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1:36Biggest Takeaways From Day 1 Of 2026 NFL Draft
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3:08NC State DT Isaiah Shirley meets with the media towards the end of Spring Camp
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2:42NC State WR Jojo Trader meets with the media towards the end of Spring Camp
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2:06NC State RB Duke Scott meets with the media towards the end of Spring Camp
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3:49NC State DC DJ Eliot meets with the media towards the end of Spring Camp
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3:27NC State HC Dave Doeren meets with the media towards the end of Spring Camp
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3:08NC State LB Harvey Dyson discusses transferring to NC State during Spring Practice
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3:33NC State QB CJ Bailey meets with the media during Spring Camp
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3:28NC State OC Kurt Roper gives an update on Spring Camp
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4:02NC State HC Dave Doeren meets with the media during Spring Camp
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1:53What the Commitment of Legacy QB Gunner Rivers Means for NC State in the 2027 Class
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3:12Breaking Down NC State Commit Gunner Rivers' Game with 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins
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3:49Where Things Stand With NC State, Gunner Rivers Heading Into Spring Visits
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2:59NC State HC Dave Doeren discusses his former players playing in Super Bowl LX
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3:54Former NC State LB Drake Thomas discusses preparations for Super Bowl LX
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3:25How Texas Transfer OL Daniel Cruz Changes the Wolfpack's Offensive Line Room for 2026
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3:07How Impactful NC State Adding Tulane Transfer EDGE Harvey Dyson is for 2026 Defense
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2:34What NC State Football is Getting in UNC Transfer RB Davion Gause
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1:49NC State signing Georgia transfer DB Ondre Evans provides depth, key corner for future
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1:56Why NC State football signing Penn State transfer King Mack is massive for 2026 season
Draft Scouting Report
Pro Comparison: JJ Pegues
Summary
Brandon Cleveland is a powerful, high-energy defensive lineman who serves as a reliable anchor in the middle of the defense. Using a thick base and low center of gravity, he excels at holding his ground against physical blockers and pushing the pocket. While he relies more on strength and a relentless motor than a wide array of moves, his ability to disrupt running lanes makes him a consistent interior presence.
About
- 2025: 36 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks (13 games)
- Family: Cousin Tyrie Cleveland (2020 seventh-round pick, Broncos)
Strengths
- Powerful bull rush capable of collapsing the interior pocket.
- Stout at the point of attack with a strong lower body.
- Heavy hands used effectively to disengage and plug running lanes.
Weaknesses
- Struggles to maintain position against double-team blocks.
- Lacks a diverse array of refined pass-rush moves.
- Can occasionally lose leverage on wide lateral run plays.
Combine Data
- 40-yard dash: 5.12 seconds
Top Brandon Cleveland News
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Raiders' Brandon Cleveland: Reeled in by Raiders
The Raiders selected Cleveland in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 229th overall.
Cleveland was a distinguished two-gap tackle for North Carolina State, and one way or another he should prove a useful enough pick for the Raiders this late. The concern with Cleveland's NFL projection is that at 6-foot-3, 307 pounds, he doesn't have as much natural anchor as you'd like in a nose tackle, especially given Cleveland's lack of explosiveness otherwise. Cleveland has only one calling card -- eating interior blocks to crowd the ground game -- but it's not clear if his anchor will set well enough to play as well in the NFL as it did in college.
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Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-4, 315 lbs |
| Birthplace: Tampa, FL |
| Age: 21 |