How NC State S Tristan Teasdell became the latest DB to step up in an injury-riddled secondary

by: Noah Fleischman11/13/25fleischman_noah

Tristan Teasdell Asaad Brown — Nov 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack saftey Tristan Teasdell (19) and defensive back Asaad Brown Jr. (26) tackle Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Malachi Hosley (0) during the first quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

The ball was thrown right at him. Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel was trying to deliver a deep shot to Raphael Williams Jr., but the pass was overthrown and ended up hitting NC State freshman safety Tristan Teasdell in the chest for what appeared to be his first-career interception. But as he caught it, Wolfpack nickel Jackson Vick brought Williams down about five yards away from where the ball ended up. The downfield contact triggered a pass interference call, which not only allowed the Panthers to continue marching into the Pack’s territory, but it wiped Teasdell’s first turnover off the board. Pitt eventually settled for a field goal on that drive, but Vick made sure the first thing he did on the sideline was to apologize to Teasdell. The two have since laughed about it after Teasdell was able to intercept Panthers backup signal-caller Eli Holstein in the final 150 seconds of the 53-34 blowout loss in Week 9 for his first-career turnover forced. Although it seemed like a small moment, that appeared to help build Teasdell’s confidence. After all, the only reason why he was on the field was because redshirt freshman safety Ronnie Royal III went down with an apparent head injury earlier in the game. Teasdell remained in the lineup the following week to earn his first-career start as NC State knocked off then-No. 8 Georgia Tech 48-36 at Carter-Finley Stadium on Nov. 1. The first-year collegiate player logged a season-most 80 snaps -- 73 of which came on defense -- in that victory as he posted four total tackles, including his first two solos of his career. The Leesburg, Va., native has embraced the moment. He’s just the latest addition to NC State’s secondary, which has been a revolving door of talent all season long. The Wolfpack has deployed seven different combinations within the position room that accounts for the team’s free and strong safeties and the nickel due to injury as it travels south to play No. 15 Miami on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ESPN).