With the 2025 NFL Draft later this week, NC State football boasts an elite group of prospects hoping to hear their name called.
The Wolfpack has produced 179 NFL Draft picks since 1985 — most recently former linebacker Payton Wilson and center Dylan McMahon in 2024. Here’s how its top 2025 prospects stack up.
Anthony Belton
Pos: OT Height: 6’6” Weight: 336 Broad Jump: 8’11” 10-yard split: 1.82
After two seasons of junior college, graduate tackle Anthony ‘Escalade’ Belton became a staple for NC State football, anchoring the offensive line for three years as a starter.
Listed at 6-foot-6, 336 lbs, Belton wreaked havoc on opposing game plans with punishing strength and an elite blend of arm length and heavy hands. The Tallahassee, Florida native provided head coach Dave Doeren with a seamless transition from former NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu, who was picked sixth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Belton projects as a mid-to-late Day 2 selection for a team that values his upside. His elite size and power make him an ideal fit for a zone-based scheme, but technical refinement — particularly in footwork and hand placement — will determine whether he develops into a long-term starter at tackle or transitions inside to guard. With the right coaching, he can outperform his draft slot and become a key piece on an NFL offensive line.
Read Belton’s full profile here.
Davin Vann
Pos: DE Height: 6’2” Weight: 280
Despite years of standout production for NC State football, graduate defensive end Davin Vann enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of its most overlooked prospects.
Vann proved his worth to head coach Dave Doeren over five years in Raleigh. The Cary, North Carolina native exhibited constant improvement, culminating in an All-ACC 2024 campaign in which he forced an ACC-leading six fumbles along with a career-high 6.5 sacks.
Vann donned the No. 1 jersey his fourth and fifth years in Raleigh, an honor bestowed on a player who “exhibits an elite work ethic in practice and training habits, while also leading his teammates.”
Vann projects as a mid-to-late Day 3 selection for a team looking to add a high-energy, scheme-versatile defensive lineman to its depth chart. His athleticism, leverage and strength let him punch above his weight, but a lack of length and refined pass-rush moves could cap his upside as a three-down player.
Were he to land in a system that values hybrid fronts and develops his technique, he has the potential to carve out a role as a rotational piece. His leadership and work ethic should help him outperform his draft slot and stick on an NFL roster.
Read Vann’s full profile here.
Aydan White
Pos: DB Height: 6’0” Weight: 189
Few college football cornerbacks in recent memory can match the resume of NC State’s Aydan White, solidifying his legacy in Raleigh with nine career interceptions.
The Asheville, North Carolina native earned first team All-ACC honors in 2022 and followed it up with a third-team selection in 2023. He didn’t allow a touchdown either season, showcasing remarkable coverage skills and disciplined technique. White became the first NC State cornerback to earn All-ACC honors since David Amerson in 2011.
White enters the NFL Draft as a skilled technician with a standout college career, though his limitations may influence his role at the next level. His openness to taking on a variety of roles, including special teams, will be crucial to his longevity. While he may not be a top-tier prospect, his skill set should earn him a roster spot and could lead to a role for the right partner.
Read White’s full profile here.
Best of the rest
In just one season at NC State, graduate center Zeke Correll earned All-ACC third team honors. Correll will be a priority free agent after a solid Pro Day showing and a standout collegiate career. The Cincinnati, Ohio native spent five years at Notre Dame before transferring.
Like Vann, senior safety DK Kaufman could benefit from some additional height. The star kick returner reportedly ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash at NC State’s Pro Day, though official times were not made available. An NFL role for Kaufman would largely be on special teams. He worked out with the secondary and took limited reps at running back during Pro Day.
Graduate guard Timothy McKay played nearly 2,500 snaps in Raleigh, becoming a 2022 and 2023 semifinalist for the Campbell trophy, which recognizes players for “his academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.” With over 1,000 reps at both right guard and right tackle, McKay’s versatility bodes well for pursuing a roster spot this summer.
The draft begins with the first round Thursday at 8 p.m. and runs through Saturday.
