NC State will enter this Saturday night against Virginia Tech with a heavy heart and a significant sideline absence. The program confirmed that its defensive coordinator, D.J Eliot, will be away from the sidelines due to a family emergency. The Wolfpack showed support for Eliot during this difficult time while preparing contingency plans on the headset for the game. 

The family emergency in question was the heartbreaking passing of Eliot’s daughter, Drue, following a five-year battle with pediatric cancer. The loss when reported was responded to with condolences and requests for privacy. NC State Wolfpacks posted on its X, while breaking the news to the public, “Please join us in praying for DJ Eliot and his family during this time of tremendous loss.”

From a football standpoint, co-defensive coordinator Charlton Warren will be assuming the defensive play-calling duties for future games until Eliot feels comfortable enough to get back to his role. Warren has had a lot of experience in leading defenses at North Carolina and Air Force. Eliot was also the position coach for the linebackers, and those position duties will be taken over by assistant linebackers coach Isaiah Moore, the former All-ACC Wolfpack standout. 

As for the game itself, NC State’s defense under Eliot had flashes and flaws through four weeks. The defense has been really good against the run game, but has been bashed against a good passing game. Warren’s game-time decisions and red-zone calls will be of utmost importance against the extremely aggressive Hoakies’ offense. The plan might revolve around limiting the air game as much as possible and forcing short runs.

There is no timetable for Eliot’s return, and that’s exactly how it should be. Family’s physical and mental well-being comes first. NC State will proceed with Warren and Moore until further notice. When Eliot is ready, the program will be welcoming him with open arms, and until then, the entire Wolfpack staff and community with stand together with him, on and off the field, in support during this difficult time.

Eliot’s words on resilience

Hearing a parent describe the shock of a life-changing diagnosis puts every problem of ours in perspective. And that’s exactly what happened to D.J Eliot when he found out about Drue’s cancer back in 2020. “I don’t even know how to explain the emotions or the thoughts that go through your mind. It’s nothing that you ever expect to hear, and you don’t really have a plan for it.” Eliot said on The Jawhawker podcast. 

He shared how that devastation soon turned into closeness, and the news brought their family much closer. “Our family is definitely a lot closer now than we were because we’re all going through this together.” And the thing that helped Eliot during this immensely tough time was what he had been doing all his life –coaching. He told how the language of a coach helped him to see the problem from a different vantage point. He said, “Just like when you face an opponent, it doesn’t matter how good they are, you have to believe that you’re going to win. And you believe you’re going to win if the leader believes he’s going to win.” This was how Eliot and his wife navigated through this tough time. Now, with Drue’s passing, an even tougher time awaits the family but she, along with the entire Wolfpack community, will be them in spirit.