NC State just added a big, athletic piece to its defense - and it comes in the form of a former top-150 recruit. Linebacker DaKaari Nelson, a 6’3”, 220-pound transfer from Penn State, has committed to the Wolfpack while on an official visit in Raleigh this weekend.
Nelson brings both pedigree and potential. Coming out of high school in the 2023 class, he was a consensus four-star prospect.
Rivals had him ranked as the No. 74 overall player in the country, the No. 3 safety, and the No. 11 player in the state of Alabama - a hotbed for SEC-level talent. That kind of ranking doesn’t come without serious upside, and while his role at Penn State was limited, the tools are clearly there.
He played in 29 games during his time with the Nittany Lions, primarily contributing on special teams. Defensively, he logged 72 total snaps - just two of which came this past season.
But that stat doesn’t tell the whole story. Nelson made a major position switch during his time in Happy Valley, moving from safety to linebacker after packing on over 30 pounds.
That kind of transformation takes time, and it’s clear he was still developing into his new role.
Now, with two years of eligibility remaining, Nelson gets a fresh start at NC State - and a real opportunity to carve out a bigger role on defense.
For the Wolfpack, this is a high-upside addition. Nelson’s size, athleticism, and background as a safety give him the versatility to cover ground in space while still bringing physicality in the box. In today’s game, where hybrid defenders are more valuable than ever, that kind of skillset could be a perfect fit in NC State’s system.
The move also reflects a broader trend in college football: players looking to maximize their impact by finding the right scheme and opportunity. For Nelson, that path now runs through Raleigh - and if he can tap into the potential that made him such a coveted recruit, NC State might’ve just landed a difference-maker.