1. Flip season seems more inevitable than ever because so much of recruiting is speed dating in Apri/May/June. The rule of thumb is if a player didn’t have much recruiting interest the first time around, and now all of a sudden is getting it, they typically enjoy the attention.
So far NC State has lost senior cornerback commit Robert Jones (Illinois), defensive end Mykah Newton (Miami) and defensive lineman Makhi Williams-Lee, who will likely end up at Clemson.
In the case of Jones, he was flaky from the start of his recruitment, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if there is another twist and turn with him, especially when the weather starts to get colder in Champaign, Ill., in November.
National Signing Day has been moved up to Dec. 4, which could affect teams playing in a conference title game.
NC State has managed to flip tight end Gus Ritchey from North Carolina, and cornerback Gerritt Kemp from Duke.
Michigan has offered Lantana (Fla.) Santaluces wide receiver commit Jamar Browder, so that will be one to monitor moving forward. Early word is that he wants to visit Michigan.
The Wolfpack will have Coastal Carolina outside linebacker commit Josh Smith of Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork coming this weekend, along with West Virginia defensive end commit Romando Johnson of Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch, who claims 41 offers. That would be the classic case of “are the offers real or not?” Smith’s Dutch Fork teammate, WVU cornerback commit Elgin Sessions, could be joining him, but he hasn’t been offered yet.
That is followed by Purdue tackle commit Takyhian Whitset of Antioch (S.C.) for the Wake Forest game weekend (Oct. 4-6). Boston College senior athlete commit Marcelous Townsend of Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity and East Carolina senior outside linebacker commit Kendric Davis of Charlotte (N.C.) Palisades are both coming to the WFU game unofficially.
What Smith has shown on film is that he comes off the edge and plays downhill in a physical manner. His instincts seem good and he’s fast enough to get to where he wants to be.
2. NC State has lost a boatload of players over the two year’s but they haven’t been blossoming at other colleges.
Eleven players left NC State following the 2022 season, and another 22 players left after 2023. Three of the 2022 transfers have exhausted their eligibility — quarterback Devin Leary and wide receivers Devin Carter and Jasiah Provillon.
With college football entering the fourth week of the season, here is a look at the players who were lost last year:
• Running back Michael Allen (UNLV) — Allen was in the news this week for quitting on the Rebels after three games. He rushed 19 times for 108 yards this season.
• Defensive lineman Nick Campbell (Appalachian State) — He has five tackles in three games for the Mountaineers.
• Defensive lineman C.J. Clark (Miami) — He has six tackles and two tackles for loss in four games for the Hurricanes.
• Center Lyndon Cooper (Pittsburgh) — He has started all three wins at center, and has the best Pro Football Focus grade among the offensive lineman with 66.6.
• Wide receiver Joshua Crabtree (Murray State) — He has three catches for 23 yards.
• Offensive lineman Jaleel Davis (Florida International) — Davis has played in all four games as a backup right guard and has a Pro Football Focus grade of 58.7.
• Defensive back Darius Edmundson (UNC-Pembroke) — He has eight tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception and one pass broken up in three games played.
• Cornerback Nate Evans (Delaware) — He has three tackles in two games played for the Blue Hens.
• Wide receiver Julian Gray (Liberty) — Gray has one catch for seven yards for the Flames, and three kickoff returns for 62 yards.
• Safety Jakeen Harris (North Carolina) — He has 21 tackles in four games played for the Tar Heels.
• Running back Jordan Houston (Marshall) — He has 24 carries for 84 yards and one catch for six yards. Houston has added one kick return for 20 yards.
• Running back Delbert Mimms (Eastern Michigan) — He has 46 carries for 169 yards and three touchdowns in four games played, plus one catch for 14 yards.
• Quarterback MJ Morris (Maryland) — Morris has gone 3-of-4 passing for 13 yards, plus eight carries for 33 yards and a touchdown in two games played.
• Defensive back Cecil Powell (Troy) — He has 15 tackles and one tackle for loss in four games played at Troy.
• Wide receiver Porter Rooks (Eastern Michigan) — He hasn’t played yet this season.
• Tight end Cedric Seabrough (West Georgia) — He has three catches for 26 yards in three games.
• Wide receiver Christopher Scott (Austin Peay) — He hasn’t played a game yet this season.
• Wide receiver Anthony Smith (East Carolina) — He has 15 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown this season.
• Outside linebacker Daejuan Thompson (Garden City C.C.) — He has 10 tackles, three tackles for loss and one forced fumble in three games played.
• Wide receiver Terrell Timmons (Colorado) — He has two catches for 12 yards this season.
• Tight end Christopher Toudle (Western Michigan) — He has four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown this season.
• Linebacker Torren Wright (Temple) — He has one tackle in one game this season for the Owls.
Additionally, tight end Fred Seabrough has seemingly given up playing football for basketball, and running back/wide receiver Micah Crowell retired.
3. The nine remaining players who left after the 2022 season have met with mixed results this season, with some at their third college.
Quarterback Ben Finley transferred from California to Akron and has become the starter. He’s taken a beating in the pocket, but has gone 64-of-115 for 659 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions, and has been sacked seven times. He’s rushed 27 times for one yards this season. The bulk of his numbers came in a 31-20 win over Colgate on Sept. 14.
Defensive back Jalen Frazier went to UNLV and then transferred to West Georgia this season. He has 14 tackles and half a tackle for loss in three games played.
Thornton Gentry has settled in at right guard, starting all four games for Appalachian State this season. He has a grade of 56.3 from Pro Football Focus.
Nose tackle Joshua Harris went to Ole Miss and is now at North Carolina. He has five tackles in four games played for struggling Tar Heels defense.
Outside linebacker Chase Hattley transferred to Campbell, but is no longer on the Camels roster.
Defensive end Claude Larkins has played in all four games for Florida International, but doesn’t have any stats.
Defensive end Zyun Reeves transferred to Louisiana Tech, but is now at Mississippi Valley State. He is getting his first extended playing time and has 10 tackles and one quarterback hurry in four games played.
Running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye is off to a quality start for the Wildcats, and has 59 carries for 274 yards and three touchdowns, plus six catches for 53 yards. He rushed 22 times for 98 yards and caught two passes for 12 yards against then No. 1-ranked Georgia on Sept. 14.
If you go back to the class of 2020, this is what is left for NC State:
2020: Nine out of 22 remain at NC State.
2021: Six out of 21 remain at NC State.
2022: Six out of 12 are at NC State.
2023: Sixteen out of 17 are at NC State.
Blame COVID or bad luck, but the class of 2021 proved to be on the struggle bus, whether playing at NC State or at their new school(s). Left tackle Anthony Belton, outside linebacker Sean Brown, defensve end Travali Price and middle linebacker Caden Fordham are starters at NC State. Center Lyndon Cooper (Pittsburgh) and running back Demie Sumo-Karngbaye (Kentucky) are starting at P4 programs, and guard Thornton Gentry at Appalachian State.
