NC State has the Longest Streak of Sending Players to the NFL in the State of North Carolina.

NC State had two players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft this past week, with tight end Justin Joly going in the 5th round to the Denver Broncos and defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland being selected in the 7th round by the Las Vegas Raiders.

With those selections, NC State has now had a player drafted in 11 consecutive years under Dave Doeren.

That streak is the longest of any program in the state of North Carolina…and it’s not particularly close.

East Carolina sits second with a two-year streak. Duke and Wake Forest both started new streaks this year, with three Blue Devils and two Demon Deacons selected, respectively.

Meanwhile, North Carolina saw its nine-year streak come to an end, as no Tar Heel players were selected in the first draft under Bill Belichick.

Over the past decade, Doeren has built something steady in Raleigh…a program that consistently develops players and sends them to the next level.

It may not always grab headlines, but year after year, the results show up on draft weekend.