The expectations for the NC State defense are primarily that it won’t perform as poorly as it did last season. With a revamped roster of returning players, new transfers, and a fresh coaching staff, the Wolfpack appears to be a stronger unit.
Being improved is one thing, but claiming the title of the best defense in the ACC is another. Several players on the team have expressed confidence that this is within reach for the group.
The most recent to make a confident statement about the NC State defense heading into the 2025 season is linebacker and newly appointed team captain, Sean Brown. With his leadership position secured, Brown displayed strong faith in his teammates, just one week out from the season opener against ECU.
Brown’s Big Bet
Last season, Brown made the shift from safety to the heart of the defense as a linebacker, a transition that came with its challenges for both him and the defense in 2024. Now that he’s settled into the role, Brown feels much more confident about the new defensive unit than he did before.
“We know that we could be the best defense in the country,” Brown said.
Brown’s statement followed closely after fellow linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. praised the Wolfpack defensive line, calling it “one of the best d-lines” in the ACC. As linebackers, their role is to lead and communicate on the field. Confidence is key for leaders, as long as it’s kept in check during the games. Fortunately, the entire group formed a strong bond over the course of spring and fall camp.
“We all believe in each other, and we all believe that, we all bought into the team, into the defense, and so we’re all playing for each other,” Brown said. “It’s not like we all have individual goals but we understand that the team’s success comes with individual success.”
Brown believes that with team mindset, the team can reach his lofty standards of being the best defense in the country.
Becoming an Elite Linebacker
People outside of the program showed belief that Brown’s transition to linebacker is settled when he was named to the Bednarik Award preseason watchlist. The rocky start last season paved the way for tremendous growth.
Brown also has former Wolfpack linebacker and program icon Isaiah Moore barking at him from the sidelines now. Moore took on the role of assistant linebackers coach under first-year defensive coordinator DJ Eliot. Both coaches have backgrounds at the position, giving Brown a wealth of knowledge to steal from. The adjustment from having Moore as a teammate and now as a coach was unique, but Brown came around on it over time.
“He’s a coach, and we treat him like that. We don’t really care how old he is, how young he is,” Brown said. “We understand that he’s a coach and he’s there to get us better, and he has the same goal as us, which is to go win the ACC.”
If the Wolfpack want to be the best defense in the country, Brown will need to prove he’s another one of the great NC State linebackers to come through the program in 2025.
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