Transfer Edge Rusher Learning What It Means to Play For NC State

RALEIGH — It's not often teams have an opportunity to bring in several contributors from College Football Playoff participants in the same offseason, but NC State took advantage of several such players during the 2026 offseason. One of those new faces added was Harvey Dyson, a talented edge rusher from Tulane who started his collegiate career at Texas Tech.

With a heap of outgoing production on the defensive line, NC State needed proven pass rushers to come in and pick up the slack right away. Dyson should help with that right away, bringing both talent and veteran leadership to a defense in need of some older voices after most of the seniors departed for their next steps. He's embracing the challenge, too.

Watch Dyson's spring camp thoughts

Finding his role with the Wolfpack

Nov 9, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive back Harvey Dyson III (33) in the first half during the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Jones AT& T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images | Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Tulane offered Dyson a sense of rebirth on the football field after never finding his footing at Texas Tech. Now, NC State is a sort of redemption stop for the pass rusher after he tallied 36 tackles, including 11 for loss, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defended with the Green Wave. He shared the same sentiment most newcomers and transfers have after joining the Wolfpack.

"It's a great culture here. We're all family here and I felt that from the beginning," Dyson said. "All my relationships with my teammates, I've built a lot of bonds with these guys already in the short amount of time we've been here, but we're not even to summer training yet... It's just a family environment here and I love it."

The ball comes loose in the red zone and Harvey Dyson comes out the pile with it for @GreenWaveFB 😱@CFBPlayoff 2nd half action up next on TNT, TruTV, TBS & HBO Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/CcfGJUJ7AK
— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) December 20, 2025

Dyson's arrival in Raleigh also marked a reunion with former Red Raider teammate and fellow defensive lineman Joseph Adedire, who transferred to NC State as a redshirt junior. Now, the pair will line up with one another once again, continuing a trend of the Wolfpack looking for direct connections between players in the transfer portal to jump-start the chemistry-building process.

"I had a few conversations with him before I actually came on a visit here," Dyson said of Adedire. "Hearing some good stuff from him, just asking him how stuff was here, it definitely helped and played a part in my decision to come here."

NC State player — Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack takes to the field during the warmups of the game against North Carolina Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

The Tulane transfer offers defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot an immediate replacement for his JACK linebacker spot, which is a role similar to the outside linebacker position in the NFL that has players drop back into coverage and rush the passer for the majority of the team. Being a game wrecker is Dyson's job and Eliot presented the role to him in that way.

"When I first entered the transfer portal, coach Eliot was the first person to contact me from here," Dyson said. "I was on the phone with him for over an hour and he was just explaining the plan he had in place for me... A lot of schools I talked to, they told me about how good I was and what I was able to do, but coach Eliot, he made it short and simple for me, just telling me what I could work on and that's what I'm all about, just getting better."