NC State’s secondary enters fall camp with plenty of upside and just as many questions.
That’s the tension hanging over the Wolfpack as Wednesday morning’s first official practice approaches at 9:15 a.m. After a chaotic 2025 on defense, NC State rebuilt parts of the unit through the transfer portal while also bringing back young players who were forced into action last season. The result is a back end that could become a strength - or get exposed quickly if the wrong pieces don’t come together.
At cornerback, the top end looks promising. Brian Nelson II is positioned as the clear No. 1 after arriving from North Texas before last season and playing more than 600 snaps.
Even in a secondary that struggled across the board a year ago, Nelson kept getting better as the season wore on. Summer reports have only added to the buzz around him, with word that he has been one of the most impressive defensive players on the roster, no matter the position.
The other starting corner spot belongs to Ondre Evans to lose. A former top-100 recruit who originally committed to NC State, Evans has since been through LSU and Georgia, with injuries limiting his time in Athens.
The upside is obvious. The concern is whether he can stay healthy and sharpen the technical side of his game enough to turn that talent into weekly production.
After those two, the room thins out fast. Caden Gordon, now a sophomore, drew positive attention in offseason workouts and could earn a rotational role.
Ty White, a transfer from North Carolina, brings Power Five experience, though he was mostly a depth option in Chapel Hill. That makes the margin for error at corner pretty slim if injury strikes.
Safety looks different, but not necessarily safer. The position has enough bodies; the bigger issue is whether they can develop quickly and hold up physically.
The biggest addition there is King Mack, the Penn State transfer who graded out at 79 across nearly 500 snaps in Big Ten play last season. NC State needs more than his production, though.
Mack is also expected to bring leadership to a secondary that does not have much in the way of long-term starting experience. With Popo Aguirre and Harvey Dyson leading the front seven, Mack is the kind of veteran voice the pass defense needs right away.
Tristan Teasdell and Asaad Brown Jr. both surfaced late last season because the Wolfpack had to lean on them, and both showed enough to keep in the mix. Brown’s value is in his flexibility, since he can move between nickel and safety.
Behind them, Brody Barnhardt and Ronnie Royal III are trying to turn availability and development into real roles. Both redshirt sophomores dealt with injuries last year and had trouble in coverage.
Barnhardt is cleared for fall camp and brings reliable tackling. Royal offers a downhill edge.
For either one to matter in a bigger way, the coverage work has to improve.
The nickel spot is another area NC State has to clean up. Jackson Vick is back as the projected starter after showing toughness and physicality last season, but his sub-50 PFF coverage grade points to a clear weakness.
That matters even more with a schedule that includes elite slot receivers. If Vick can’t make a leap in coverage, it will affect how often NC State can stay in its base 3-3-5 look instead of having to lean on nickel and dime packages.
If the staff needs another option there, Asaad Brown Jr. or a hybrid like Ronnie Royal could slide down into the slot.
And there’s no easing into any of it. NC State opens in Week Zero against Virginia, and the secondary is going to be tested immediately.
The Cavaliers’ quarterback situation is uncertain, but their offensive line is expected to feature up to three All-ACC quality players. That should give Virginia enough time to challenge the Wolfpack’s coverage early, even if NC State’s front six does its part against the run.
As was said on the episode: "This unit has to be good from Week Zero, not Week One. Virginia will test NC State's pass coverage immediately behind a veteran offensive line."
That’s the reality for this group. The ceiling is real if the transfers deliver and the returners take a step. But compared with the more established linebackers and edge rushers, the secondary still carries the lowest floor on the defense as camp begins.
Whether it’s a veteran like Isaiah Crowell or a younger player like Caden Gordon who helps stabilize the depth chart, the first answers will start to come when the pads come on Wednesday morning in Raleigh.
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