Impact analysis: What DL Brandon Cleveland’s return means for NC State

As the season went along, junior nose tackle Brandon Cleveland seemed to only improve his game. He was consistently making plays — those that show up in the box score and those that don’t — to anchor NC State’s defensive front.  By the time the Wolfpack entered the last three games, looking for just one win to clinch bowl eligibility, Cleveland seemed to hit his stride. He logged 14 total tackles in those three contests, a career-best mark for any three-game stretch of his career.  Now, with Cleveland playing some of his best football in the middle of the Pack’s defensive line, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The nose tackle re-signed with 1Pack NIL and Savage Wolves, the collective announced Tuesday, signaling his return for the 2025 season.  Here’s what retaining Cleveland means for NC State moving forward: