NC State’s 35-31 loss at Vanderbilt produced one of those snap-count sheets that tells a much different story than the depth chart did on paper.
The clearest constant was out wide. Cornerbacks Jaren Sensabaugh and Brian Nelson II were on the field for every one of the Wolfpack’s 65 defensive snaps, handling the heaviest load in a secondary that spent plenty of time under pressure. Sensabaugh and Nelson were the only NC State defenders to never come off the field.
Behind them, the rotation opened up fast. Popo Aguirre led the linebackers with 55 snaps, while Harvey Dyson III was right behind him at 52. Jackson Vick handled the nickel spot for 48 snaps, and NC State kept cycling through safeties, with Ronnie Royal III at 41, Tristan Teasdell at 38, King Mack at 27 and Brody Barnhardt at 24.
One of the biggest surprises came up front, where Chase Bond ended up leading the defensive ends with 37 snaps even though he did not start. Adrian Farrow got the first start of his career, but his night was brief by comparison, as he played just 10 snaps.
Joseph Adedire, who was listed at the top of the depth chart before the game, played 17. Colby Cronk also hit a personal best, logging 20 snaps for the most he has played in a game during his NC State career.
The JACK spot had its own twists. Dyson started there and finished with 52 snaps, the second-most among NC State’s front seven.
On the other side, Ke’Von Carter picked up the first start of his career after spending his first 15 collegiate games as a reserve, but he played only 15 snaps. Sophomore Josh Warren Jr. also saw a larger role, reaching a career-high 12 snaps.
At linebacker, the biggest pregame surprise turned out to be Jordan Moreta. The true freshman got the start at WILL even though he was listed as NC State’s third-string MIKE linebacker on the depth chart.
His actual workload was limited to 10 snaps. Bailey Benson, who was listed as the starter at WILL, played 34 snaps, more than three times Moreta’s total.
LaCorian Hodge remained a steady part of the mix as well, finishing with 22 snaps.
The nose guard rotation also didn’t match the depth chart. Josiah Victor was listed as the starter, but KaTron Evans got the nod when NC State took the field and ended up leading the position with 26 snaps.
Victor played 19. Omarian Abraham, who started against Richmond despite being listed third at nose guard on the depth chart, was on the field for just one defensive snap against Vanderbilt.
Elsewhere on the line, Isaiah Shirley played 25 snaps, AJ Prim 20 and Josiah Victor’s 19 added to the front’s heavy rotation. Ty White logged 17 snaps at corner, while Joseph Adedire and Ke’Von Carter each handled time on the edge, along with Adrian Farrow, Elijah Satchell, Sterling Dixon and Omarian Abraham in smaller roles.
In Other News...
NC State Fans Have Every Reason To Debate This Offensive Split
NC States offensive snap counts from the Vanderbilt game offered a clear look at how the staff leaned on certain pieces while trying to find the right balance across the unit. Center Teague Andersen and left guard Yousef Mugharbil were on the field for every one of the 80 offensive snaps, a sign of how much stability the Wolfpack wanted up front, while tight ends Preston Douglas and Hunter Provience both logged career-high workloads as the offense spread the ball around.
The production behind those usage numbers gives the split even more to talk about. Douglas reached career highs in receptions and receiving yards, Keenan Jackson posted career-best marks in catches and touchdowns, and Davion Gause made his touches count in the run game. For a team still sorting out how best to distribute snaps and chances, Vanderbilt left NC State with enough promising signs to keep the conversation going. [Read more 🡒]
NC States Next Three Games Will Say A Lot About This Team
After the loss in Nashville, NC State heads into a stretch that should tell a lot about where this team really stands. Appalachian State comes in unbeaten but with some penalty issues of its own, Louisville is fresh off a high-scoring win over SMU, and Wake Forest has already shown it can make life difficult for itself with a sloppy showing against Miami.
For the Wolfpack, this is the kind of three-game run that can either steady a season or expose where the holes are. Each opponent brings a different kind of challenge, and NC States past results against them only add to the intrigue as the Wolfpack tries to get back on track and navigate a revealing part of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
NC State Just Added Another Weapon In The Facility Arms Race
NC State has pushed further into the modern college football arms race with a renovation inside the Murphy Center that turned the third-floor dining hall into a world-class fueling center. Completed in 2026, the project modernized the kitchen and dining spaces with an eye toward student-athlete health, recovery and performance, giving the program another upgraded corner of its football operation.
Now the focus shifts from the renovation itself to how the school plans to monetize it. NC State is seeking board approval to sell naming rights to the refreshed space for $2 million, with the money earmarked for the Carter-Finley Capital Fund, a move that shows how facility upgrades and fundraising increasingly go hand in hand in Raleigh. [Read more 🡒]