DT KaTron Evans is off the roster after having his waiver denied by NCAA. What is NC State’s next move?

NC State’s defensive line depth took a big hit this week as veteran defensive tackle KaTron Evans has reportedly been denied an NCAA eligibility waiver and is no longer listed on the Wolfpack’s official roster. Instead, what you find is a 404 website error where his player profile page once sat.

Evans transferred to NC State from Marshall during the January transfer portal window, but his ability to play in 2026 always hinged on receiving an NCAA waiver for an additional season of eligibility.

Unfortunately for both Evans and the Pack, that request was denied.

A disappointing ending to a long process

When Evans committed to NC State in January, the expectation was that the NCAA would grant him another season after a unique college career that included multiple transfers and seasons impacted by personal circumstance (in this case, deaths in the family). The Wolfpack filed the waiver shortly after he arrived on campus, but the decision stretched well into the offseason.

That uncertainty lingered throughout the spring and summer as Evans went through the offseason as a regular member of the team while awaiting an official ruling.

Now, with the waiver denied, his time in Raleigh appears to be over before ever playing a single snap.

Here’s what we’re losing…

Evans was expected to provide much-needed size and experience in the middle of NC State’s defensive line.

The 6-foot-3, 336-pound defensive tackle played under former NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson at Marshall in 2025, recording 12 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss while appearing in 11 games. Before Marshall, Evans spent time at Charlotte and Jackson State, where he entered college as a consensus four-star recruit.

When he committed to NC State in January, Evans became one of the Wolfpack’s most experienced transfer additions, with hopes that his veteran presence would stabilize a defensive tackle room replacing several key contributors.

Losing Evans means NC State will have one fewer experienced body in the interior rotation heading into the 2026 season. See, while the Wolfpack has added talent through the transfer portal and recruiting, Evans was one of the few proven veterans expected to contribute right away. Now it’s going to fall on the younger defensive tackles on the roster as fall camp approaches.

For Evans, the decision brings an unfortunate end to a winding collegiate career that took him from Jackson State to Charlotte, then Marshall, and finally NC State in hopes of earning one last opportunity. Now that last opportunity has been taken off the table.

So who will fill in?

Yeah, that’s a real good question. It’s one that our friends over at Trinity Road Times asked on X earlier today.

Best guess at the 2-deep here

FE: Bond, Adedire
DT: Shirley, Farrow
N: Victor, Abraham
J: Dyson, Carter

Victor and Adedire are Alec’s favorite picks for possible breakouts. https://t.co/loPuR7Abne

— Trinity Road Times (@TrinityRdTimes) July 28, 2026

We’ll see how accurate that is tomorrow when NC State hosts their first open practice of the season, and we’ll be there to film, shoot, and ask these questions.

How could they do this when he didn’t play last season?

This waiver denial is likely to leave many NC State fans scratching their heads.

According to reports, Evans’ waiver request centered on extraordinary family tragedies that limited him to just one game over the 2022 and 2023 seasons and significantly impacted his ability to remain eligible academically.

NC State sought to have that lost season restored, believing the circumstances warranted an additional year of eligibility. Despite those hardships, the NCAA denied the request.

While the NCAA has not publicly explained its reasoning, waiver decisions are evaluated on whether an athlete meets specific legislative exceptions, not simply whether difficult personal circumstances occurred. In Evans’ case, the NCAA ultimately determined he did not qualify under its current eligibility rules, which in this era of college sports seems crazy.