1. NC State will have eight official visitors coming this weekend, and every single one has come unofficially at some point in recent months, including ones from Idaho and Miami, Fla.
Here is a look at the recruiting snapshots of the eight visitors:
The Miami linebacker came to NC State last March and he’s kept a quiet, efficient recruitment. NC State has been picky with recruiting linebackers, but Clark has been a given all along. He’s been to Auburn and Louisville, and he also lists Miami, Michigan, FSU, Florida and Kentucky. Out of that group, the Hurricane appears to be the Wolfpack’s stiffest competition. He’s cousins with a current Miami player, and cousins with UM commits Bobby Washington Jr. and Robby Washington. The Washington twins have transferred to a new school, so that helps a little bit.
Concepcion is the epitome of a gamer. He simply knows how to make big plays. He might not be overly large and maybe doesn’t have track speed, but on the football field, he’s versatile and a true weapon, whether in the slot or outside. He’s also good friends with Daylan Smothers, who is visiting, and has become quick friends with NC State quarterback commit Lex Thomas. UNC and Wake Forest are in the mix, and he’s talked about Michigan State and Penn State, but doesn’t a have a formal list (yet). He’s arguably been to NC State the most unofficially.
What a remarkable recruitment? NC State has a legit chance at landing a player from Idaho. Jacobsen unofficially visited NC State for three days in early April, and learned a lot on that trip. Since then, Utah has offered him, which is where his dad was a tight end. Some wondered if NC State would take another tight end after Javonte Vereen committed, but NC State has always viewed Jacobsen as a “Y” tight end and Vereen is an “H.”
Sometimes no news is good news, which is the case with Myers. He told me at the NCISAA Division I state track meet on May 21 that NC State was definitely his leader. He also wanted to camp for offers, but it’s been quiet on getting new offers. That is good for NC State. He projects at different secondary spots, but could settle in at free safety. Tennessee is perhaps the Wolfpack’s biggest competition, but safeties coach Joe DeForest has done a great job with Myers, and he’s been to NCSU a few times unofficially.
NC State has to feel good with Shirley, who we’ve interviewed a few times in the last six months. Shirley just visited Virginia Tech and Duke, and will likely take a minor break after checking out the Wolfpack. Defensive line coach Charley Wiles has done a superb job on the defensive end.
Smith has gone underground a little bit with his recruitment but that doesn’t mean his actions haven’t been loud. Smith recently visited Virginia Tech, unofficially visited South Carolina on Tuesday, which helped him get a Gamecocks offer, and has a North Carolina official set for June 24-26. NC State is starting to fill up on the offensive line, so the pressure for a quick decision will be there. Smith just unofficially visited June 2.
NC State hasn’t targeted many running backs for the 2023 class, and Smothers might be why. Naples (Fla.) High back Kendrick Raphael just picked Iowa, and the Wolfpack pivoted to offering Charlotte Christian senior athlete Kyron Jones at running back. Smothers has a toughness that belies being a a shade over 5-10 and 173 pounds, and enough speed to turn the corner. He also could be pretty good out of the backfield and takes pride in his blitz pickup. He’s fresh off of visiting Oklahoma, and he’ll have to figure out his West Charlotte High situation after being ruled ineligible.
NC State’s unofficial recruiting coordinator has bene a constant during the various camps this month, and was in Raleigh instead of in Las Vegas doing 7-on-7 last week. Having Thomas around the other seven recruits should pay off, especially with the four offensive recruits.
2. Burlington (N.C.) Cummings High junior wide receiver Jonathan Paylor has tentatively scheduled an unofficial visit to NC State on Friday.
Paylor said before June that he wanted to camp at Clemson and Alabama and work for new offers. He just got offered by Clemson on Monday. It’s interesting seeing the differences between Paylor’s recruitment and Rolesville (N.C.) High senior wide receiver Noah Rogers. What they have in common is they are both the must-get recruits in their respective classes for NC State, not that will be easy. They both have Ohio State chasing. They both essentially live at NCSU with unofficial visits.
The differences are Paylor’s personality is more at ease in handling the recruiting hype, he’s at UNC almost as much as NC State — he’ll be in Chapel Hill on Saturday — creating an epic future battle between the rivals.
Paylor got prioritized by Clemson much earlier — Paylor offered June 13, 2022 and Rogers was offered Jan. 12, 2022. It remains to be seen if Alabama also jumps in on Paylor much earlier than the Crimson Tide did with Rogers.
Rogers didn’t have the recruiting hype as a sophomore in high school due in part to COVID and NCAA rules that hampered visiting. It was clear in the 2020 NCHSAA state title game he was going to be a special player. He just didn’t have to get hit hard in recruiting as early as Paylor has been. Paylor just crossed his one-year anniversary of being offered by NC State on June 5.
3. Anyone surprised that New Bern (N.C.) High senior defensive lineman Keith Sampson Jr. is showing wiggle room? I agree, not overly surprising and pretty much predicted the day he verbally committed to Florida State on March 5.
The 6-3, 285-pound Sampson is a Rivals.com three-star, who has flirted with four-star status in the past. It became clear early on that there would be few defensive lineman in the state. Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley’s Jamaal Jarrett was thought of as an offensive lineman when things got going last August. Isaiah Shirley was the other “bigger” defensive lineman in the class, and now Concord (N.C.) Robinson’s Daevin Hobbs has joined that group.
Sampson is ranked No. 16 overall in the state of North Carolina in the class of 2023. NC State offered May 19, 2021, and his play his junior year was affected by a hurt wrist. He missed time in the offseason and put on some extra weight.
NC State was not in good shape with Sampson going into his junior year, but by December, made up considerable time. Sampson was gushing about the Wolfpack’s comeback victory against North Carolina on Nov. 26.
What was factual with Sampson, few recruits took as many unofficial visits and he seemed to change up his top five every week. What emerged was that NC State, South Carolina and Florida State, were prioritizing him. Other programs such as Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State flirted in and out of his recruitment this past winter.
Multiple sources had been beating the drums the last few weeks that Sampson would visit NC State at some point this summer, and some are even predicting he’ll land with the Wolfpack. The one recruit that seems tight with Sampson is Havelock (N.C.) High senior H-back Javonte Vereen, who will be spending time at NC State this weekend. Sampson is also friends with Rylan Vann and Davin Vann of NC State.
Sampson fits NC State’s scheme very well. NCSU has been clear it wants bigger defensive lineman. It’s interesting that Bradley Chubb is one of the greatest defensive ends in school history, but the 220-pound version in high school that wanted to play outside linebacker might not have gotten an NC State offer in the present scheme.
Sources at Florida State believe he’ll be visiting there soon, but if he ends up not coming, that could be a clear sign that a divorce might be coming soon.
4. Another interesting unofficial visitor on Friday is Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb Christian senior interior lineman Gabriel Fortson.
On paper, he seems exactly what NC State needs now that tackle has been fortified with commitments from Obadiah Obasuyi, Charlie Symonds and Darion Rivers. One source thought NC State was outside of his top three going into the visit, but I have a theory on that.
Fortson is a relatively newcomer to getting recruited. He attends a small private high school where his class has 120 students. Fortson exploded on the recruiting scene in May and collected 19 offers.
Getting him on campus will help line up an official visit later with Fortson, and the other aspect that could help is that he’s very good friends with Kennesaw North Cobb High senior offensive lineman Robert Grigsby. One would think Grigsby came back from his official visit Sunday night and told Fortson all the highlights.
If Fortson has a current top three, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Central Florida would be the logical three. Fortson just officially visited the Yellow Jackets, and has UNC lined up on June 24-26, along with Grigsby.
Fortson will spend Saturday at East Carolina on an unofficial visit. Because of the late blow-up in recruiting, he’ll likely extend his recruitment.
Here is a look at the recruiting snapshots of the eight visitors:
The Miami linebacker came to NC State last March and he’s kept a quiet, efficient recruitment. NC State has been picky with recruiting linebackers, but Clark has been a given all along. He’s been to Auburn and Louisville, and he also lists Miami, Michigan, FSU, Florida and Kentucky. Out of that group, the Hurricane appears to be the Wolfpack’s stiffest competition. He’s cousins with a current Miami player, and cousins with UM commits Bobby Washington Jr. and Robby Washington. The Washington twins have transferred to a new school, so that helps a little bit.
Concepcion is the epitome of a gamer. He simply knows how to make big plays. He might not be overly large and maybe doesn’t have track speed, but on the football field, he’s versatile and a true weapon, whether in the slot or outside. He’s also good friends with Daylan Smothers, who is visiting, and has become quick friends with NC State quarterback commit Lex Thomas. UNC and Wake Forest are in the mix, and he’s talked about Michigan State and Penn State, but doesn’t a have a formal list (yet). He’s arguably been to NC State the most unofficially.
What a remarkable recruitment? NC State has a legit chance at landing a player from Idaho. Jacobsen unofficially visited NC State for three days in early April, and learned a lot on that trip. Since then, Utah has offered him, which is where his dad was a tight end. Some wondered if NC State would take another tight end after Javonte Vereen committed, but NC State has always viewed Jacobsen as a “Y” tight end and Vereen is an “H.”
Sometimes no news is good news, which is the case with Myers. He told me at the NCISAA Division I state track meet on May 21 that NC State was definitely his leader. He also wanted to camp for offers, but it’s been quiet on getting new offers. That is good for NC State. He projects at different secondary spots, but could settle in at free safety. Tennessee is perhaps the Wolfpack’s biggest competition, but safeties coach Joe DeForest has done a great job with Myers, and he’s been to NCSU a few times unofficially.
NC State has to feel good with Shirley, who we’ve interviewed a few times in the last six months. Shirley just visited Virginia Tech and Duke, and will likely take a minor break after checking out the Wolfpack. Defensive line coach Charley Wiles has done a superb job on the defensive end.
Smith has gone underground a little bit with his recruitment but that doesn’t mean his actions haven’t been loud. Smith recently visited Virginia Tech, unofficially visited South Carolina on Tuesday, which helped him get a Gamecocks offer, and has a North Carolina official set for June 24-26. NC State is starting to fill up on the offensive line, so the pressure for a quick decision will be there. Smith just unofficially visited June 2.
NC State hasn’t targeted many running backs for the 2023 class, and Smothers might be why. Naples (Fla.) High back Kendrick Raphael just picked Iowa, and the Wolfpack pivoted to offering Charlotte Christian senior athlete Kyron Jones at running back. Smothers has a toughness that belies being a a shade over 5-10 and 173 pounds, and enough speed to turn the corner. He also could be pretty good out of the backfield and takes pride in his blitz pickup. He’s fresh off of visiting Oklahoma, and he’ll have to figure out his West Charlotte High situation after being ruled ineligible.
NC State’s unofficial recruiting coordinator has bene a constant during the various camps this month, and was in Raleigh instead of in Las Vegas doing 7-on-7 last week. Having Thomas around the other seven recruits should pay off, especially with the four offensive recruits.
2. Burlington (N.C.) Cummings High junior wide receiver Jonathan Paylor has tentatively scheduled an unofficial visit to NC State on Friday.
Paylor said before June that he wanted to camp at Clemson and Alabama and work for new offers. He just got offered by Clemson on Monday. It’s interesting seeing the differences between Paylor’s recruitment and Rolesville (N.C.) High senior wide receiver Noah Rogers. What they have in common is they are both the must-get recruits in their respective classes for NC State, not that will be easy. They both have Ohio State chasing. They both essentially live at NCSU with unofficial visits.
The differences are Paylor’s personality is more at ease in handling the recruiting hype, he’s at UNC almost as much as NC State — he’ll be in Chapel Hill on Saturday — creating an epic future battle between the rivals.
Paylor got prioritized by Clemson much earlier — Paylor offered June 13, 2022 and Rogers was offered Jan. 12, 2022. It remains to be seen if Alabama also jumps in on Paylor much earlier than the Crimson Tide did with Rogers.
Rogers didn’t have the recruiting hype as a sophomore in high school due in part to COVID and NCAA rules that hampered visiting. It was clear in the 2020 NCHSAA state title game he was going to be a special player. He just didn’t have to get hit hard in recruiting as early as Paylor has been. Paylor just crossed his one-year anniversary of being offered by NC State on June 5.
3. Anyone surprised that New Bern (N.C.) High senior defensive lineman Keith Sampson Jr. is showing wiggle room? I agree, not overly surprising and pretty much predicted the day he verbally committed to Florida State on March 5.
The 6-3, 285-pound Sampson is a Rivals.com three-star, who has flirted with four-star status in the past. It became clear early on that there would be few defensive lineman in the state. Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley’s Jamaal Jarrett was thought of as an offensive lineman when things got going last August. Isaiah Shirley was the other “bigger” defensive lineman in the class, and now Concord (N.C.) Robinson’s Daevin Hobbs has joined that group.
Sampson is ranked No. 16 overall in the state of North Carolina in the class of 2023. NC State offered May 19, 2021, and his play his junior year was affected by a hurt wrist. He missed time in the offseason and put on some extra weight.
NC State was not in good shape with Sampson going into his junior year, but by December, made up considerable time. Sampson was gushing about the Wolfpack’s comeback victory against North Carolina on Nov. 26.
What was factual with Sampson, few recruits took as many unofficial visits and he seemed to change up his top five every week. What emerged was that NC State, South Carolina and Florida State, were prioritizing him. Other programs such as Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State flirted in and out of his recruitment this past winter.
Multiple sources had been beating the drums the last few weeks that Sampson would visit NC State at some point this summer, and some are even predicting he’ll land with the Wolfpack. The one recruit that seems tight with Sampson is Havelock (N.C.) High senior H-back Javonte Vereen, who will be spending time at NC State this weekend. Sampson is also friends with Rylan Vann and Davin Vann of NC State.
Sampson fits NC State’s scheme very well. NCSU has been clear it wants bigger defensive lineman. It’s interesting that Bradley Chubb is one of the greatest defensive ends in school history, but the 220-pound version in high school that wanted to play outside linebacker might not have gotten an NC State offer in the present scheme.
Sources at Florida State believe he’ll be visiting there soon, but if he ends up not coming, that could be a clear sign that a divorce might be coming soon.
4. Another interesting unofficial visitor on Friday is Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb Christian senior interior lineman Gabriel Fortson.
On paper, he seems exactly what NC State needs now that tackle has been fortified with commitments from Obadiah Obasuyi, Charlie Symonds and Darion Rivers. One source thought NC State was outside of his top three going into the visit, but I have a theory on that.
Fortson is a relatively newcomer to getting recruited. He attends a small private high school where his class has 120 students. Fortson exploded on the recruiting scene in May and collected 19 offers.
Getting him on campus will help line up an official visit later with Fortson, and the other aspect that could help is that he’s very good friends with Kennesaw North Cobb High senior offensive lineman Robert Grigsby. One would think Grigsby came back from his official visit Sunday night and told Fortson all the highlights.
If Fortson has a current top three, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Central Florida would be the logical three. Fortson just officially visited the Yellow Jackets, and has UNC lined up on June 24-26, along with Grigsby.
Fortson will spend Saturday at East Carolina on an unofficial visit. Because of the late blow-up in recruiting, he’ll likely extend his recruitment.
