NC State’s secondary has a chance to be one of the steadier parts of the defense this fall, and senior cornerback Brian Nelson II is a big reason why.
The Wolfpack are heading into fall camp next week after an 8-5 season that ended with a convincing bowl win over Memphis, and there’s plenty of turnover on the roster. Quarterback CJ Bailey, right tackle Teague Andersen, center Spike Sowells Jr. and running back Duke Scott are back on offense, while the defense has to replace its front six. But in the back end, Jackson Vick and Nelson return, giving State some continuity where it can get it.
Nelson’s path to Raleigh started at Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek, where he put together a senior season that turned heads. He finished with 14 tackles, seven interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and four pass breakups.
He also averaged 27.6 yards per punt return and took one back for a score, helping Shadow Creek go 11-1 and reach the Texas 6A D-II second round. After that, he signed with North Texas.
His first year with the Mean Green in 2023 was limited to four games, which let him preserve a redshirt. Then came the breakout.
In 2024, Nelson started nine games and posted 53 tackles, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry, seven pass breakups, four interceptions and a fumble recovery. That season earned him first-team All-AAC honors from College Football News.
Nelson entered the transfer portal in spring 2025 and committed to NC State about a week and a half later before enrolling in summer school. He arrived as a high-three-star transfer prospect with an 88 rating and was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 41 portal cornerback.
Once the season began, Nelson spent the first 10 games as the Pack’s top reserve corner before starting the final three. Over the course of the year, he played 637 snaps and finished with a 65.2 overall grade and a 71.1 coverage grade. That coverage mark was second among NC State’s corners, trailing only Devon Marshall.
The jump to the Power Four level was an adjustment, but the expectation now is that Nelson takes a real step forward. The offseason buzz around him has been strong from winter workouts through spring practice and into summer workouts, and the hope inside the program is that it carries over once the games start.
If Nelson makes that leap and Ondre Evans stays healthy, NC State’s defensive back group has a chance to be solid this fall.