NC State vs. Campbell: Defensive PFF Grades Report (with notes)

NC State beat Campbell 56-10 on Saturday, improving to 4-2. Here’s a PFF Grade Report for the Wolfpack Defense in Week 6.

Redshirt Senior Defensive End Sabastian Harsh – 88.6
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Brian Nelson II – 84.8
Redshirt Senior JACK Tra Thomas – 84.4
Freshman Nose Tackle Josiah Victor – 81.6
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Travali Price – 79.2
Senior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland – 77.9
True Freshman Linebacker LaCorian Hodge – 77.8
Redshirt Senior JACK Cian Slone – 76.8
Redshirt Junior Defensive End Joseph Adedire – 75.7
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. – 75.1
Redshirt Senior Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace – 74.2
Freshman Safety Tristan Teasdell – 74.0
Redshirt Sophomore Safety Daemon Fagan – 73.6
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Caden Fordham – 72.9
Redshirt Freshman Nickel Asaad Brown – 72.2
Senior Cornerback Jamel Johnson – 68.7
Senior Cornerback Devon Marshall – 66.8
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Chase Bond – 65.9
Redshirt Freshman Free Safety Ronnie Royal III – 65.8
Freshman Linebacker Ke’Von Carter – 62.0
Redshirt Freshman Nickel Jivan Baly – 61.1
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive End Isaiah Shirley – 60.7
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Michael Tate – 59.0
Redshirt Freshman Linebacker Zane Williams – 52.2

Notes

• This marks the 3rd time in 6 games Sabastian Harsh has earned the highest grade on the Wolfpack defense, after sitting at the top the first two weeks as well.
  • Isaiah Shirley was the highest graded player in Week 3, Cian Slone earned the highest grade against Duke and Kenny Soares Jr. was the highest graded defensive player against Virginia Tech.
• Brian Nelson II, Tra Thomas, Josiah Victor, Travali Price, LaCorian Hodge, Joseph Adedire and Tristan Teasdell earned the highest grades of their careers.
• Kenny Soares Jr. played well in his first game as a starter for the Wolfpack, moving into Caden Fordham’s spot at WILL Linebacker, grading out at a 75.1.
  • He has earned a grade of 75+ two weeks in a row.
  • Fordham moved from WILL to MIKE Linebacker to fill in for the injured Sean Brown.
• True Freshman Josiah Victor shined in a career high 37 snaps, earning a grade of 81.6.
  • His previous career high in snaps was 8 (3 times).
• True Freshman LaCorian Hodge played a career high 21 snaps, earning a grade of 77.8.
  • Hodge played his first defensive snaps of the season the past two weeks, earning grades of 70+ both times.
• After starting the previous two games at Nickel for the injured Jackson Vick, Redshirt Freshman Asaad Brown Jr. started at Strong Safety in place of JJ Johnson against Campbell, earning a grade of 72.2.
• After missing all of the 2024 season due to injury at Texas Tech, Redshirt Junior Joseph Adedire has played well in the two games he has seen defensive snaps for the Wolfpack.
  • He earned a PFF grade of 75.7 this week, and graded out at 70.7 against Duke.
• Redshirt Freshman Jivan Baly was thrown into the limelight on Saturday, playing his first career defensive snaps (he played 1 snap against ECU) as the Wolfpack’s starter at Nickel.
  • He earned a grade of 61.1.
• After playing in the first 5 games strictly on Special Teams, True Freshman Safety Tristan Teasdell played his first defensive snaps of his career against Campbell, earning a grade of 74.0.
• After missing the first 5 games of the season due to injury, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker Kelvon McBride played 5 snaps against the Camels.
• Zane Williams played his first defensive snaps of the season.
• Michael Tate played the first defensive snaps of his career.

Top-5 Through Week 6 (20% snaps or more)

1. Redshirt Senior JACK Cian Slone – 85.6
2. Redshirt Senior Defensive End Sabastian Harsh – 83.0
3. Senior Cornerback Devon Marshall – 78.4
4. Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Brian Nelson II – 76.9
5. Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Chase Bond – 72.2

Bottom 5 Through Week 6 (20% snaps or more)

1. Redshirt Freshman Free Safety Ronnie Royal III – 47.5
2. Redshirt Freshman Strong Safety Brody Barnhardt – 56.0
3. Redshirt Senior Strong Safety JJ Johnson – 60.3
4. Junior Linebacker AJ Richardson – 60.8
5. Redshirt Freshman Nickel Jivan Baly – 61.6