Alabama transfer LB Sterling Dixon commits to NC State

Alabama transfer linebacker Sterling Dixon committed to NC State out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Dixon, a true freshman this past season with the Crimson Tide, will have four years of eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Dixon had just one tackle over three games in 2024, qualifying for a redshirt.

Dixon played high school football at Mobile (AL) Spanish Fort, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 209 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Auburn and LSU were two other programs going after Dixon coming out of high school. Both made serious pushes despite his commitment to Alabama. LSU’s was earlier in the cycle while Auburn went hard right before national signing day.

Dixon is NC State’s ninth 2025 addition out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, joining fellow linebackers AJ Richardson (Norfolk State) and Tra Thomas (Temple), cornerbacks Jamel Johnson (Temple) and Jaren Sensabaugh (Missouri), offensive linemen Teague Andersen (Utah State), Jalen Grant (Purdue) and Brock Stukes (North Carolina A&T), and tight end Cody Hardy (Elon).

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

Report: NC State hiring D.J. Eliot as defensive coordinator

NC State is expected to hire D.J. Eliot as its next defensive coordinator, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Monday. Eliot was most recently the linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.

Prior to that, he was also a defensive coordinator at Kentucky, Colorado, Kansas and Temple. He takes over a Wolfpack defense coming off of a 6-7 season.

NC State ranked as the No. 88 overall defense and No. 103 scoring defense this past season. The hired of Eliot comes just after offensive coordinator Robert Anae was fired, and the Wolfpack will have to get to work finding another new coordinator.

Eliot also brings ACC experience, having worked as an assistant at Florida State under Jimbo Fisher. Additionally, he was a graduate assistant at Miami in 2002.

Chandler Vessells contributed to this report.