Davin Vann to return to NC State for senior season

It did not take long for NC State to get good news for the 2024 season after its 28-19 loss to Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday evening. 

Junior defensive lineman Davin Vann decided to return to NC State for his senior season rather than entering the NFL Draft, he posted on Instagram on Friday afternoon. 

Vann, who has spent four seasons with the Wolfpack, logged a career-best 42 total tackles this fall, including seven tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks. He also accounted for one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Vann recorded at least one sack in five different games this season, and he had a 1.5 sack day against Marshall in early-October.

The Cary native posted a season high six tackles against the Thundering Herd and he had a forced fumble in the contest as well. 

Vann logged 34 total quarterback pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus, including a season-most five in the team’s opener at UConn in late-August. He also had four other games with at least three quarterback pressures this season. Vann was able to get after opposing signal-callers and he had 22 quarterback hurries during the 2023 campaign. 

The 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive lineman eclipsed the century mark this season in career tackles with 103, which includes 19.5 tackles for a loss and 14 sacks. 

Vann’s decision to return bolsters the Wolfpack’s defensive line heading into the 2024 season, not only with what he can do on the field, but his leadership intangibles as well. Vann served as the signal-caller for the Pack in the Pop-Tarts Bowl since graduate linebacker Payton Wilson opted out of the contest. 

Vann is the first player that was weighing an NFL decision to announce his return to the Wolfpack for next season. It is likely that cornerbacks Aydan White and Shyheim Battle are both mulling their options since the duo has eligibility remaining but are eligible for the NFL Draft.