KJ Liles gives NCCU a big, explosive interior presence
KJ Liles is a 6-foot-4, 322-pound freshman DT for North Carolina Central in 2026, bringing major size and power to the Eagles’ defensive front[7][14]. He arrived with a strong high-school résumé at Southern Durham, where he was named conference Defensive Lineman of the Year and produced 126 tackles over his final two seasons, including 79 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, a sack, 27 hurries, and four forced fumbles as a senior[3][10]. NCCU’s own coaches describe him as a hard worker who adds “more size and explosiveness to the room,” which is exactly the kind of nastiness teams want inside[10].
