Brandon Cleveland: "I Just Love What He's Done With The Defense"

Check out what all NC State defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland had to say at the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff.

NOTE: Click the video above to watch the interview.

What kind of advice can you give them? What advice do you give them?
If you want NIL, I mean, keep the main thing the main thing. Be the best player you can be. An opportunity is going to create it for itself. So, come in focused, work hard, and all that's going to take care of yourself. Don't get distracted with NIL. 

Why was NC State the right fit for you? 

I mean, I was obviously committed to Miami before. Decommitted. NC State was recruiting me constantly. Got there, and there was just nothing but love and a good feeling. It's been great ever since. 

How has coach been to you? 

Treating me like his own son. 

What's been going on this summer to counteract that? 

It was my last year, so I'm taking it very personal. I'm just trying to get the best out of the guys and have the best year possible. 

Where's the growth opportunity for you as an individual? 

I would say leadership. I could be a better leader, and I think the team needs that from me. I think that will make us a way better team. 

Do you see a group that listens? Do you speak up, for example? 

Yes, I think guys do listen to me. I mean, obviously being a veteran player, I've been around on this and things, so I think I get the attention of the room. 

What would be an ideal season for you guys? 

Go undefeated and win the ACC championship. 

You're taking that mindset? 

That's my mindset.
 

Brandon, just for two new coordinators, what has it been like just getting in on your side of the ball? 

Coach Eliot is great. I just love what he's done with the defense. He loves d-line, he loves me, and I love him. It's been going great, and I wouldn't want any other way. 

You rematched right off the bat with the team. You're just playing the ball game. What's that going to be like on August 28th? 

I take every game the same, but obviously it's going to be a little more juicy. We'll see August 28th when we play. 

Just the way that game ended last year, how much has that been on your mind, fueling you this offseason? 

Obviously you don't want to end the game that way. It wasn't the best way to end it, but I'm looking forward. I'm excited to go out there with my team and play and beat up on ECU. 

Brandon, I know that with DJ Eliot and the new system, I don't want you to give me state secrets or nothing like that, but coming out of a 3-3-5 that's a lot more linebacker friendly to a hybrid front that's a little bit more defensive line friendly, are you looking at being more of a nose or a three-technique or a four-eye? What's the deal there?
I'm looking at being very versatile, getting on the edges, getting one-on-one opportunities and just lining up everywhere and attacking in every different type of way. 

Okay, and replacing a guy like Davin, right? He was the edge rusher most times last year. He set a school record for forced fumbles and all that type of thing. How do you replace that production in terms of the defensive line and the pass rush from the edge rushers that are linebackers as well? And who are some names that we should look for to step up this season? 

I mean, we have great coaches, so it's going to come down to development. Coach Wiles, Coach Shaw, Coach Hewitt, they're great. We've got young guys coming in, but yeah, Davin is a great player. As an interior D lineman, you want those type of outside edge rushers, and I think Isaiah Shirley, Chase Bond, Josh Alexander-Felton, Omarian, Adrian, all the guys we've got coming in and all the transfer guys are going to step up in a huge role and make an impact because they're hungry. 

Tell us a little bit about your relationship with Caden Fordham and getting a guy like that back this year off of injury. 

I mean, Caden Fordham is great. I mean, he's a middle linebacker. I'm the nose. So, I mean, we play hand-in-hand, and we complement each other's games. So to get him back is just amazing. I mean, we did great things last year when we were in together, and I'm looking forward to it this year. 

You mentioned the rivalry with y'all in ECU. Carolina adding Bill Belichick, Duke coming off a good season. Do you think there's something like a rising tide raising all boats with those teams?

No, I take every game the same. I don't really look at it as a rivalry too much. I mean, obviously, it's a little more fun those games, but I don't really see it as too much of a rivalry. 

What would you say is your favorite thing about Coach Wiles? 

Just his personality and how he loves and cares for his guys. 

What do you want the defense's identity to be this season? 

Just fast and fierce and just hungry. When you cut on that tape, you'll just know the standard at which we play at. 

Would you say that the season has to be a championship-winning one to be a success? Yes, I think so. That's the standard we're going to hold ourselves to. 

Tell me about the opposing offensive line that you stayed as, a couple of returning pieces and also a couple of new coaches. What's it been like going up against them?
It's been great. I mean, as you get older and older, to still stay hungry and have that good competition is just a great feeling. Jalen Grant has been great competing with him every day. We brought in Teague Anderson. He's amazing. We've got Peak coming back, Anthony Carter coming back. We've got Kamen Smith stepping up. I'm excited and looking forward to them. We've also got Isaac Spike. He's a great player. He's young and he's hungry, and I'm excited to work with him too. 

What's it been like to see some of the younger guys that know tackle like Victor?
It's exciting to be a leader and watch them grow and follow my footsteps and eventually be starters one day. All I want to do is lead the plate better than I've done before. 

Does it seem like your career has gone fast? At one point you were committed to Miami, you moved up to NC State, you were a defensive end, and now look at you all these years later. How much have you changed, basically? 

Just sitting here is crazy to even be here. It's gone by fast, and I'm grateful for it. I trusted the process, and it worked out for me so far. 

What kind of impact has Coach Thunder had on you? 

Coach Thunder has made an impact on me in the weight room. You spend the most time with your strength coach, so just being around him all the time, just developing as a man and a person on and off the field, he's been great. 

I don't think you were able to play with him, but have you ever interacted with Alim McNeill? 

Yes, I've interacted with him. He also sent me a jersey, so shout out to him. That's someone I look up to. To come to NC State, play in those tactics, do three years and leave, that's something that every person in my position wants to do. 

Yeah, Pat Crowe's with you, interacting with him.

Yeah, Bradley Chubb, Larrell Murchison, they've all come back. It's good to see those guys. 

How much does that help when you see role models, I guess, in that way? It's very motivating because those guys wear my shoes, and it just motivates me to know that I can do the same thing and that's what I want to do, so it's great. 

Has your role changed much with DJ Elliot? Or is he pretty much the same for you? You'll have to see. Stay tuned. 

In what ways have you become a better man being at NC State, and do you think NC State's got you to where you wanted to be when you made that decision?
Just coming in from high school as a young freshman, I mean, NC State's helped me grow and mature in so many different ways and just helped me become a leader. I mean, they have all the resources and tools, and they care about you more off the field just as they do on the field. So, I mean, this is the best place in the world in my opinion.