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North Carolina State Signee Bolts After 1 Month Upon Seeing Teammate Brother Break NIL Commitment

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by Last Updated
NC State DB Brandon Cisse runs onto the field.

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The NC State Wolfpack saw two members of the defensive secondary leave the program this offseason in brothers Brandon and Cedric Cisse. That decision came as a bit of surprise as each had previously negotiated terms to play for the team in 2025.

Brandon Cisse signed with the school in the class of 2023. He was rated a three-star prospect out of the state of South Carolina. Over his first two seasons in Raleigh, he largely exceeded expectation.

The cornerback played an integral role as a freshman, logging snaps as a reserve and in the defense’s nickel package. Last year, he started nine games and graded out as the team’s top player at his position.

It looked like he was ready to return for his junior year at NC State after re-signing his NIL agreement for another season. The news of that agreement was made public on December 6th.

Interestingly enough, Brandon Cisse’s brother, Cedric, received an NC State offer that same day. He later signed with the program with intentions of playing alongside his new teammate in the defensive backfield.

Unfortunately, the elder Cisse backed out of that NIL commitment a month later. He entered the transfer portal in the beginning of January and has since signed with South Carolina.

After seeing his brother bail on the Wolfpack, Cedric Cisse announced his decision to leave the program, too. He’ll be gone before ever taking a snap in Raleigh.

It’s far from the first time we’ve seen a college football player bail on his school shortly after signing. Earlier this offseason, former Charlotte QB Deshawn Purdie did the same after making a commitment to the University of Florida. Rumors surrounding that departure have since run rampant on social media.

NIL, tampering, and the transfer portal have complicated things for head coaches when it comes to roster management. Even signed agreements seem meaningless at this point!

It will be interesting to see if Cedric Cisse is able to join his brother with the Gamecocks. Brandon Cisse’s unexpected decision to leave cost NC State a pair of defenders. They’ll hope to fill the voids this offseason.