NC State’s defense didn’t just show up to the Gasparilla Bowl - they dominated. In a 31-7 rout of Memphis, the Wolfpack turned Raymond James Stadium into their own personal showcase, and the defensive unit made sure their fingerprints were all over the win. The latest Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades give us a deeper look into just how impactful this group was, with some veterans saving their best for last and a few young players flashing serious potential.
Sabastian Harsh Leads the Pack - Again
Redshirt senior defensive end Sabastian Harsh topped the defensive grades with an 83.2, marking the fourth time this season he led the unit. Not only that - this was the highest single-game grade of his career.
Harsh has been on a tear, closing the season with nine straight games graded 60 or higher. That kind of consistency is rare, especially from a lineman who’s tasked with doing the dirty work in the trenches.
He also led the defense in grading against ECU, UVA, and Campbell earlier in the year, and capped off his final bowl appearance with a statement performance.
Devon Marshall Stays Hot
Senior cornerback Devon Marshall wasn’t far behind, earning an 82.4 grade - his best since a strong back-to-back showing against Miami and Florida State. He ended the season with four straight games graded in the 70s or higher, a sign of a veteran DB who found his rhythm at the right time. Against Memphis, he was sticky in coverage and delivered the kind of performance that locks down a secondary.
Linebackers Hold the Middle
Redshirt senior Tra Thomas (75.3) and redshirt junior **Kenny Soares Jr. ** (71.3) both turned in their best games since Week 6.
Thomas was active sideline to sideline, while Soares played with the kind of anticipation that allowed him to disrupt plays before they even got going. These two helped bottle up Memphis’ run game and made sure nothing came easy over the middle.
Young Corners Show Promise
Redshirt sophomore Brian Nelson II posted a 74.1, his best outing since Week 6 against Campbell. He played with confidence and physicality, looking every bit like a corner who’s ready to take on a bigger role in 2026.
True freshman Caden Gordon also made some noise. Grading out at 69.7, he played a career-high 19 snaps - up from his previous high of 13 against UNC - and earned his first grade above 60.
It’s a small sample size, but Gordon showed he can hang at this level. That’s a big step for a freshman still getting his feet wet.
Nose Tackles Bring the Heat
Up front, Brandon Cleveland (71.6) and Chazz Wallace (69.5) anchored the interior. For Cleveland, this was his best game since Week 6, and Wallace continued his trend of showing up in big games - he also led the defense in grading against Georgia Tech and UNC earlier in the year. True freshman Josiah Victor added a 65.2, also his best performance of the season, giving NC State fans a glimpse of what the future might look like at nose tackle.
Some Struggles Down the Depth Chart
Not everyone had a banner day. Redshirt freshman safety **Asaad Brown Jr.
** (63.5) and true freshman Tristan Teasdell (63.9) were solid but unspectacular. Brown did have a standout game earlier this year against Pitt, but couldn’t quite recapture that form here.
Redshirt senior Caden Fordham posted a 62.2, his lowest since Week 10 against Georgia Tech. Fellow linebacker Cian Slone (60.3) continued a rough stretch, finishing with a grade of 61 or lower in six of the final seven games. Defensive end Travali Price (51.4) ended the year on a similar note, with six sub-60 grades over the final seven contests.
Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Shirley (54.5) and redshirt freshman Chase Bond (51.7) also struggled to find their footing. For Shirley, this marked five straight games under 60, a tough way to close out what had been a promising midseason stretch.
Final Takeaway
This was a statement win for NC State, and the defense made sure their fingerprints were all over it. Sabastian Harsh capped off a strong season with a career-best performance, Devon Marshall stayed hot, and several young players - especially in the secondary - flashed serious upside. While there were a few dips in production from depth players, the overall takeaway is clear: this Wolfpack defense came to play, and they played fast, physical, and with purpose.
For a team looking to build momentum into the offseason, this was exactly the kind of performance you want to see.