Believe it or Not, NC State’s 2023 Defense is Superior to the 2022 Defense

NC State Defensive Coordinator Tony Gibson is a wizard.

After losing 6 of the 11 starters from the 2022 Wolfpack defense (7 if you count Tyler Baker-Williams, who was injured at the end of the season), Gibson somehow has the Wolfpack back as dominant as they were last year, if not more so.

Here’s a look at where NC State currently ranks in the Top-5 in the ACC and in the Top-25 in the nation in specific defensive team stats.

For comparison, in 2022, NC State ranked 10th in Rush Defense (100.7), 18th in Total Defense (326.9), 11th in Scoring Defense (19.2), 19th in Third Down Conversion Defense (.328), 3rd in Interceptions (19), 24th in Turnovers Gained (22), 12th in Passing Efficiency Defense (113.35), 14th in 1st Down Defense (16.5 per game), and 63rd in Sacks per game (2.15).

The 2022 defense was ranked higher than the 2023 defense in 5 of the 10 stats listed above, but if you look at the stats, and not the rankings, the 2023 defense is currently superior to the 2022 defense in 9 out of the 10 categories.

The only stat that the 2022 defense was superior in: Scoring Defense.

The 2022 defense allowed 19.2 points per game, and the 2023 team is allowing 19.4. That’s 2 tenths of a point.

The work that Gibson and his Defensive Staff put in to keep the Wolfpack defense at this level consistently is outstanding.

Like I said…Gibson’s a wizard.