The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546417
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2026 ■ 31 Aguirre is a natural-born leader with a gravity that pulls everyone around him into his orbit. That innate ability has helped change the defense's approach over the past seven months going into the 2026 season. Changing The Mindset It didn't take long for Aguirre to es- tablish his approach to setting the tone as a leader with the Wolfpack. In a five- minute media availability earlier in Au- gust, one phrase flowed from his lips more commonly than anything else he uttered from the podium in the Close-King In- door Practice Facility Lobby. "One-day mentality." It sounds like a simple approach on the surface, but in use, it's more com- plex. He's looking to make the most of each day in front of him, not worrying about what is set to come 24 hours later. By maximiz- ing the present, Aguirre believes the next day is impacted positively as a result. And by stacking weeks with that mindset, growth can be astronomical. The mentality of a compounding trajec- tory is exactly what Aguirre wanted the entire defense to use in fall camp before taking that same approach with them into the season. In other words, focusing on the now will take care of the future. "I'm not thinking ahead or anything like that. It's what we're working on right now. What can I do today and what can I correct so tomorrow's bet- ter? What am I going to correct for the next day to look better?" Aguirre said. "Same thing moving forward and as we go into the season. We're not looking ahead. That's the one thing nobody's doing on this team. We're making sure it's a one-day mentality, and we're get- ting 1 percent better every day." When in action, Aguirre's approach can be applied all over the program. He started deploying it in the meeting room, looking to help younger players improve their own game by watching countless hours of tape with them be- fore transferring it onto the practice field. "I know what it takes in regards to the small things that matter," said Aguirre, who was molded by a Miami program that went 30-12 in his three seasons there. "Everybody cares about scoring points and all this or that, but nah, it's what are we doing today? We've got a great schedule coming along, but we're not looking ahead. How can I go against CJ [Bailey]? How can we compete against each other? How can I make him better and he makes me better?" Aguirre is obsessed with the minutiae of the sport. Whether it's tagging off on the back hip of a ball carrier with perfect tech- nique or setting the edge slightly better than the last rep, Aguirre believes growth comes through the tiniest of margins. "The small things that we think aren't critical, they are," he said, "and it's apply- ing that to every day in everything we do." Aguirre — and the rest of the Wolf- pack defense — made sure to utilize that perspective each day throughout their preparation for the new campaign. Never once did they look down the road to what the next day held before han- dling what was in front of them first. Aguirre showed the benefits of that approach in his first game appearance with the Wolfpack. He was credited with 18 tackles against Virginia on Aug. 29, the most by an NC State defender since linebacker Payton Wilson had 19 stops versus Duke in 2020. Palpable Impact It takes a special type of leader to rally an entire side of the football around himself shortly after joining the pro- gram from another ACC school. That, however, is exactly what Aguirre has done since he showed up in Raleigh. "He's really an excellent leader," sophomore defensive tackle Colby Cronk said. "He speaks to the guys from the heart. I think one of the biggest con- tributions he's made is he's made the defense more team-oriented. "That's really important for a football team as a team sport. He's done a great job. I love him as a man and as a football player." I n s i d e l i n e ba c ke rs coa c h I sa i a h Moore, who was a part of setting the standard for NC State's standout play at the position during his own five-year career with the Wolfpack, has a unique viewpoint on Aguirre's standing within the program. He knows what it takes to be an elite leader of a Doeren-coached team, having been the only player to don the No. 1 jersey for three years, and his top student has excelled in guiding the defense since he showed up in Raleigh. "He just has an alpha mentality about him where he just comes in and com- mands a room," Moore said of Aguirre. "He commands the defense. He's an extremely vocal leader, and he's really earned the opportunity to lead these guys with the way he worked in the offsea- son and in camp." Aguirre didn't take a backseat upon his arrival on campus. He was will- ing to learn from others before speaking up, but since finding his voice within the locker room, the former Hurricanes line- backer has been an open book. Aguirre hasn't held back from getting the most out of those that surround him, and the positive progress has followed. Whether it's a walk-on who barely plays or a scholarship player in a key role, Agu- irre treats everyone the same. Nobody is too big or too small for him to help guide along the way, which led to him earning a significant number of votes to become one of the Wolfpack's five captains right away. Aguirre could have very easily carried a pompous attitude after transferring in from Miami, but that's not who he is. Instead, his transition from Miami to NC State has gone exceptionally well, altering the course of the defense before the season even started. Talk about an instant-impact player. "Guys like that, that work hard and have humility, get a lot of respect. That's who he was," Doeren said. "He's done a lot of good things. We're excited he's here and we're proud of him and the way he's handled the move." Now, after laying the foundation for success, it's up to the defense to put it on full display this fall. With Aguirre leading the way, the Wolfpack believes success will follow. ■ " Right now, we're just focused on the little things, coming to work every day, doing my stuff so people can see. And, most importantly, win some games. " Aguirre