Wolfpack Rushing Defense Haunted by Big Plays in Losses

The North Carolina State defense has seen its fair share of ups and downs early on in the 2025 season. Against Duke, it experienced another down when running back Anderson Castle iced the game on a 66-yard touchdown run to seal the Wolfpack’s fate in a 45-33 loss in Durham.

THERE GOES ANDERSON CASTLE!!!!! pic.twitter.com/x0hn9BhfMl
— Duke Football (@DukeFOOTBALL) September 20, 2025

It was a third-and-1 when Castle iced the game, bringing up a trend within NC State’s rushing defense. Against Virginia in week two, there were two instances where the Wolfpack defense faced a short-yardage situation against the Cavaliers. NC State fans don’t need a reminder, but in those two instances, Virginia running back J’Mari Taylor rushed for a 39-yard and 66-yard touchdown.

🗣️ J'MARI TAYLOR IS HIM!!

This 66-yard run marks his third rushing TD of the day and ties his career long.

📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/4dH8INoQdB
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) September 6, 2025

Football is the ultimate team sport, and the Wolfpack defense has felt it in the short-yardage situations. The majority of the defense filled the correct gap, but in those two instances, one or two players missed a tackle, springing Taylor open.

In the Castle run, linebacker Kenny Soares Jr. didn’t fill the correct gap and got washed down in the traffic, opening up a wide-open hole for Castle to spring through.

Sep 20, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren reacts to a call during the fourth quarter against the Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images | Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

“It’s frustrating,” head coach Dave Doeren said after the game. “That was a short-yardage situation … I’ll have to see the film to see what happened on that play. I couldn’t see it from my vantage point. But you’re definitely going to be in a loaded box in that situation at that time in the game. You have to be. They’re going to run the football, and you’ve got to win your gap, gotta get off blocks, and our unblocked hats have to make tackles. Obviously, that didn’t happen. It’s disappointing. We’ve had three of those this year.”

Throughout four games, the Wolfpack defense has given up 123 rushing yards a game, and it’s been a different story in every game. Against East Carolina and Wake Forest, the defense allowed under 100 rushing yards.

Against Virginia and Duke, it’s a different story, with the unit giving up over 100 in each of those matchups. It’s been an up-and-down road for the Wolfpack defense, but there is a chance to find solid ground again against Virginia Tech in Raleigh this weekend.

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