Josiah Victor has been on NC State’s radar since the moment he arrived, and now the sophomore nose guard is stepping into the kind of job that changes the tone of a defense. After logging time in nine games and 100 defensive snaps as a freshman, the 6-foot-2, 316-pound Victor is expected to move into the starting role at nose guard in 2026.
That’s no small ask. NC State has to rebuild after losing eight defensive starters, and Victor’s spot sits right in the middle of that transition.
But he isn’t sounding like a player overwhelmed by the moment. He sounds like someone who sees the opening and wants it badly.
“I feel like everybody's paying attention to detail,” Victor said. “We want it.
We're not trying to go 8-5 again. We want to go undefeated -- and I feel that every day.
I feel that energy every day as soon as we walk out to practice. I feel like that's really changed -- the energy of this team.”
Victor’s new job means replacing Brandon Cleveland, the multi-year starter at nose guard. That learning curve has already started to pay off, and Victor made it clear he absorbed as much as he could from Cleveland’s approach.
“I watched how he carried himself,” Victor said. “It takes a lot of preparation to do what he does.
I just looked at how he prepared for games and practice, because how you prepare for practice affects how you play in the game. I just watched him and followed his footsteps.
“You can expect me to be physical. You can expect me to stop the run. That's all I have to say.”
The added responsibility has also come with added work in the offseason. Victor said he focused on his body and came into camp stronger than he was a year ago.
“I focused on getting in better shape,” Victor said. “I think I put on six to seven pounds of lean muscle.
I toned up. Last year, I was just getting in the flow.
I was in and out of games.
“The defense puts a lot of pressure on me -- and good pressure. It's positive energy, and they have my back.
He’s also found a fast connection with Tulane transfer Harvey Dyson, who led the AAC in 2025 with eight sacks and is projected to start for State. Victor said Dyson has already become one of his biggest sources of energy.
“That's my dog,” Victor said. “Back in the spring, he had just gotten here; I was really new to him.
But I remember this one play I made in the spring; he smacked the crap out of the back of my head and said, 'Let's go.' He motivates me a lot.
He's an older dude, and he's going to be in the league after this year.”
Victor’s comfort level has grown too, and he credits NC State defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot’s scheme for helping him settle in after last season’s experience. He said Eliot and defensive line coach Elisha Shaw have both been direct and demanding in camp.
“It’s been great,” Victor said. “If he sees a problem, he's going to fix it right then and there.
He's not going to let problems keep stacking. The same with coach (Elisha) Shaw.”
Shaw, who took over as the Pack’s defensive line coach, has been a familiar voice for Victor for a while. The relationship stretches back to high school, and Victor said the two have stayed tightly connected.
“I think me and Shaw are more on a personal level,” Victor said. “He calls me and texts me just like he did in high school when he was telling me he wanted me.
“That's my dude. He's a role model to me.
He pushes me every day. Even when I'm tired, he's always motivating me and says, 'Remember who you are doing this for,' and I love him.”
With Virginia on deck in the season opener, Victor knows exactly what comes next: proving he can handle the stage. He isn’t hiding from the pressure.
“I have to prove I'm that guy,” Victor said. “There's a lot of pressure on me right now and a lot of expectations on me right now.
I'm willing to do that, and I feel like I have a point to prove. I'm about to shock the world.
I've put a lot of work and effort into this, and I'm going to have a great year.”
In Other News...
NC State Fans Just Got An Injury Scare With Gunner Rivers
A fresh injury scare hit NC States future quarterback pipeline when Gunner Rivers went down in St. Michaels senior season opener. The 2027 Wolfpack commit hyperextended his right leg and had to be helped off the field, a tense moment for a prospect already carrying plenty of attention as the son of former NFL quarterback and current coach Philip Rivers.
There was at least some early relief afterward, with Philip Rivers and his son both indicating the injury did not appear to involve structural damage and expressing optimism about the recovery. Before leaving the game, Rivers had already shown why NC State fans are watching closely, completing 3 of 4 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown before the lower-body issue cut his night short. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Opens With A Virginia Game That Already Feels Personal
The 2026 opener between NC State and Virginia already has more layers than a typical September matchup, and plenty of them sit on the sidelines. Ruffin McNeill and Garret Tujague bring Virginia ties into the Wolfpack staff, while Virginia offensive coordinator Des Kitchings spent eight seasons coaching at NC State before heading back to Charlottesville. Even before the teams take the field, the familiarity runs deep enough to give the game a little extra edge.
Boo Corrigan adds another thread to the connection, with the NC State athletics director carrying long family ties to Virginia. So when these programs meet to start the season, it will not just be about a clean opening test or a nonconference measuring stick. It will also be a reunion of sorts, with enough shared history to make the buildup feel personal long before kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Hammond Could Decide How Fast NC State's Rebuild Holds Up
NC States latest reset comes with the usual mix of promise and uncertainty after a second head coaching change in two offseasons, this time bringing in Justin Gainey after Will Wades departure. The roster turned over heavily, as key players moved on and a wave of transfers arrived to help stabilize the rebuild, giving the Wolfpack a new look before the dust has even fully settled.
Among those newcomers, Christian Hammond may end up mattering more than most. The Santa Clara transfer comes off a breakout season in which he averaged 15.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game and helped the Broncos reach their first NCAA Tournament in 30 years, a kind of production NC State could use quickly if this new version of the team is going to take hold. [Read more 🡒]