NFL
By: Brad Sherrod
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about NC State entering the 2026 season.
CJ Bailey is back. The Wolfpack have weapons around him, and the schedule gives them a legitimate opportunity to make some noise in the ACC.
But if NC State is going to go from a good team to an actual ACC contender, the biggest question might not be the offense at all.
It might be the defense.
NC State allowed 27.2 points per game last season, a number that simply has to improve if the Wolfpack want to compete near the top of the conference. The defense also struggled to consistently affect opposing quarterbacks, finishing 107th nationally in sacks.
And now, some of the unit’s biggest contributors are gone.
That starts with linebacker Caden Fordham, who was one of the most productive defensive players in the ACC last season. Fordham finished with 130 tackles, led the conference in that category, and earned first-team All-ACC honors before beginning his NFL career.
NC State also lost experienced defenders such as Cian Slone, Brandon Cleveland and Devon Marshall, creating holes at multiple levels of the defense.
So Dave Doeren and his staff went looking for help.
One of the more intriguing additions is edge rusher Harvey Dyson, who comes to Raleigh after playing at Texas Tech. NC State also attacked the transfer portal for defensive help at linebacker and in the secondary as it tries to replace some of the production that walked out the door.
The secondary, in particular, could become a strength.
Ronnie Royal returns after gaining valuable experience last season, while Penn State transfer King Mack gives NC State another experienced piece on the back end. Brian Nelson is another name to watch at corner, and getting linebacker AJ Richardson healthy again could provide a significant boost in the middle of the defense.
But for me, everything starts up front.
NC State has to find a way to create more pressure without putting its secondary in impossible situations. You can have talent at corner and safety, but if opposing quarterbacks consistently have time to sit in the pocket, eventually somebody is going to get open.
That’s why the defense could ultimately determine NC State’s ceiling.
We already know Bailey gives the Wolfpack a chance to score points. We know this offense has the potential to be one of the better units in the ACC.
But becoming an ACC contender requires more than having one of the conference’s best quarterbacks.
If NC State wants to take the next step in 2026, the Wolfpack defense doesn’t necessarily have to become elite — but it has to become a unit capable of winning games when Bailey and the offense can’t do it themselves.
