Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 8-34@ Virginia | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 4 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 73-0vs Richmond | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 6 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#88
Isaiah Shirley
Senior defensive tackle on NC State's 2026 roster.
6′3″ · 280 lb · Boone, NC · Watauga
CFB Index 8 · #417 of 426 edge rushersLow confidenceReturning to NC State for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1 TFL · 6 tackles
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 TFL, 2 tackles, vs Richmond
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 defensive tackle on NC State's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to NC State in 2023.
Isaiah Shirley
Holds up snap after snap without a weakness to attack. Third year in the NC State defensive front, same address the whole way. 2025 brought the first one: ACC Defensive Line Player of the Week. The receipt on tape: 4 tackles against Virginia, Week 1, 2026.
6 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
2023
- Signed with NC State3-star out of Watauga
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
NC State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
NC State
Played his entire career under Dave Doeren.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Dave Doeren — 15-13 over that span.
2024NC State6-7HC: Dave Doeren · Balanced, slow tempo
2025NC State8-5HC: Dave Doeren · Balanced
2026NC State1-1HC: Dave Doeren · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidence
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.5 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Dave Doeren
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Rotational
Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 73–0
vs Richmond
Game log
How he plays
Play style
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
NC State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive tackle · NC State
Returning around him
- 2 NC State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -2 net (20 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
NC State · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #32 · 2026 recruiting class #49
DNA match
Player DNA
Versatile End
No single standout number, but nothing missing either — competent across the board.
IDL
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Trey Wilson’s 2024 season.
Matches Trey on
Height
Class year
Weight
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to RJ Moss Jr.'s sophomore season at South Alabama (2024).
Matches RJ on
Class year
Height
Sack rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Isaiah Shirley
Background
AS A RS-SOPHOMORE (2025): • Will miss spring practice as he recovers from surgery. AS A RS-FRESHMAN (2024): • Saw action in 12 games for the season, missing one due to injury. • Earned his first career start vs. Northern Illinois, he was in for a career-high 38 snaps in the victory. • Notched a c...
The defensive line · NC State
- #92Chase Bond5.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #13Joseph Adedire2 tackles for loss · 2025
- #88Isaiah Shirley1 tackle for loss · 2025
- #47Adrian Farrow0 tackles for loss · 2025
- #99AJ Prim1 game · 2026
5 more on the roster · NC State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology