The most-experienced player at each position of NC State’s defense heading into 2026 season

The Wolfpacker FootballOct 11, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; NC State Wolfpack defensive back Asaad Brown Jr. (26) intercepts a pass in the end zone against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images NC State’s defense had several key players from each level of its unit exhaust their eligibility after last fall, leading to a critical offseason for coordinator D.J. Eliot. The 2026 roster, however, is filled with a mix of returning players and transfers that all have the same mindset — to win the program’s first ACC title since 1979. With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at who the most-experienced player is at each position going into the new campaign. For consistency’s sake, each player awarded the title as most-experienced at their respective position was based on their total snaps played in the 2025 season. Let’s dive into the defense.