Brandon Cleveland

Early life

Cleveland was born on August 27, 2004, and grew up in Tampa, Florida. His father died when he was 10 and he was raised by his single mother. Cleveland's cousin is former NFL player Tyrie Cleveland. He grew up playing football, baseball, soccer, and basketball. Cleveland first attended Seffner Christian Academy, where he played football as a two-way lineman, winning the regional title as a freshman while posting 76 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and 9.5 sacks as a sophomore. Cleveland then transferred to Carrollwood Day School, totaling 46 tackles, 18 TFLs and 11 sacks during the 2020 season. In his last year, 2021, he posted 50 tackles, 26 TFLs and eight sacks. Cleveland was ranked a four-star recruit and initially committed to play college football for the Miami Hurricanes before decommitting. He eventually signed to play for the NC State Wolfpack.

College career

As a true freshman at NC State in 2022, Cleveland appeared in six games and posted seven tackles, one TFL and a half-sack. He then recorded 28 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and three sacks in 2023 while appearing in 13 games, one as a starter. He started all 13 games in 2024 and tallied 36 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and a half-sack. As a senior in 2025, Cleveland started 12 of 13 games and made a career-high seven TFLs and along with 36 tackles and two sacks. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, he was invited to the 2026 East–West Shrine Bowl.