NC State’s Defense Dominates UNC: Breaking Down the Wolfpack’s Week 13 Standouts
NC State didn’t just beat UNC on Saturday night - they shut the door, locked it, and threw away the key. The Wolfpack defense put together one of its most complete performances of the season in a 42-19 rivalry win, and the numbers back it up. Let’s dive into the Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades from Week 13 and see who stood out, who stepped up, and who’s trending in the right direction as the regular season wraps up.
Chazz Wallace Leads the Charge - Again
Redshirt senior nose tackle Chazz Wallace continues to be a force in the trenches, earning a team-high 82.8 grade - his best single-game mark of the season and the highest of his career. This is the second time this year Wallace has led the defense in grading, previously topping the chart against Georgia Tech. His ability to disrupt the interior and collapse the pocket was a major reason UNC’s offense never found a rhythm.
Top Defensive Grades - Week 13
Here’s how the top contributors graded out:
- Chazz Wallace (NT) - 82.8
- Caden Fordham (LB) - 76.4
- Tra Thomas (LB) - 73.7
- Devon Marshall (CB) - 73.2
- Travali Price (DE) - 71.2
- Sabastian Harsh (DE) - 70.6
Wallace wasn’t the only one making noise. Linebackers Caden Fordham and Tra Thomas both turned in strong performances, with Thomas cracking the 70+ mark for the first time since Week 6. That’s a welcome sign as the Wolfpack look to shore up the second level heading into postseason play.
Cornerback Consistency: Devon Marshall’s Emergence
Senior cornerback Devon Marshall continues to be one of the steadiest players on this defense. His 73.2 grade makes it three straight games above 70, adding to a season-long resume that has him graded at 88.7 through Week 14 - the highest on the team among players with at least 20% of snaps. Whether it’s Miami, FSU, or now UNC, Marshall’s been locking things down on the outside.
Young Talent Stepping Up
Freshman linebacker Ke’Von Carter posted a 68.2 - the best grade of his young career. That’s a big development for NC State’s depth at linebacker, especially with veterans like Slone and Soares Jr. trending downward. Carter’s instincts and range showed up on tape, and the numbers confirm it.
Ronnie Royal III, a redshirt freshman safety, also had his best outing since Week 3 against Wake Forest, earning a 69.8. In a secondary that’s had its ups and downs, that’s a promising sign from a young player who’s flashed before.
Trending Up: Price, Nelson, Johnson
This was a bounce-back week for several veterans:
- Travali Price (DE) - First 70+ grade since Week 6
- Brian Nelson II (CB) - First 70+ since Week 6
- JJ Johnson (S) - Season-high 66.8
When your veterans start peaking late in the season, that’s exactly what you want as a coaching staff. Johnson in particular has had a bit of a rollercoaster year, so seeing him post his best mark of the season is a good sign heading into the postseason.
Defensive Struggles: Who Needs to Rebound
Not everyone had a banner night. A few defenders are in the midst of rough stretches:
- Isaiah Shirley (DE) - Graded at 57.4, his fourth straight game under 60
- **Kenny Soares Jr.
(LB)** - Career-worst 41.0
- Cian Slone (LB) - Just 50.7 after a strong start to the year
Slone’s dip is particularly notable. Despite ranking third on the team in overall grade through Week 14 (73.5), his recent performances haven’t matched his early-season impact. If NC State wants to keep this defensive momentum going, getting Slone back to form could be key.
Top-5 Defensive Players (Season-to-Date, 20%+ Snaps)
- Devon Marshall (CB) - 88.7
- Sabastian Harsh (DE) - 82.8
- Cian Slone (JACK) - 73.5
- Brandon Cleveland (NT) - 72.7
- Jamel Johnson (CB) - 71.0
Marshall’s season-long consistency is the headline here, but don’t overlook Sabastian Harsh, who’s quietly put together an excellent campaign. His 70.6 in Week 13 adds to strong showings against ECU, UVA, and Campbell.
Bottom-5 Defensive Players (Season-to-Date, 20%+ Snaps)
- Tristan Teasdell (S) - 51.4
- Ronnie Royal III (FS) - 52.0
- Jackson Vick (Nickel) - 53.7
- **Kenny Soares Jr.
(LB)** - 56.0
4.
Brody Barnhardt (SS) - 56.0
While some of these players are young and still developing, the numbers show where NC State may need to tighten things up. Teasdell and Royal are both freshmen, and the growing pains are real - but so is the upside. Royal’s improvement this week is a step in the right direction.
Final Thoughts
In a rivalry game where emotions run high and mistakes can be costly, NC State’s defense delivered one of its most complete showings of the season. Veterans like Chazz Wallace and Devon Marshall anchored the unit, while emerging talents like Ke’Von Carter and Ronnie Royal III showed that the future is just as bright as the present.
With momentum on their side and the postseason looming, the Wolfpack defense looks like it’s peaking at the right time.