The transfer portal never stops in college football, which means NC State football is still making moves to improve its roster. The Wolfpack added a trio of defensive pieces to its roster, bolstering a unit that already has several new faces.
Cian Slone
After enjoying a breakout season at Utah State, senior defensive end Cian Slone is taking his talents to Raleigh. Earning All-Mountain West honors last year, Slone burst onto the scene with 7.5 sacks — more than tripling his 2023 total. A force in pass rush, Slone is another piece for new defensive coordinator DJ Elliot to work with as he looks to revamp the Pack’s pass rush.
Slone is the most notable pickup for the Wolfpack of its recent trio of commitments. As a seasoned pro, Slone should have no problem adjusting to the level of competition in the ACC. Whether he’s a full time starter or simply rotates in for obvious passing situations, expect Slone to be a key piece off the edge, helping replace star defensive end Davin Vann’s production.
Sabastian Harsh
Junior defensive end Sabastian Harsh is a player that should complement Slone well as a quality run defender. Harsh was a consistent contributor over the last two years at Wyoming, racking up 90 tackles over that span. One of NC State’s biggest weaknesses last season was run defense, so bringing in Harsh should help the Pack. He only managed 1.5 sacks last year, raising some concern about his potential to play all three downs, but as an early down run defender Harsh is an exciting pickup.
One thing that held Harsh back at Wyoming was injuries. Suffering multiple knee injuries with the Cowboys — most notably a broken left knee cap — Harsh’s best role will be as a rotational piece rather than an every down player. Given his lack of production in the pass rush, expect him to be utilized on first downs, goal line defense and other likely run plays as a rotational piece.
Kenny Soares Jr.
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. is the latest addition to NC State’s defense. Coming from Northwestern, Soares should be ready to play from day one in the ACC. Under head coach Dave Doeren, the Wolfpack linebacker play has been a consistent strength. However, the Pack struggled at the position last season and has overhauled the room with multiple additions. While Soares may not start in the fall, finding depth at linebacker is critical in case of injuries, missed evaluations and building strong special teams units.
At 6-foot-2 and 231 lbs, Soares is a bigger linebacker that should be effective in stopping the run. In limited action, Soares made 57 tackles at Northwestern over the last two years. In a pinch, Soares should have no issues stepping in at linebacker to help stop the run. Additionally, having a bigger linebacker on special teams that can make plays will always be valuable.
