Seven NC State Players Earned Spots on Phil Steele’s 2025 Preseason All-ACC Football Teams

Phil Steele’s 2025 Preseason All-ACC Football Teams are out, and 7 NC State players earned spots.

1st Team

SR TE Justin Joly
RS SR LB Sean Brown

Joly transferred to NC State last offseason after spending his first two seasons at UCONN. In 2024, he caught 43 passes for 661 yards and 4 touchdowns. He led the Wolfpack in receiving yards and ranked 2nd in both receptions and touchdown receptions. His PFF grade was 70.5, which ranked 7th on the Wolfpack offense. Joly had the 2nd-most receiving yards among tight ends in the ACC last season.

Brown led NC State in tackles last season (96), and ranked 2nd (tied) in tackles for loss (9), 3rd in sacks (3), 2nd (tied) in forced fumbles (2) and 1st in fumble recoveries (3). He served as a Captain for the Wolfpack last year.

2nd Team

SR DL Brandon Cleveland

This past year was Cleveland’s first year in a starting role, and he didn’t disappoint. He was the 5th highest graded player on the Wolfpack defense according to PFF, with a grade of 73.4. Cleveland also had the 4th best Run Defense grade (73.4).

Through the regular season, Cleveland has 36 tackles and 4 tackles for loss.

3rd Team

RS SR LB Caden Fordham
RS JR OT Jacarrius Peak
RS SO RB Hollywood Smothers

Fordham only played in 6 games this past season before suffering a season ending injury. Prior to that, he not only was leading NC State in tackles, but also led the ACC. In 6 games, Fordham had 48 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 pass breakups in his first year as a starter.

Peak’s PFF Overall Grade of 78.7 was the 2nd highest grade on NC State’s Offense. He was the Wolfpack’s best run blocking Offensive Lineman, with a grade of 75.7. Peak’s 54 pancake blocks ranked 2nd on the team.

Smothers led the Wolfpack with 571 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns last season. His average of 6.4 yards per carry ranks 6th in NC State history for a single season. Smothers also had 19 receptions for 263 yards and 2 touchdown receptions. His PFF Overall Grade of 80.5 was the best on NC State’s Offense.

4th Team

RS SO WR Noah Rogers

Rogers had 35 receptions for 478 yards and a touchdown in Year 1 in Raleigh. He ranked 3rd on the team in receptions, and 2nd in receiving yards.