NC State’s Highest & Lowest Graded Defensive Players vs. Notre Dame

Here’s a look at which NC State Defensive players graded out the best and worst according to ProFootballFocus against Notre Dame in the home opener on Saturday.

Top 5

NT Brandon Cleveland – 91.8
DE Davin Vann – 88.3
S Devan Boykin – 74.7
LB Caden Fordham – 73.3
DE Red Hibbler – 68.3

Bottom 5

LB – Devon Betty – 37.0
LB – Jaylon Scott – 49.6
S Sean Brown – 52.8
DE Savion Jackson – 55.4
CB Shyheim Battle – 57.0

Notes

• Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland made the biggest jump this week. After having the 5th lowest grade on the Wolfpack defense against UCONN (59.8), he posted the highest grade against Notte Dams (91.8).
• For the 2nd straight game to start the year, Linebacker Devon Betty has graded out in the Bottom 5.
• Caden Fordham on the other hand had the 4th best grade on the Wolfpack defense. After playing only 2 snaps in the opener, Fordham played in 32 on Saturday vs. the Irish. For comparison, Betty played 26. This is worth keeping an eye on. Fordham could be making a push for Betty’s starting job.
• Through 2 games, the absence of Drake Thomas and Isaiah Moore is being felt. The two of them were the Wolfpack’s highest graded players in 2022. Against the Irish, the two lowest graded players were their replacements Scott and Betty.
•  Strong Safety Devan Boykin had the best run defense grade (83.1).
• Linebacker Caden Fordham had the best coverage grade (72.3). That number is encouraging for Fordham, but not the Wolfpack secondary.
• Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland only had 6 pass rushes, but they graded out at 95.1, which was a team high. Defensive End Davin Vann’s pass rush grade was 80.4. What makes his pass rush grade even more impressive, is he did most of that from the interior. In obvious passing downs, for most of the game, Vann moved in from Defensive End to Nose Tackle, and Red Hibbler and Travali Price played the 2 Emd positions.