Isaiah Shirley, NC State DT: the 2026 season story
Isaiah Shirley is a senior defensive lineman for NC State (ACC). He ranks 901st of 1,709 defensive linemen in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive lineman on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. Isaiah Shirley's strongest measure is passes defended per game at 0.27, 69th of 892 (the average is 0.08). His weakest is sacks per game at 0.06, 626th of 892 (the average is 0.19).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His tackles per game, 2.6, ranks 331st among 892 ranked defensive linemen.
Against every defensive lineman
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of defensive lineman he is. Among ranked defensive linemen he sits, on average, in the 63rd percentile for volume and 49th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 8 games, Isaiah Shirley's best came in week 5 against Louisville and his quietest in week 3 at Vanderbilt.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. Isaiah Shirley is 546th of 892 FBS defensive linemen and 66th of 101 in the ACC. Next up nationally is Dylan Frazier of Sam Houston, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2024 at NC State, 469th of 951 defensive linemen.
Defensive linemen like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Christian Sampson of Southern Utah.
