NC State's Isaiah Shirley named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week

NC State redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Isaiah Shirley was named the ACC’s Defensive Lineman of the Week following his impressive showing in the Wolfpack’s 34-24 win at Wake Forest, the conference announced Monday afternoon.

It’s the first honor of Shirley’s career, while he became the first NC State player to earn a weekly award from the ACC this season.

The Boone, N.C., native was critical in sparking the Wolfpack’s comeback win over the Demon Deacons as he logged a 41-yard interception returned for a touchdown to put the team on the scoreboard after falling behind 14-0. Shirley, who made his first-career start at defensive tackle, finished the game with three total tackles, including one solo stop, and his first-ever interception at the college level in just 27 defensive snaps.

“It’s a surreal feeling to be honest,” Shirley said of his pick-six postgame. “It’s always good when you can make a momentum shift, and I feel like that play did that.”

In addition to Shirley winning an ACC award for his effort, he was the highest-graded defensive player in the country with a 94.4 mark from Pro Football Focus (minimum 20 plays) this past week. It was the best grade any Wolfpack player has received this season, while it was the highest rating of Shirley’s young collegiate career.

Shirley has recorded five total tackles, including the one solo stop, through NC State’s first three games this fall. He has now logged 23 total tackles with three for a loss, an interception, a pass defended and a forced fumble in his first 15 college games.

ACC Weekly Awards: Week 3

QB: Haynes King, Georgia Tech
RB: Micah Ford, Stanford
WR: Darrell Gill Jr., Syracuse
OL: Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
DL: Isaiah Shirley, NC State
LB: Mikai Gbayor, North Carolina
DB: Omar Daniels, Georgia Tech
K: Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech
Rookie: QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal