Over the past two seasons, NC State’s offense has carried much of the load, fueled by emerging playmakers and, at times, the need to compensate for a defense dealing with injuries, coaching turnover and inconsistent performance. Heading into this season, the Wolfpack is looking for its defense to reclaim a prominent role and become one of the team’s biggest strengths.
NC State’s defense is aiming to reestablish itself as the driving force behind the program entering the 2026 season, with Tulane transfer and hybrid linebacker Harvey Dyson saying the unit wants to carry the team rather than depend on quarterback CJ Bailey and the offense to win shootouts.
The Wolfpack enters its second year under defensive coordinator DJ Eliot, who took over after Tony Gibson and implemented a shift from a 3-3-5 alignment to a four-man front. According to Eliot, last season focused largely on recruiting players who fit the new scheme while helping returning defenders adjust to a different system. With another offseason complete, he believes the defense is now much more comfortable and better suited to execute its responsibilities.
Eliot said the coaching staff has developed a stronger understanding of the roster after either recruiting or coaching nearly every player on the defense. That familiarity, combined with another year of experience in the system, has helped veterans gain a clearer picture of what is expected and how to consistently perform at a high level.
The coaching staff also believes it has assembled personnel that better matches the defensive philosophy, thanks to a combination of freshmen and transfer additions replacing last year’s departures.
Team leaders say the defense has placed a major emphasis on accountability, chemistry and urgency throughout offseason workouts and fall camp. Dyson stressed that accountability is essential for the group to reach its goals, while safety Ronnie Royal echoed the importance of everyone buying into the team’s standards.
That mindset has translated onto the practice field, where the defense has displayed a more physical style of play by flying to the football, delivering hard hits and consistently pressuring the offense. Eliot noted that generating more sacks and affecting opposing quarterbacks has become one of the unit’s biggest priorities after falling short in that area over the past two seasons.
Royal believes toughness has become the identity of the defense, adding that months of offseason work are beginning to show during fall camp. He said the group is focused on continuing that growth as the season approaches.
Historically, strong defense has been a hallmark of Dave Doeren’s tenure at NC State. During his 13 seasons as head coach, the Wolfpack has regularly ranked among the ACC’s better defensive teams, including standout campaigns in 2021 and 2022 when opponents averaged fewer than 20 points per game and the defense finished among the nation’s leaders.
Last season, however, NC State surrendered 27.2 points and 411.9 total yards per game, finishing well outside the top tier nationally in several defensive categories. Still, the Wolfpack showed encouraging signs late in the year by holding North Carolina, Florida State and Memphis below 20 points while recording six of its 20 sacks over the final two contests.
That late-season improvement has given the defense confidence heading into 2026, and Dyson said the goal is to restore the physical, defense-first identity that has long been associated with NC State football.
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