Aguirre Turns Heads With Leadership and Talent at NC State

RALEIGH — With so many key members of the defense either graduating or leaving for different opportunities, NC State needed to find some experienced replacements in the transfer portal. Linebacker Raul "Popo" Aguirre already had some connections to the Wolfpack program and decided it was the right place for him to spend his final season at the collegiate level.

"I've always loved this place," Aguirre said. "It was just a great process, coming here and meeting some of the players and now I'm here and I'm excited."

A bold move with family ties

Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Miami Hurricanes linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr. (10) celebrates after defeating the Mississippi Rebels during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

On Jan. 19, 2026, Aguirre suited up as a member of the Miami Hurricanes for the last time in the national championship against Indiana. He left the program to pursue transfer portal opportunities just a few days after. Aguirre's younger brother, Markel, was a member of the 2026 recruiting class at NC State as a defensive back. Popo decided it was time to reunite the Aguirre brothers.

"I'm very close with him," Popo Aguirre said of his brother. "I Facetimed him during all those things when he was here. I've known Duke Scott since I was younger. I played high school ball up in Georgia, so I've known him since I was 10 and he was a little younger. I've known some of the guys and I've always loved the area."

Carter-Finley Stadium crowd — Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack fans with signs during the first half of the game against North Carolina Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Aguirre's bold decision to leave a program shortly after a deep College Football Playoff run wasn't just about family and friends. It was about opportunity, too. Not just opportunities to play more, but also to get the college experience to the fullest, something he felt like he missed out on at times at Miami.

"I was at Miami three years ago when we came up here my freshman year. We lost here in 2023," Aguirre said. "I got to see that (Carter-Finley Stadium) was one of the loudest stadiums I've ever played in, really. Just the environment, I remembered that, so I wanted to be a part of it too."

Bringing CFP pedigree to Raleigh

Over his three seasons with the Hurricanes, Aguirre worked his way into a larger role, finishing the 2025 campaign as one of the team's top rotation linebackers. He racked up 43 total tackles during the campaign, but coaches raved about his leadership and communication skills. He's brought both of those things to Raleigh, instantly earning trust for the Wolfpack staff.

"Popo is really good against the run. Popo has great leadership ability. He's eager to learn. He really wants to be a guy that people can follow and I've been really pleased with him," NC State defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said.

Nov 15, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren watches from the sideline against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

With Caden Fordham, Sean Brown and Kenny Soares all gone after the 2025 season, the entirety of the Wolfpack's linebacker production walked out the door. That made that position group highly questionable for head coach Dave Doeren, forcing him to look harder for talented linebackers to pick up the slack. His moves so far seem to be impressing him, with Aguirre at the top of the list.

Next in line?

NC State's strong lineage of linebackers has been talked about extensively over the last few years of the Doeren era. From Payton Wilson and Drake Thomas to Bradley Chubb, the program has quietly become a factory for producing players at those positions ready for the next level. One of those program icons, Isaiah Moore, is now Aguirre's position coach for the Wolfpack. The opportunity to be the next name on that list appealed to Aguirre as he considered NC State.

"I came my freshman year and played against Payton," Aguirre said. "I started on special teams in my freshman year and played a little bit towards the end, but I came here seeing Payton Wilson. Every step... Even him drinking water on the sidelines, I was looking at everything he did because he was a dog, man."

As the sport steams toward a more professional version of itself, NC State remains built around family values and loyalty to the program as a whole. Thomas, Moore and Wilson all hang around the Wolfpack during the NFL offseason, helping out in different ways, with Moore joining the staff. Aguirre has embraced that wholeheartedly.

"It's a great program. Great linebacker history," Aguirre said. "Most importantly, my inside linebacker coach (Isaiah Moore) has been doing a great job, as he played with those guys. He's just pushing, not just me, but really the whole linebacker group. Like I said, this is not about me whatsoever, it's about the team."