The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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42 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN opo Aguirre found himself standing inside a blaring C a r te r- Fi n l ey S ta d i u m late in his freshman sea- son. He had aspirations of becoming one of the top middle linebackers in col- lege football when he ar- rived at Miami in 2023, and the Hur- ricanes' road trip to NC State offered a chance to take another step toward that goal … but not through his per- formance on the field. The real benefit of that game was that it gave him an up-close look at one of the nation's best linebackers. Aguirre, who played 10 special teams snaps in NC State's 20-6 win over his Miami squad, studied everything Wolf- pack standout Payton Wilson did that day, from how he tracked down ball car- riers to how he stayed hydrated on the sideline. For a freshman linebacker like Aguirre, it was a master class in how to evolve his game from good to great. At the time, Wilson was putting together a résumé that would earn him the Bednarik and Butkus awards. Aguirre was determined to glean as much as he could from the Pack's standout linebacker. "I was looking at everything he did," Aguirre said with a laugh. "He was a dawg." Three seasons later, Aguirre is looking to step into the very shoes that Wilson wore in NC State's defense. The Pack brought him to Raleigh via the transfer portal this past January, eyeing him as the successor to Caden Fordham, who exhausted his eligibility after leading the ACC in tackles last fall. NC State has a long history of success- ful linebackers, including Super Bowl champion Drake Thomas, current posi- tion coach Isaiah Moore and, of course, Wilson. Aguirre, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior, wants to join that elite group. Seeking Consistency During spring practice, the newcomer carried himself in a way that evoked comparisons to his successful prede- cessors. He was all about the process, focusing on day-to-day improvement while also preparing to lead the defense around him. Aguirre was a rotational linebacker at Miami last season, playing an integral role in the middle of the Hurricanes' defense. He knows what it takes to make it to the College Football Playoff after taking part in Miami's sprint to the na- tional championship game, a title bid that ended with a 27-21 loss to Indiana in January. For Aguirre, who turned in a career- best 43 tackles last fall, it's all about getting back to playing for the crown. He transferred to NC State believing that was possible. But to reach the pin- nacle of college football, a methodical mindset will be needed, and he was looking to bring that to the entire Wolf- pack defense this spring. "Just installing that demeanor of winning, nothing but winning," was a priority, Aguirre said. "That starts off every day — how we practice, how we eat, how we sleep, all those things." Finding a way to connect with each of his teammates has always been a criti- cal part of Aguirre's leadership style, and he brought it with him from Coral Gables to Raleigh this spring. One of the qualities he has looked to impart — one that proved vital during the Hurricanes' 17-game 2025 season — is consistency. "It's an everyday thing. Everybody is going to practice every day. What are we going to do to make our practice different?" he said. "It's about doing those little things right. Everybody talks about that, but what does that actually mean? Coming in here every day, tak- ing care of your body — it's going to get boring, but it's consistency. That's what it takes to win." Setting An Example Aguirre knows the team comes first. He's focused on the big picture, hop- ing to use his experience as one of the defense's most veteran players to his advantage for his last campaign. His approach won him plenty of ad- mirers this spring. Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren, who is entering his 14th season at the helm of the program, noted that Aguirre has "a really good command presence when he talks on the field." P FOLLOW FOLLOW THE THE LEADER LEADER Transfer Linebacker Popo Aguirre Steps Into A Key Role For The NC State Defense " The biggest thing is just buying in. Whoever would have thought Indiana would have made it to the national championship? A whole bunch of guys just bought in. Right now, we're focused on the little things, coming to work every day, doing our stuff so people can see. And, most importantly, winning some games." Aguirre