1. This month has proven how fascinating football recruiting is compared to say basketball recruiting.
I would call it “hiding in plain sight.”
For instance, the buzz right now is extremely high on sophomore Shamarius “Snook” Peterkin of Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor. Both Alabama and Clemson stopped in to see him, but they didn’t offer him.
The slender 6-foot-3, 167-pounder is a gifted wide receiver and could be a Division I defensive back too. Folks in the Triad think he could play college basketball.
NC State, Duke, Virginia Tech and James Madison have offered him in January. The only college to offer him during the season was Maryland. That’s where the hiding in plain sight comes in.
Talking to his prep coach, he played quarterback and wide receiver, and some in the secondary. He threw for 239 yards, rushed for 301 yards and three touchdowns, and he caught 14 passes for 305 yards and six touchdowns. For good measure, he had 17 tackles and had an interception he returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
There will be nothing under the radar about him next year because Mount Tabor opens the season against Greensboro (N.C. ) Grimsley.
Waxhaw (N.C.) Marvin Ridge junior offensive lineman Kai Greer is another interesting recruit. Marvin Ridge is where former NC State wide receiver Emeka Emezie attended, along with current punter Caden Noonkester.
You’d think it would be hard for a 6-6, 270-pounder to be somewhat hidden during the high school season, but that has been somewhat the case with Greer. He hasn’t been offered yet by NC State, but attended the Wolfpack’s Junior Day last Saturday, and attended the Boston College game Nov. 12.
Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Maryland, Louisviile, Central Florida, Missouri, UConn, James Madison, Marshall, East Carolina and Appalachian State all offered in January and Duke offered Dec. 15. Greer had no new offers during the season, and had Charlotte and Campbell before the season.
NC State has proven to be ahead of the curve in being the first high-major offer for Walkertown (N.C.) High sophomore quarterback Bryce Baker, who has a big hoops game at Reidsville tonight. Baker also attended NC State’s Junior Day. His recruitment combined with Reidsville freshman defensive end/tight end Kendre’ Harrison’s recruitment have made the Walkertown/Reidsville football game a big one next year.
NC State, Duke, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Wake Forest, Appalachian State and James Madison have all offered him since Jan. 18. That is pretty impressive, and even quarterbacks can sometimes “hide in plain sight.”
2. The safety position was in the news for two big reasons this week — the commitment of junior college standout Bishop Fitzgerald and the unofficial visit Tuesday from Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day junior Brody Barnhardt.
The original plan it seemed in December was that Fitzgerald would be a mid-year enrollee, but instead he’ll be at Coffeyville (Kan.) C.C. this spring finishing up on his academic work. It will be interesting to see how fast he adjusts in the summer. NC State has been redshirting junior college players of late to help them adjust to the ACC level, which is a huge adjustment. That worked out beautifully with defensive tackle Larrell Murchison of Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College, and helped him get drafted and he’s now with the Los Angeles Rams. Left tackle Anthony Belton and safeties Rakeim Ashford and Darius Edmundson also redshirted at NC State, though in Ashford’s case due to injury in 2020.
The three-star Fitzgerald could adjust quicker than most due to his ball-hawking instincts. He had six interceptions this past season, and it is easy to see why. He keeps his eyes on the ball rather than the receiver and adjusts to it in the air. He’s also a solid tackler. The starting safety position opposite Jakeen Harris could be the most spirit battle on the defensive depth chart. The previously mentioned Ashford, rising redshirt sophomore Sean Brown and Fitzgerald will all be in the mix for safety playing time. Junior Devan Boykin could play safety if he doesn’t beat out Old Dominion transfer Robert Kennedy at nickel.
I’ve long maintained Barnhard as the most important defensive recruit for NC State in the class of 2024. He fits NC State’s defense perfectly and he just has that gift of making things happen, wherever he is lined up.
In the NCISAA playoff win over Christ School on Nov. 11, he caught a touchdown, got an interception, returned a punt return for a score and added a touchdown on a kick return. The next week in the state title game against Charlotte Christian, he caught two touchdowns and had two interceptions.
Plus, NC State has to defeat out of state recruiting foes like West Virginia, Virginia Tech and hard-charging Wisconsin. WVU might go through a coaching change and Virginia Tech is facing a major rebuild. The Badgers have a new coach.
Speaking of Belton, there was some strong rumors of a traditional SEC power trying to poach him during December.
3. The chatter has turned into a pretty consistent roar in that few would be surprised if Pittsboro (N.C.) Seaforth junior power forward Jarin Stevenson could be graduating in three years and become a part of the class of 2023.
My understanding is that decision wouldn’t get made until after he plays traveling team ball in July. Because of his obvious connections to North Carolina, his mother played there, it’s always been assumed he’d be a Tar Heel. Yet from everything I’ve heard, UNC doesn’t feel confident about Stevenson and he’s kept them in the dark on things. There is also a growing perception that Stevenson might not want to play with UNC junior commit Drake Powell after already doing that for a year at Pittsboro Northwood High in 2020.
I’d best describe Stevenson’s personality as happy go lucky, so he could wake up one day and think, “OK, I want to go to North Carolina.”
NC State has worked this recruitment about as hard as any not named Paul McNeil of Richmond County in Rockingham, N.C. NC State is in great shape with McNeil and are quietly content with Stevenson. Virginia, Georgetown and Wake Forest are the other colleges involved with Stevenson.
Part of the optimism is that Stevenson would be an ideal fit in NC State’s offensive style. He’s going to need a good strength and conditioning program, especially if he graduates early, but he go inside and outside at the four.
I would call it “hiding in plain sight.”
For instance, the buzz right now is extremely high on sophomore Shamarius “Snook” Peterkin of Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor. Both Alabama and Clemson stopped in to see him, but they didn’t offer him.
The slender 6-foot-3, 167-pounder is a gifted wide receiver and could be a Division I defensive back too. Folks in the Triad think he could play college basketball.
NC State, Duke, Virginia Tech and James Madison have offered him in January. The only college to offer him during the season was Maryland. That’s where the hiding in plain sight comes in.
Talking to his prep coach, he played quarterback and wide receiver, and some in the secondary. He threw for 239 yards, rushed for 301 yards and three touchdowns, and he caught 14 passes for 305 yards and six touchdowns. For good measure, he had 17 tackles and had an interception he returned 85 yards for a touchdown.
There will be nothing under the radar about him next year because Mount Tabor opens the season against Greensboro (N.C. ) Grimsley.
Waxhaw (N.C.) Marvin Ridge junior offensive lineman Kai Greer is another interesting recruit. Marvin Ridge is where former NC State wide receiver Emeka Emezie attended, along with current punter Caden Noonkester.
You’d think it would be hard for a 6-6, 270-pounder to be somewhat hidden during the high school season, but that has been somewhat the case with Greer. He hasn’t been offered yet by NC State, but attended the Wolfpack’s Junior Day last Saturday, and attended the Boston College game Nov. 12.
Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Maryland, Louisviile, Central Florida, Missouri, UConn, James Madison, Marshall, East Carolina and Appalachian State all offered in January and Duke offered Dec. 15. Greer had no new offers during the season, and had Charlotte and Campbell before the season.
NC State has proven to be ahead of the curve in being the first high-major offer for Walkertown (N.C.) High sophomore quarterback Bryce Baker, who has a big hoops game at Reidsville tonight. Baker also attended NC State’s Junior Day. His recruitment combined with Reidsville freshman defensive end/tight end Kendre’ Harrison’s recruitment have made the Walkertown/Reidsville football game a big one next year.
NC State, Duke, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Wake Forest, Appalachian State and James Madison have all offered him since Jan. 18. That is pretty impressive, and even quarterbacks can sometimes “hide in plain sight.”
2. The safety position was in the news for two big reasons this week — the commitment of junior college standout Bishop Fitzgerald and the unofficial visit Tuesday from Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day junior Brody Barnhardt.
The original plan it seemed in December was that Fitzgerald would be a mid-year enrollee, but instead he’ll be at Coffeyville (Kan.) C.C. this spring finishing up on his academic work. It will be interesting to see how fast he adjusts in the summer. NC State has been redshirting junior college players of late to help them adjust to the ACC level, which is a huge adjustment. That worked out beautifully with defensive tackle Larrell Murchison of Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College, and helped him get drafted and he’s now with the Los Angeles Rams. Left tackle Anthony Belton and safeties Rakeim Ashford and Darius Edmundson also redshirted at NC State, though in Ashford’s case due to injury in 2020.
The three-star Fitzgerald could adjust quicker than most due to his ball-hawking instincts. He had six interceptions this past season, and it is easy to see why. He keeps his eyes on the ball rather than the receiver and adjusts to it in the air. He’s also a solid tackler. The starting safety position opposite Jakeen Harris could be the most spirit battle on the defensive depth chart. The previously mentioned Ashford, rising redshirt sophomore Sean Brown and Fitzgerald will all be in the mix for safety playing time. Junior Devan Boykin could play safety if he doesn’t beat out Old Dominion transfer Robert Kennedy at nickel.
I’ve long maintained Barnhard as the most important defensive recruit for NC State in the class of 2024. He fits NC State’s defense perfectly and he just has that gift of making things happen, wherever he is lined up.
In the NCISAA playoff win over Christ School on Nov. 11, he caught a touchdown, got an interception, returned a punt return for a score and added a touchdown on a kick return. The next week in the state title game against Charlotte Christian, he caught two touchdowns and had two interceptions.
Plus, NC State has to defeat out of state recruiting foes like West Virginia, Virginia Tech and hard-charging Wisconsin. WVU might go through a coaching change and Virginia Tech is facing a major rebuild. The Badgers have a new coach.
Speaking of Belton, there was some strong rumors of a traditional SEC power trying to poach him during December.
3. The chatter has turned into a pretty consistent roar in that few would be surprised if Pittsboro (N.C.) Seaforth junior power forward Jarin Stevenson could be graduating in three years and become a part of the class of 2023.
My understanding is that decision wouldn’t get made until after he plays traveling team ball in July. Because of his obvious connections to North Carolina, his mother played there, it’s always been assumed he’d be a Tar Heel. Yet from everything I’ve heard, UNC doesn’t feel confident about Stevenson and he’s kept them in the dark on things. There is also a growing perception that Stevenson might not want to play with UNC junior commit Drake Powell after already doing that for a year at Pittsboro Northwood High in 2020.
I’d best describe Stevenson’s personality as happy go lucky, so he could wake up one day and think, “OK, I want to go to North Carolina.”
NC State has worked this recruitment about as hard as any not named Paul McNeil of Richmond County in Rockingham, N.C. NC State is in great shape with McNeil and are quietly content with Stevenson. Virginia, Georgetown and Wake Forest are the other colleges involved with Stevenson.
Part of the optimism is that Stevenson would be an ideal fit in NC State’s offensive style. He’s going to need a good strength and conditioning program, especially if he graduates early, but he go inside and outside at the four.
