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NC State CB Jackson Vick has embraced increased competition

Jacey Zembalby: Jacey Zembal08/01/25JaceyZembal
Jackson Vick
NC State redshirt junior cornerback Jackson Vick had 16 tackles last year. (USA Today Sports photos)

NC State redshirt junior cornerback Jackson Vick was ready when called upon late last year.

The 6-foot, 182-pounder from Bailey (N.C.) Southern Nash High hopes to carry the momentum for this year. He is battling for a position in a re-tooled secondary that returns cornerback Devon Marshall.

Vick was called upon in the win over North Carolina and had three tackles, one sack and one pass broken up in 49 snaps. He followed up by having four tackles in 25 snaps in the Military Bowl loss against East Carolina.

Vick finished his season with 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and two passes broken up in 145 plays for the Wolfpack. He also played 192 special teams snaps.

“Really more than anything, everybody wants to be a starter,” Vick said. “It depends on what’s your process every day, and I just try to stay process-oriented and just attack every day.”

Marshall and Vick have been joined by North Texas redshirt sophomore cornerback transfer Brian Nelson and Temple redshirt junior cornerback transfer Jamel Johnson.

“The competition was great all summer,” Vick said. “We brought in new DBs, brought in Brian. We already had guys coming up, so a couple guys, everybody’s stepping up, competing, pushing the guy in front of them. That’s what we want.

“Felt good to watch him [Nelson] get out there on the outside. He looked real good to me.”

The On3.com four-star Vick was ranked No. 227 overall in the country, No. 23 cornerback nationally and No. 5 overall in the state of North Carolina in the class of 2022.

Vick was a standout wingback at Southern Nash, rushing for 3,220 yards and 42 touchdowns in his career. He rushed for over 100 yards in 15 contests. He finished his prep career with 51 touchdowns, plus 75 tackles and seven interceptions. Vick’s younger brother, point guard Jordan Vick, is a freshman at Jacksonville State.

Vick has played both nickel and cornerback for the Wolfpack over the years. As he learned last year, he’s always an injury away from needing to be ready.

Vick believes the leadership parts will be spaced out among himself, Marshall, senior safety Terrente Hinton, Jamel Johnson and redshirt freshman nickel Jaren Sensabaugh.

“I feel like this is probably one of the better back-ends I’ve seen since I’ve been here all together and just in the leadership piece, too,” Vick said.

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