The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536961
JULY/AUGUST 2025 ■ 27 Cleveland started making the posts back in high school at the encourage- ment of one of his coaches, known as "Coach KJ." "He told us that everything we do in life, we should win it," Cleveland re- called. "A meal isn't just a meal, it's a chance to win. So, if you have a good meal, you're winning the meal. And when you're winning, that makes you always want to have a good meal, and it becomes a mentality. "When I would work out, I would say, 'I don't want to lose a workout, so I need to make sure I win it every time.'" The role of nose tackle is not necessar- ily a glamorous one. In fact, Cleveland's spot is not just in the trenches, he digs the trenches. "I do the dirty stuff that no one else wants to do," he laughed. "I would de- scribe myself as gritty, but I also want to be a violent player." The senior started every game at the nose spot last season, playing 588 snaps and showing vast improvement over the course of the campaign. He tallied 36 total tackles and 5 quarterback hurries. He also did something that almost re- minded him of his early days in the sport of football. "When I was growing up, I was just bigger than everybody," Cleveland re- called. "When I played football, even though I played on the offensive and de- fensive line, if we ever needed a touch- down, they would just hand the ball off to me and I could score easily." It wasn't quite as simple for the big guy last season versus Northern Illinois. With the Wolfpack holding a 21-14 lead early in the third quarter, he recovered a fumble caused by his teammate Davin Vann at the NIU 2-yard line and could smell paydirt. This time, however, he only made it to the 1 before he was tackled. (The Pack of- fense took care of the rest, reaching the end zone three plays later.) Despite being unable to relive his for- mer glory days of scoring every time he touched the football, he is quite content in his role. "I just love everything about playing football," said Cleveland, a native of New York City who moved to Tampa when he was a kid. "I can just go out on the field and be free and not have to worry about anything." He started playing the sport that would become his calling when he was just 4 years old. His father, Willie, was a former player, and one day he took his son to play for a local little league team, the Valrico Rams. "Ever since my dad introduced me to the game, I have loved it," Cleveland said. Although Dad gets the credit for start- ing him in the sport, Cleveland's mom, Sonia Dickens, had more of an influence on the type of player he is today. "My mom was a single mom who did whatever she needed to provide for me and my brother," he said. "And she was super tough. She didn't baby me. My brother and I fought a lot, and she didn't break it up. She was a nurse and worked 12-hour shifts, so we had to work it out for ourselves." Cleveland also spent a good bit of time with his grandparents, Joan and Frank Dickens. "My grandpa and grandma lived about 10 minutes away, and my mom would drop me off at their house," Cleveland said. "They gave me responsibilities and helped me become self-sufficient. I would have to make my meals or help cut the grass." One of his other passions was also born while he was still young: helping others. "When I was a kid, we would drive by Walmart or somewhere and see people outside with a sign asking for help," he recalled. "I never could understand why, when there were so many people who had so much, that there had to be people who didn't have anything. I decided then and there that when I had the oppor- tunity, either with money or with time, that I would try to do as much as I can do." In high school, if Cleveland drove by someone in need, he would stop to help, offering a dollar or a piece of clothing. "Whatever I had in my car, I would give to them," he said. His platform got a little bigger when he arrived in Raleigh. "When I got here, I had more money and more resources, and there were more people trying to help," he explained. "If I'm about 'win the meal,' shouldn't ev- erybody have a nutritious meal? Every- one should eat." He saw some posts online from the owner of Johnny's Pizza, who handed out food in downtown Raleigh on Mondays. During his sophomore year, Cleveland began helping out. His passion also led him to raise money for the Feed the Pack Pantry on NC State's campus. He donated $1,000 of his own money and then challenged oth- ers to donate as well. Soon, he was able to increase that contribution to $10,000. His kindness and generosity off the field seem diametrically opposed to the guy who wants to be known as violent once he hits the turf. "I flip the switch," he said. "Off the field, I think I'm a caring person who wants to put others before myself. I'm a mellow teddy bear. On the field, I can turn into that other person who wants to enforce my will on someone else. I'm violent. "I'm very passionate about both ver- sions of myself." As he heads into his final season with the Wolfpack, Cleveland said he plans to "leave it all out there." "I want to give my all to this team. I want to go out there and dominate and just bring my teammates along with me. I want them to look at me and be like, 'He's doing that, and I want to play like him.'" ■ " I flip the switch. Off the field, I think I'm a caring person who wants to put others before myself. I'm a mellow teddy bear. On the field, I can turn into that other person who wants to enforce my will on someone else. … I'm very passionate about both versions of myself." Cleveland