NC State just added a major piece to its defense, landing Penn State transfer linebacker Dakaari Nelson. The 6-foot-3, 233-pound defender committed to the Wolfpack during his official visit and didn’t waste any time making it official.
Nelson arrives in Raleigh with two years of eligibility and a versatile background that could give Tony Gibson’s defense some added flexibility. Originally recruited as a four-star safety in Penn State’s 2023 class, Nelson transitioned to linebacker ahead of the 2024 season. That move speaks volumes about his physicality and football IQ-traits that NC State’s defensive staff will no doubt be eager to tap into.
At Penn State, Nelson saw limited action in his freshman year, appearing in just two games and preserving his redshirt. But in 2024, after switching positions, he played in all 14 games and recorded five tackles. He followed that up with another full season of appearances in 2025, contributing primarily on special teams and again tallying five tackles.
While his college production so far has been modest, Nelson’s high school résumé shows why he was such a coveted recruit. At Selma High School in Alabama, he was a four-time team captain and earned first-team all-state honors three times.
As a senior, he filled up the stat sheet with 72 tackles, seven pass breakups, seven interceptions-two of which he returned for touchdowns-a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery he also took to the house. That kind of playmaking earned him a spot in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game and made him one of the most dynamic defensive players in the state.
Now, Nelson becomes the first linebacker and the 14th overall player to join NC State via the transfer portal in the 2026 cycle. His commitment adds depth and potential upside to a linebacker room that’s looking to reload and stay aggressive in Gibson’s 3-3-5 scheme.
His addition also comes at the tail end of a tightly regulated transfer window. The NCAA’s revised portal rules opened the door for transfers on January 2 and closed it on January 16-offering just a two-week window for most players to make moves.
There are exceptions for those who played in postseason games after January 12, who get an extra five-day window following their final game. But overall, the new structure is part of a broader NCAA effort to streamline the transfer process and reduce the chaos of multiple windows throughout the year.
Previously, players had 30 days starting in early December to enter the portal, and there was a secondary 15-day window in the spring. Graduate transfers could move freely through that spring period, but now they’re held to the same 15-day limit as everyone else. Even coaching changes don’t trigger the same freedom they once did-if a new coach is hired after January 2, players only get a 15-day window to transfer, rather than the old 30-day rule.
For NC State, the timing worked out just fine. They got their guy in Nelson, a high-upside athlete with experience at multiple positions and the kind of leadership pedigree that fits right in with the Wolfpack’s culture. He may not have made a huge statistical splash at Penn State, but his tools, versatility, and special teams experience make him a smart addition to a defense that thrives on discipline, speed, and depth.
Keep an eye on Nelson as he settles into Raleigh-he could be a name that makes a bigger impact than the numbers might suggest.