The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538921
TRACKING THE PACK 14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN L ess than 24 hours after returning to Raleigh from the ACC Kickoff media event in Charlotte in July, NC State senior defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland was ready to entertain a different crowd. The Wolfpack nose tackle, who has a passion for giving back to his community any way he can, stood in front of nearly 200 elementary and middle school stu- dents at the Boys & Girls Club in Raleigh, ready to hand out backpacks stuffed with school supplies. Cleveland organized the drive through Pack United, an NC State student-ath- lete-led nonprofit organization. At the event, which he funded with his own NIL money, he was joined by redshirt sopho- more defensive end Isaiah Shirley and a few other football teammates on the de- fensive line, along with representatives from the NC State softball, track and field, women's soccer and women's bas- ketball teams. The midafternoon charitable event wasn't for the cameras, of which there were very few present. However, it did of- fer a small glimpse into the kind of person Cleveland is when he's not hunting op- posing quarterbacks or clogging up run- ning lanes at the line of scrimmage. "I grew up in a single-parent house- hold, so I love to give back," he said. "I de- pended on the community. They did a lot for me. The least I could do is give back. "Raleigh has been great to me, always showing love, always showing support. That's the bare minimum that I could do." Cleveland is always looking for ways to impact Raleigh, a community he has adopted as his own through his first three years at NC State. The Tampa, Fla., native has frequented Moore Square to hand out pizzas to those in need, and he also helped raise $10,000 for the Feed the Pack pan- try, which helps address on-campus food insecurity at NC State. Cleveland was inspired to assist oth- ers after seeing the help that his mother received when he was growing up and needed rides to and from practice ses- sions and other events. The good deeds that his youth coaches, Charles Reed and Marshall McDuffie, did for Cleveland led to him wanting to do the same when he had a platform of his own. Thanks to his success at NC State and the changing nature of player compen- sation in college sports, Cleveland has that income and is determined to put it to good use. "For some guys, NIL is a shopping spree," he said. "But I use it to help do what I'm passionate about — giving back. I'm happy to pay it forward." Whether he's handing out backpacks to a crowd of eager children or helping feed the homeless, Cleveland aims to relieve stress in others' lives. He takes immense pride in doing so, and the work helps clear his mind. "I forget about all my problems and worries, and I just get to put someone else's worries on my shoulders," he said. "It just makes me feel good that I can sit down and talk to someone and help them in any type of way." Cleveland's community work has earned him several honors. He's been nominated for the 2024 and '25 All- state Good Works Teams, the 2024 Ja- son Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and the 2024 Wuerffel Trophy. However, awards aren't what motivate him. Instead, he is striving to set an ex- ample for those who will follow. If he can impact the next generation of com- munity-minded young people, then it was a successful event. And at the same time, Cleveland has used these community interactions as a way to better himself. "I just want to be the best version of myself I can be," he said. "I only get one life, only one chance. I just want to be the best version of myself, no matter what." ■ Cleveland put together a school supply drive in July, funding the event with his own NIL money. PHOTO BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH SENIOR DEFENSIVE TACKLE BRANDON CLEVELAND " For some guys, NIL is a shopping spree. But I use it to help do what I'm passionate about — giving back. I'm happy to pay it forward." Cleveland