1. The last 6-7 days have been about seeing what is happening with the classes of 2024 and 2025 are going to do this week.
NC State brought in Coffeyville (Kan.) C.C. safety Bishop Fitzgerald and Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern senior wide receiver Elijah Caldwell, but both didn’t commit and that showed their hands on things. Caldwell be officially visiting South Carolina this weekend and Fitzgerald is officially visiting Arizona State. If there is still silence by Monday night, then NC State might actually have some wiggle room here.
However, this week has been dominated by new offers and what players will be coming to Junior Day on Saturday.
This thread has been dedicated to nearly everything we’ve learned.
There is some nuance that isn’t in that thread though. For years, the Godfather of prep football recruiting Tom Lemming has come through the Triangle area with the yearly goal of having as many of the top players in the state gather at one spot. Usually it is Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, but last year it was in Chapel Hill. This year, it is Cardinal Gibbons.
So, some players might attend Tom Lemming Day, but not NC State’s Junior Day, and some players might get invited to NC State’s Junior Day, but not get invited to Lemming Day. It’s always a fluid situation.
NC State didn’t have a home basketball game on a Saturday until Feb. 4 vs. Georgia Tech, so it elected to go Jan. 21. What has happened this season is that with NC State at North Carolina basketball at 5 p.m. Saturday, the Tar Heels have been trying to get players to come over their way after Lemming Day, or have players check out NC State first and then head over to the basketball game. Duke is also getting a few players Saturday too, and the Blue Devils are hosting Miami at 12 p.m. Saturday.
Junior Day has had some interesting subplots with the three schools that perhaps have the most talent in the state of North Carolina.
Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day has numerous NC State targets — junior safety Brody Barnhardt, junior wide receivers Jordan Shipp and Channing Goodwin and sophomore offensive tackle David Sanders. Add in junior quarterback Jadyn Davis and sophomore cornerback Braxton Winston, and it’s obvious how they won the NCISAA Division I state title.
The group is probably getting pulled in many different ways once they leave Tom Lemming Day in the morning. Shipp will be going to NC State and maybe will work his way over to North Carolina. Barnhardt isn’t coming to town this weekend at all, but plans to see Virginia tech on Jan. 23 and NC State on Jan. 24.
Davis will probably go over to North Carolina, and what has become interesting is that Sanders said Thursday night he was going over to UNC. Sanders is ranked No. 1 overall in the class of 2025.
Goodwin was still in “to be determined” mode, but isn’t a lock to attend NC State’s Junior Day. UNC just offered him this past week, which was was literally 11 months and three weeks after NC State had offered the Providence Day group (Jan. 25, 2022).
NC State has gone four-for-four on getting the Grimsley prospects — junior wide receiver Alex Taylor and Terrell Anderson, sophomore defensive end Bryce Davis and freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. NC State has offered Taylor, Anderson and Davis, and all three have been on past unofficial visits.
Hough High has an eclectic group of players with junior kicker Nolan Houser off the board in picking Clemson. Junior tackle Eagan Boyer, outside linebacker James Nesta and freshman cornerback Samari Matthews are all high-major types. NC State just offered Matthews, but not Boyer and Nesta, but it will be Boyer and Nesta who will be in attendance Saturday. Matthews has a track meet in Virginia on Saturday.
Hough High also has promising junior defensive back Xavier McIntyre and freshman defensive end Kamdon Gillespie.
2. NC State has been aggressive this week in offering new players:
• Junior tackle Fletcher Westphal of Leesburg (Va.) Tuscarora
• Junior safety Josiah Davis of Nashville (Ga.) Berrien High
• Junior tackle Marcus Mascoll of Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett High
• Junior cornerback Santana Wilson of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Desert Mountain
• Junior running back Jadyen Scott of Stockbridge (Ga.) High.
• Junior tackle Deryc Plazz of Jacksonville (Fla.) Andrew Jackson High
• Junior quarterback Luke Moga of Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope High
• Sophomore defensive end Bryce Davis of Greensboro Grimsley High
• Sophomore quarterback Bryce Baker of Walkertown (N.C.) High
• Sophomore athlete Carter Smith of Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot High
• Freshman defensive end/tight end Kendre’ Harrison of Reidsville (N.C.) High
Out of this group, I’ve always talked to all but Scott and Smith.
Davis, Plazz and Mascoll are just starting out in their recruitments, so NC State has a chance to dig in deep early. Plazz is checking out Wake Forest and NC State this weekend, and Plazz will be joined by long-time offensive line target Jake Guarnera of Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High on Sunday.
Westphal is a monster-sized tackle who really likes new offensive line coach Garett Tujague, but wasn’t as enthralled about Virginia, more so the town of Charlottesville.
It was exciting with Wilson because not many knew he was the son of former Wolfpack legend Adrian Wilson, but now they do. His mother also attended NC State.
Davis and Harrison were no-brainers in the state of North Carolina, with Harrison a Wolfpack legacy (nephew of C.C. Harrison). Davis is 6-3 and 230 pounds and he wants to see how he’ll really be able to fit in the 3-3-5 scheme. Harrison is just going to enjoy the ride, but definitely sees football his future rather than basketball. He’s got all the markings of being a national recruit.
Moga is a sharp quarterback with blazing speed and has some pretty good zip on his throws. He doesn’t look like a three-star prospect, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he continues to see his popularity grows. I do think he’ll give NC State a fair shake and he’s done his homework on the program.
Baker is going through the process and now has a Louisville offer. A few weeks ago, he wasn’t sure if football or basketball would be his future. He’s averaging 13 points per game and shooting around 45 percent on three-pointers. Walkertown will be playing Reidsville High, and those could be fun battles. NC State has done a good job of making an impression on Baker, and he’ll get to meet Anae this Saturday for the first time.
3 The Oct. 28 The Run Down had six juniors who we thought would top the board in the class of 2024.
What we wrote then:
1. Brody Barnhardt, FS, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day — NC State, West Virginia and Wake Forest have all done a good job on Barnhardt. He seems to fit the NC State defensive style perfectly and the Wolfpack have been recruiting him with earnest since June.
2. Jake Guarnera, OG/C, Ponte Vedra Bech (Fla.) Ponte Vedra High — The interior offensive lineman has unofficially visited NC State around five or six times, including the Texas Tech at NCSU game this past September. The competition has increased since the Wolfpack offered last June, but offensive line coach John Garrison has done everything right.
3. Jivan Baly, CB, Norcross (Ga.) High — The talented Baly has been effusive with his praise of NC State, and the Wolfpack offered him March 21, and he quickly unofficially visited shortly thereafter. The only thing missing is to get him on campus a few more times.
4. Jordan Shipp, WR, Charlotte Providence Day — This is more of a gut choice, and the competition will be fierce, but NC State offered Shipp on Jan. 25, 2022. He’s been to campus numerous times between recruiting events and games. The wildcard appears to be Michigan, who he is visiting again this weekend.
5. Ethan Calloway, OT, Mooresville (N.C.) Lake Norman High — The 6-7, 300-pound Calloway, who has a 7-foot wingspan, has been offered by NC State, LSU and Virginia Tech this fall. That has put his name on the board in recruiting circles. NC State has crafted a good recruiting relationship with Calloway for several months.
6. Ondre Evans, WR/CB, Nashville (Tenn.) Christ Presbyterian Academy — The speedy Evans worked out at NC State cornerback last June and earned an offer. He’s been bullish about the Wolfpack, but he does have an impressive offer list, including red-hot Tennessee.
The change since then is that offensive line coach John Garrison has departed, and both Calloway and Guarnera have blown up in recruiting.
What hasn’t changed is that Barnhardt is still No. 1 on the board and he’s looking like a late spring decision. He has a top four of Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin and NC State.
I also think the confidence meter has risen with Taylor at Grimsley High. One well-placed source thinks it will ultimately come down to NC State and Clemson for the Rivals250 wide receiver. Getting Taylor will help with junior wide receiver Jonathan Paylor of Burlington (N.C.) Cummings.
NC State brought in Coffeyville (Kan.) C.C. safety Bishop Fitzgerald and Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern senior wide receiver Elijah Caldwell, but both didn’t commit and that showed their hands on things. Caldwell be officially visiting South Carolina this weekend and Fitzgerald is officially visiting Arizona State. If there is still silence by Monday night, then NC State might actually have some wiggle room here.
However, this week has been dominated by new offers and what players will be coming to Junior Day on Saturday.
This thread has been dedicated to nearly everything we’ve learned.
There is some nuance that isn’t in that thread though. For years, the Godfather of prep football recruiting Tom Lemming has come through the Triangle area with the yearly goal of having as many of the top players in the state gather at one spot. Usually it is Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, but last year it was in Chapel Hill. This year, it is Cardinal Gibbons.
So, some players might attend Tom Lemming Day, but not NC State’s Junior Day, and some players might get invited to NC State’s Junior Day, but not get invited to Lemming Day. It’s always a fluid situation.
NC State didn’t have a home basketball game on a Saturday until Feb. 4 vs. Georgia Tech, so it elected to go Jan. 21. What has happened this season is that with NC State at North Carolina basketball at 5 p.m. Saturday, the Tar Heels have been trying to get players to come over their way after Lemming Day, or have players check out NC State first and then head over to the basketball game. Duke is also getting a few players Saturday too, and the Blue Devils are hosting Miami at 12 p.m. Saturday.
Junior Day has had some interesting subplots with the three schools that perhaps have the most talent in the state of North Carolina.
Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day has numerous NC State targets — junior safety Brody Barnhardt, junior wide receivers Jordan Shipp and Channing Goodwin and sophomore offensive tackle David Sanders. Add in junior quarterback Jadyn Davis and sophomore cornerback Braxton Winston, and it’s obvious how they won the NCISAA Division I state title.
The group is probably getting pulled in many different ways once they leave Tom Lemming Day in the morning. Shipp will be going to NC State and maybe will work his way over to North Carolina. Barnhardt isn’t coming to town this weekend at all, but plans to see Virginia tech on Jan. 23 and NC State on Jan. 24.
Davis will probably go over to North Carolina, and what has become interesting is that Sanders said Thursday night he was going over to UNC. Sanders is ranked No. 1 overall in the class of 2025.
Goodwin was still in “to be determined” mode, but isn’t a lock to attend NC State’s Junior Day. UNC just offered him this past week, which was was literally 11 months and three weeks after NC State had offered the Providence Day group (Jan. 25, 2022).
NC State has gone four-for-four on getting the Grimsley prospects — junior wide receiver Alex Taylor and Terrell Anderson, sophomore defensive end Bryce Davis and freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. NC State has offered Taylor, Anderson and Davis, and all three have been on past unofficial visits.
Hough High has an eclectic group of players with junior kicker Nolan Houser off the board in picking Clemson. Junior tackle Eagan Boyer, outside linebacker James Nesta and freshman cornerback Samari Matthews are all high-major types. NC State just offered Matthews, but not Boyer and Nesta, but it will be Boyer and Nesta who will be in attendance Saturday. Matthews has a track meet in Virginia on Saturday.
Hough High also has promising junior defensive back Xavier McIntyre and freshman defensive end Kamdon Gillespie.
2. NC State has been aggressive this week in offering new players:
• Junior tackle Fletcher Westphal of Leesburg (Va.) Tuscarora
• Junior safety Josiah Davis of Nashville (Ga.) Berrien High
• Junior tackle Marcus Mascoll of Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett High
• Junior cornerback Santana Wilson of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Desert Mountain
• Junior running back Jadyen Scott of Stockbridge (Ga.) High.
• Junior tackle Deryc Plazz of Jacksonville (Fla.) Andrew Jackson High
• Junior quarterback Luke Moga of Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope High
• Sophomore defensive end Bryce Davis of Greensboro Grimsley High
• Sophomore quarterback Bryce Baker of Walkertown (N.C.) High
• Sophomore athlete Carter Smith of Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot High
• Freshman defensive end/tight end Kendre’ Harrison of Reidsville (N.C.) High
Out of this group, I’ve always talked to all but Scott and Smith.
Davis, Plazz and Mascoll are just starting out in their recruitments, so NC State has a chance to dig in deep early. Plazz is checking out Wake Forest and NC State this weekend, and Plazz will be joined by long-time offensive line target Jake Guarnera of Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High on Sunday.
Westphal is a monster-sized tackle who really likes new offensive line coach Garett Tujague, but wasn’t as enthralled about Virginia, more so the town of Charlottesville.
It was exciting with Wilson because not many knew he was the son of former Wolfpack legend Adrian Wilson, but now they do. His mother also attended NC State.
Davis and Harrison were no-brainers in the state of North Carolina, with Harrison a Wolfpack legacy (nephew of C.C. Harrison). Davis is 6-3 and 230 pounds and he wants to see how he’ll really be able to fit in the 3-3-5 scheme. Harrison is just going to enjoy the ride, but definitely sees football his future rather than basketball. He’s got all the markings of being a national recruit.
Moga is a sharp quarterback with blazing speed and has some pretty good zip on his throws. He doesn’t look like a three-star prospect, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he continues to see his popularity grows. I do think he’ll give NC State a fair shake and he’s done his homework on the program.
Baker is going through the process and now has a Louisville offer. A few weeks ago, he wasn’t sure if football or basketball would be his future. He’s averaging 13 points per game and shooting around 45 percent on three-pointers. Walkertown will be playing Reidsville High, and those could be fun battles. NC State has done a good job of making an impression on Baker, and he’ll get to meet Anae this Saturday for the first time.
3 The Oct. 28 The Run Down had six juniors who we thought would top the board in the class of 2024.
What we wrote then:
1. Brody Barnhardt, FS, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day — NC State, West Virginia and Wake Forest have all done a good job on Barnhardt. He seems to fit the NC State defensive style perfectly and the Wolfpack have been recruiting him with earnest since June.
2. Jake Guarnera, OG/C, Ponte Vedra Bech (Fla.) Ponte Vedra High — The interior offensive lineman has unofficially visited NC State around five or six times, including the Texas Tech at NCSU game this past September. The competition has increased since the Wolfpack offered last June, but offensive line coach John Garrison has done everything right.
3. Jivan Baly, CB, Norcross (Ga.) High — The talented Baly has been effusive with his praise of NC State, and the Wolfpack offered him March 21, and he quickly unofficially visited shortly thereafter. The only thing missing is to get him on campus a few more times.
4. Jordan Shipp, WR, Charlotte Providence Day — This is more of a gut choice, and the competition will be fierce, but NC State offered Shipp on Jan. 25, 2022. He’s been to campus numerous times between recruiting events and games. The wildcard appears to be Michigan, who he is visiting again this weekend.
5. Ethan Calloway, OT, Mooresville (N.C.) Lake Norman High — The 6-7, 300-pound Calloway, who has a 7-foot wingspan, has been offered by NC State, LSU and Virginia Tech this fall. That has put his name on the board in recruiting circles. NC State has crafted a good recruiting relationship with Calloway for several months.
6. Ondre Evans, WR/CB, Nashville (Tenn.) Christ Presbyterian Academy — The speedy Evans worked out at NC State cornerback last June and earned an offer. He’s been bullish about the Wolfpack, but he does have an impressive offer list, including red-hot Tennessee.
The change since then is that offensive line coach John Garrison has departed, and both Calloway and Guarnera have blown up in recruiting.
What hasn’t changed is that Barnhardt is still No. 1 on the board and he’s looking like a late spring decision. He has a top four of Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin and NC State.
I also think the confidence meter has risen with Taylor at Grimsley High. One well-placed source thinks it will ultimately come down to NC State and Clemson for the Rivals250 wide receiver. Getting Taylor will help with junior wide receiver Jonathan Paylor of Burlington (N.C.) Cummings.
