replace its leading tackler.  Fordham was the Pack’s MIKE linebacker, calling all the plays from defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, so NC State had to get creative to replace the redshirt junior on the field. The Wolfpack turned to redshirt freshman Kamal Bonner to play at SAM, while graduate Devon Betty slid inside and redshirt junior Sean Brown donned the green dot helmet against Syracuse.  And it was effective.  The new starting trio combined for 27 total tackles in the Pack’s 24-17 loss to the Orange, which was marred by the NC State offense turning the ball over three times. Betty paced the group with 10 total tackles, while Bonner logged a career-best nine with a tackle for a loss and Brown added eight stops and a pass defended.  But it was Bonner’s play that was most impressive. He had played a career-best 60 defensive snaps this season after logging just six as a true freshman a year ago going into the Syracuse game. He was thrown into a starting role for the first time at NC State and he rose to the occasion in 74 total plays.  “I think he did a phenomenal job,” Betty said postgame. “You can’t ask for anything better from a redshirt freshman. You can’t ask for anything better. He stepped up, he did what he had to do and I hope he will continue to get better.” Bonner, a 6-foot-2, 214-pound linebacker, has come a long way to reach this moment for the Wolfpack. He didn’t grow up as a full-time linebacker, but he has taken the position by the horns and will be the Wolfpack’s starting SAM for the rest of the 2024 campaign.  For NC State coach Dave Doeren, Bonner’s debut was what he was looking for from the relatively green college football player.  “Bonner’s an active player, he’s got good instincts,” Doeren said. “He’ll continue to get better. Obviously, there’s going to be things when you watch the film that he can do better. I thought for his first game, he went in there and battled. He made some really nice tackles.”