NC State’s defense took a substantial hit in the Virginia game, as linebacker AJ Richardson suffered a biceps injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season. It’s a tough loss for a unit in need of all of the potential playmakers it can get.
Richardson missed most of the 2025 as well, also after an injury against UVA. He had 12 tackles in four games last season, and had five against UVA in Week 0 before leaving the game. He was one of the guys I was excited to see over the course of a full
season, but instead the Pack will have to adjust to life without him again. By the sound of it, Da’Kaari Nelson is a good bet to see more time on the field.
The good news for Richardson is that he still has another year of college football eligibility, thanks to the 5-in-5 rule. The bad news is that getting any sympathy from the NCAA for this season is much less likely, thanks to the 5-in-5 rule. But that’s a matter for farther down the road.
