Was held at East Chapel Hill High School this year ... was able to get there and see and talk to some players. Some notes on NC State targets, with @JustinHWilliams contributing:
• Four-star running back Michael Allen from Greenville Rose definitely high on NC State and talks a lot with both quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Tim Beck and running backs coach Kurt Roper. He is almost certain to stay close to home, and while East Carolina has a legit chance I'd be surprised if he does not end up at either NC State or UNC. Allen had a meniscus tear that limited him to two games this season but he's fine now.
• The door is not closed for NC State on four-star running back Omarion Hampton from Clayton (N.C.) Cleveland High. In fact, Hampton is very appreciative for some of the help and advice that NC State (and specifically Roper) gave him when it came to his recent ankle injury. That said, still sounds like UNC leads among in-state programs and he already has four official visits lined up in June to out of state teams.
• Three-star receiver Dakota Twitty from Mooresboro (N.C.) Thomas Jefferson definitely backs up his listed measurables (6-foot-5, 215 pounds). He ha a final four of NC State, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Yale, and he noted that was indeed a final four. A decision will come later in May, and interestingly he has an official visit set for Georgia Tech in June. Of the finalists, he probably went on longest about GT as well.
• Recently offered receiver Jaden Watkins from Asheville (N.C.) School has known Pack freshman corner Aydan White since youth football, so he has a connection to NC State. Seemed fairly open however on schools.
• Three-star receiver Mehki Wall from Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High was a little taller than I expected. May drop him some in the top 25 list as I think Wall is now a little more open on schools, plus I think the numbers situation may have some programs being cautious. Wall noted he's hoping to use the camp circuit this spring and summer to help get his name out more.
• Three-star offensive lineman Isaiah Montgomery from Virginia Beach (Va.) Landstown High is an impressive-looking player and he looks to have narrowed his focus to 5-6 schools. Pittsburgh and Maryland have locked in official visits in June, and NC State is a good bet to get one at some point, too. In-state Virginia remains strongly in the mix, but the Hokies not so much.
• As we have noted before, four-star defensive end Beau Atkinson from Raleigh Leesville Road visited for the recent spring game, but that said he is very focused on finding a good fit defensively, and he has some help since his dad played college football. Questions remain whether or not the 3-man front fits well for Atkinson, who does have an official visit set up to Michigan.
• Three-star linebacker Xavier Simmons from Northwest Guilford High in Greensboro has visited NC State a couple of times. UNC and a few others are also heavily in the mix, but I think Simmons has settled on a few schools for his tops list and the Pack is on that.
• Four-star linebacker Torren Wright from A.L. Brown High in Kannapolis, N.C., has an official visit lined up at West Virginia and will take a trip to Michigan as well, but as he noted NC State has been on him since his earliest high school days and has a strong relationship.
• Three-star corner Jackson Vick from Bailey (N.C.) Souhern High definitely looks much more like a cornerback than a running back recruit. NC State sure sounds like it is in an excellent position, but he may want to take some visits in June first. NC State and Wake Forest would be the first officials that came to mind.
• Three-star defensive back Isaiah Crowell from Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High looking to decide in August. Admits he and his older brother Micah Crowell have talked about playing together, but he's open to all schools. Does sound like NC State is in a solid position.
• Class of 2023 linebacker/receiver Rico Walker is a tremendous-looking prospect at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. Hickory (N.C.) High product was wearing a NC State wrist band and has been to NC State (the only school he's seen besides Auburn). However, his dad played ball at Auburn and that might be tough to overcome.
• Four-star running back Michael Allen from Greenville Rose definitely high on NC State and talks a lot with both quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Tim Beck and running backs coach Kurt Roper. He is almost certain to stay close to home, and while East Carolina has a legit chance I'd be surprised if he does not end up at either NC State or UNC. Allen had a meniscus tear that limited him to two games this season but he's fine now.
• The door is not closed for NC State on four-star running back Omarion Hampton from Clayton (N.C.) Cleveland High. In fact, Hampton is very appreciative for some of the help and advice that NC State (and specifically Roper) gave him when it came to his recent ankle injury. That said, still sounds like UNC leads among in-state programs and he already has four official visits lined up in June to out of state teams.
• Three-star receiver Dakota Twitty from Mooresboro (N.C.) Thomas Jefferson definitely backs up his listed measurables (6-foot-5, 215 pounds). He ha a final four of NC State, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Yale, and he noted that was indeed a final four. A decision will come later in May, and interestingly he has an official visit set for Georgia Tech in June. Of the finalists, he probably went on longest about GT as well.
• Recently offered receiver Jaden Watkins from Asheville (N.C.) School has known Pack freshman corner Aydan White since youth football, so he has a connection to NC State. Seemed fairly open however on schools.
• Three-star receiver Mehki Wall from Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High was a little taller than I expected. May drop him some in the top 25 list as I think Wall is now a little more open on schools, plus I think the numbers situation may have some programs being cautious. Wall noted he's hoping to use the camp circuit this spring and summer to help get his name out more.
• Three-star offensive lineman Isaiah Montgomery from Virginia Beach (Va.) Landstown High is an impressive-looking player and he looks to have narrowed his focus to 5-6 schools. Pittsburgh and Maryland have locked in official visits in June, and NC State is a good bet to get one at some point, too. In-state Virginia remains strongly in the mix, but the Hokies not so much.
• As we have noted before, four-star defensive end Beau Atkinson from Raleigh Leesville Road visited for the recent spring game, but that said he is very focused on finding a good fit defensively, and he has some help since his dad played college football. Questions remain whether or not the 3-man front fits well for Atkinson, who does have an official visit set up to Michigan.
• Three-star linebacker Xavier Simmons from Northwest Guilford High in Greensboro has visited NC State a couple of times. UNC and a few others are also heavily in the mix, but I think Simmons has settled on a few schools for his tops list and the Pack is on that.
• Four-star linebacker Torren Wright from A.L. Brown High in Kannapolis, N.C., has an official visit lined up at West Virginia and will take a trip to Michigan as well, but as he noted NC State has been on him since his earliest high school days and has a strong relationship.
• Three-star corner Jackson Vick from Bailey (N.C.) Souhern High definitely looks much more like a cornerback than a running back recruit. NC State sure sounds like it is in an excellent position, but he may want to take some visits in June first. NC State and Wake Forest would be the first officials that came to mind.
• Three-star defensive back Isaiah Crowell from Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High looking to decide in August. Admits he and his older brother Micah Crowell have talked about playing together, but he's open to all schools. Does sound like NC State is in a solid position.
• Class of 2023 linebacker/receiver Rico Walker is a tremendous-looking prospect at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. Hickory (N.C.) High product was wearing a NC State wrist band and has been to NC State (the only school he's seen besides Auburn). However, his dad played ball at Auburn and that might be tough to overcome.
