NC State linebacker Sean Brown has been talking a lot about execution, intensity, and doing the little things this season — and his numbers show he's backing up those words.
Through three games in 2025, Brown has totaled an ACC-leading 31 total tackles. He’s also been active behind the line, registering 3.5 tackles for loss already.
“I mean, it really just starts in practice,” Brown said. “Just coming out with that intensity like we did the first game against ECU and just keeping up that intensity during the whole game. We know that we haven’t started the way we have, but we made the adjustments at halftime and just continued to play our brand of ball, and that’s really just execution.”
His play has helped NC State hold momentum in tight spots. After slow starts in some matchups, the defense has looked more like the unit Brown believes it should be post-halftime.
“We all know what we need to fix and we all know that we just need to really go out there and just execute as a team, offense and defense,” he said. “Everybody knows that we haven’t played our best brand of football, but we did put in the work and grind it out and got the win. So we all know that if we come out fast and execute as a team, then we know that we can really put some points on the board and stop them.”
Brown’s role isn’t just making solo tackles; he's often in the right place during passing situations, weaving communication between the coaches and his teammates on the field.
“First it’s the call, and then [Coach Eliot] will kind of tell me the situation,” Brown said. “They’re kind of backed up, he’ll tell me to be aware for this. And then I’m communicating that with the guys out there. But that’s really kind of it. He gives me the call and just what to be aware of.”
He’s also leaned on leadership from all corners of the defense.
“It’s really been everybody,” Brown explained. “All the leaders we have on the team—C.J., Caden, just a whole bunch of other guys—just really talking to each other, their position group or their side of the ball. It’s really getting everybody rallied up just to know that there’s no quit in us. We just keep fighting.”
For Brown, those critical plays late in games come down to trust in the system and in the roles everyone has.
“Honestly, it just really comes down to execution,” he said. “Just staying in your gap and making the plays you’re supposed to make. Just not trying to do somebody else’s job and just doing your job. That’s what we harp on each other about. Because we know that if we all play as one, then nobody can really play with us.”
Next up for Brown and the Wolfpack is a potent Duke offense.
“They have some good players at wide out and some good running backs,” Brown said. “They are very dynamic when they get the ball in their hands. But, we're just really worried about us and really executing.”
What about the rivalry angle?
‘It’s really is just another game,” he said. “Honestly, we don't really see too many people as a rivalry. We just kind of go about it as just really the next game because that's the most important game on the calendar.
“We know that they're a talented group. Their record doesn't really reflect that, but we all know that they're a talented group.”
As NC State continues through the season, Brown’s consistency in tackles, his ability to make stops behind the line of scrimmage (his TFL’s), and his leadership voice (helmet communication, vocal in the huddle) will be critical.
