NC State defensive end Isaiah Shirley arrived at the 2026 ACC Kickoff with a clear message about why he stayed in Raleigh and what he thinks the Wolfpack defense can become.
For Shirley, the decision to remain with NC State came down to more than football. He said his four years in the program have given him the chance to grow his faith, compete at a high level and be around the right people. That combination, he said, is exactly what he wanted when he chose the Wolfpack.
“That’s what I’ve gotten and continue to get at NC State. To answer your question, that’s why I’ve stayed.
I believe in what we came here for. Guys back here are trying to do something special here.
We have all the resources and all the great people to do so.”
The biggest theme from Shirley’s session was confidence in a defense that has heard plenty of outside doubt. He said the talk inside the locker room has been encouraging, especially with teammates expressing belief that the pass rush and the unit overall are headed in the right direction.
Shirley said the goal is to get back to the kind of defense NC State wants to be known for - hard, tough and together. He made it plain that the defense wants to be the group that lets the offense breathe.
“We want to be the backbone. We want to get back of playing our brand of hard, tough, together defense together.
We want to be the backbone of the team. Whenever things go wrong, we can punt the ball if something happens, we can punt the ball, we know we’re getting the ball right back.”
He added that the roster on that side of the ball has the right mix to make that happen, from the defensive line to the linebackers and defensive backs.
This season also brings a bigger role for Shirley, who said he’s moving from a rotational player into a spot where leadership matters more than ever. He described the chance to represent NC State at the ACC Kickoff as meaningful and said he’s ready to speak up more after spending four years around the program and seeing what works.
“Like you said, being a rotational player, getting some experience to play, now it’s time to step up and lead the team.”
Shirley also talked about the daily grind that comes with preparing for football. He described it as a full-time job that demands constant attention to hydration, recovery and nutrition.
After workouts, he said, the routine includes eating, stretching, getting in the cold tub and even squeezing in extra work when needed. He said he uses phone reminders to stay on top of snacks and water, because every small advantage matters.
“It’s a full-time job. What I do is just stay focused, set reminders on my phone to eat snacks, drink more water.
Ultimately you’re trying to build edges. In football, the margin of error is like this.
Every edge you can get…”
Shirley also discussed being named one of four male finalists for the 2026 Arthur Ashe Junior Sports Scholar Award, the only football player among the finalists. He called it a huge honor and credited Ally, who works in student academics, for nominating him.
“I’m grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to come here and be able to serve others and do well in school, be able to have something like that. Also get to play some good football, be able to get nominated for something like that.
I couldn’t be more thankful to the people that decided to do that and vote me for that. I’m just grateful.”
In Other News...
NC State Legend T.J. Warren Begins A Surprising New Career Chapter
T.J. Warren is taking a new path after nine NBA seasons and two more in the G League, signing a one-year deal for the 2026/2027 season that will send the former NC State star into his first professional year outside the United States. For a player long known around Raleigh as one of the most gifted scorers to wear the Wolfpack uniform, the move marks a notable shift in both role and setting.
Warren chose the opportunity because he wanted a bigger role and liked the location, even after drawing interest from other European teams. There is also a familiar NC State thread in the mix, with former Wolfpack forward Mohamed Diarra already in France, giving this next chapter a little extra relevance for Pack fans tracking where the programs alumni are landing. [Read more 🡒]
Dave Doeren Just Framed NC States Biggest Frustration Perfectly
Dave Doeren used ACC Kickoff to put a familiar N.C. State frustration into plain language: the program has been good enough to matter, but not good enough to finish the job. The Wolfpack have stacked up wins in recent years and have been one of the leagues steadiest teams, yet the larger conversation around the program still circles back to the same missing piece, the kind that turns consistency into something more meaningful.
Doerens point was less about hype than about the burden of being close. N.C. State has stayed on solid footing while plenty of ACC peers have changed coaches and identities, but the challenge now is turning that stability into a breakthrough season. The next chance to start that climb comes Aug. 29, 2026, when the Wolfpack open against Virginia. [Read more 🡒]
ACC Forced To Rewrite Title Race Rules After Last Seasons Chaos
The ACC spent media days doing more than previewing the season. It also rewrote the rules for how its title game field gets sorted out, a move aimed at cleaning up a system that drew plenty of scrutiny after last seasons chaos. The conference said the overhaul is designed to better handle the scheduling mess created by expansion and to make sure the two best teams are the ones playing for the championship.
The new approach also reflects how the College Football Playoff has changed the stakes for conference races, with league champions now carrying even more weight in the postseason picture. One key tweak is a clearer definition of what it means for teams to be tied in the standings, and the ACC is also preparing for a future schedule that will feature uneven game totals across the league. For programs like NC State, it is another reminder that the path to Charlotte is no longer just about winning games, but about navigating a tiebreaker system built to survive the sports new reality. [Read more 🡒]