Final PFF Grades: NC State’s Defensive Standouts from the 2025 Season

NC State’s 2025 football season has come and gone. Here’s a look at the final PFF grades for the Wolfpack defense.

(Only players who logged at least 15% of offensive snaps are listed below.)

Senior Cornerback Devon Marshall – 89.8
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Sabastian Harsh – 86.6
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Cian Slone – 76.3
Senior Nose Tackle Brandon Cleveland – 72.1
Redshirt Senior Nose Tackle Chazz Wallace – 71.0
Senior Cornerback Jamel Johnson – 68.8
Redshirt Freshman Safety Asaad Brown Jr. – 68.0
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Caden Fordham – 67.1
Redshirt Sophomore Cornerback Brian Nelson II – 65.2
Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Chase Bond – 63.5
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Tra Thomas – 61.3
Redshirt Senior Defensive End Travali Price – 59.3
Redshirt Freshman Safety Brody Barnhardt – 58.6
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Sean Brown – 58.4
Redshirt Sophomore Defensive End Isaiah Shirley – 58.1
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. – 58.1
Redshirt Senior Safety JJ Johnson – 56.3
True Freshman Safety Tristan Teasdell – 51.4
Redshirt Junior Nickel Jackson Vick – 49.7
Redshirt Freshman Safety Ronnie Royal III – 49.2

Position Leaders

Cornerback: Devon Marshall
Safety/Nickel: Asaad Brown Jr.
Defensive Line: Sabastian Harsh
Linebacker: Cian Slone

Notes & Takeaways

• The Transfer Portal has been good to NC State’s defense over the past two seasons.
  • 5 of the 6 highest graded players on the Wolfpack defense this season transferred into the program over the past two years.
    • Marshall: Villanova (2 years ago)
    • Harsh: Wyoming (1 year ago)
    • Slone: Utah St. (1 year ago)
    • Wallace: Colorado (2 years ago)
    • Johnson; Temple (1 year ago)
• Marshall was the 6th highest graded Cornerback in the FBS, boasting the highest grade in the ACC.
• Harsh was the 19th highest graded EDGE in the FBS, ranking 4th in the conference.
• Only 3 players in the Top-10 are returning to run with the Pack in 2026.
  • Asaad Brown Jr.
  • Brian Nelson II
  • Chase Bond