Earl Wolff: Video Highlights for Former NC State SS

Having a pair of potent defensive backs looks like a trend in college football down south. The Georgia Bulldogs have two deadly safeties in Shawn Williams and Bacarri Rambo. For the NC State Wolfpack, it is the killer combo of CB David Amerson and SS Earl Wolff. Amerson set the ACC season interception record of 11 in 2011.

Over the past two seasons, Wolff has done much of the heavy lifting in the secondary. He recorded 234 tackles and was named first-team All-ACC in 2012. His combine performance only served to raise his profile for the 2013 draft, where he earned the top marks for every drill he participated in.

A review of his outstanding collegiate plays is certainly in order. 

Interception vs. Clemson 2012

Wolff gives a little inside fake to make Clemson QB Tajh Boyd think the right flat will be open. The strong safety then fades to his left, which leaves him in perfect position to intercept the ball.  

It was one of the few mistakes Boyd made that day, as Clemson triumphed 62-48. It was one of those games where it looks like no one plays defense in college football anymore. 

Wolff did his part with 18 tackles on top of the interception. No one can say he did not come to play on this day. 

Interception vs. North Carolina 2011

The North Carolina QB Bryn Renner had the protection, but for some reason, he decided to throw the ball into double coverage. 

Amerson slacked off on the intended receiver because Wolff was covering the deep zone. The ball was lofted just enough for Earl to settle under the pass as if it were a punt. 

The Wolfpack defense pitched a 13-0 shutout, holding the Tar Heels to three yards rushing in 28 attempts. It was the first time N.C. State held an opponent scoreless at home since 1960.

Backfield Penetration vs. Louisville, 2011 Belk Bowl

On a 4th-and-1 on the NC state 32-yard line, Wolff lines up wide right and shoots past the left tackle. 

The right guard was supposed to pull and lead the Louisville RB off-tackle. Wolff is in the backfield so quickly he beats the block of both the fullback and the pulling guard. 

This allows LB Audie Cole a clear path to make the tackle, and the back does not even make it past the line of scrimmage. All because Wolff fouled up the blocking assignments and let his teammate make the play. 

After the Wolfpack takes possession on downs, QB Mike Glennon throws a 67-yard TD to make the score 21-10 in favor of NC State.

Check again at 7:26, and this time Wolff takes the right tackle one-on-one and creates a hole for LB Terrell Manning to make another fourth-down stop. Quite impressive for a DB who is barely six feet tall.

Wolff and Amerson Team Up for Interceptions

In 2011, David Amerson not only led the ACC with a conference-record 11 interceptions, but the entire country as well. 

This would not have been possible without the assistance of Earl Wolff. Their favorite tactic was to double-cover the quarterback, not just the receiver. 

Earl might look like he had lost track of the receiver, so the passer would lose track of Amerson. Or Amerson might shadow the receiver on the deep pass, then release when the ball was in the air and let Wolff take over the coverage. 

You can see the first approach at work when this clip starts out at 1:27. The second is evident if you go back to 0:27 and watch the replay. 

Then go to 3:20 and see both of them converge on the receiver and Amerson come away with the ball. It seems clear that the proximity of both players and the resulting pickoffs are no accident.

Earl Wolff Is Explosive Too

Wolff was top performer among safeties at the combine in both the vertical jump (39 inches) and the broad jump (134 inches). He also had a 4.44 40-yard time and 4.07 in the 20-yard shuttle, which led everyone at his position. Now his hops are on display for the world to see. 

Some say this sort of athleticism just needs experience and coaching to bring out the underlying talent. Others believe that while interesting, these figures have little to do with playing football. 

The latter would insist this clip just supports their point. They will remind you of the YouTube video of Jarron Gilbert jumping out of the pool. While Gilbert was drafted by Chicago in the third round of the 2009 draft, he has done little but jump from team to team in his four-year career. 

For now, the jury is still out on Wolff. But some team will take a leap of faith and add this physical specimen to their roster.