1. Not having a Junior Day last weekend was unfortunate, but not something that should affect NC State football recruiting long-term.
We’ll likely be updating names throughout the weekend, and the weather seems to be agreeing, though cold at high of 42 degrees and low of 17 on Sunday.
NC State is hopeful that these guys will come (not a final list):
Class of 2023:
Lex Thomas, QB, Rolesville High (commit)
Daylan Smothers, RB, Charlotte Chambers High
JT Smith, RB, Cornelius Hough
Marqies McCombs, RB, Forest City Chase
Noah Rogers, WR, Rolesville High
Kevin Concepcion, WR, Charlotte Chambers
Nathan Leacock, WR, Raleigh Millbrook
Ja'Keith Hamilton, WR, Shelby High
Javonte Vereen, TE, Havelock High
Connor Cox, TE, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles
Sam Pendleton, OT, Pfafftown Reagan High (this Friday, but not Sunday)
Chris Burton, OL, Cary High
Jamaal Jarrett, OT/NT, Greensboro Grimsley
Spencer Webb, OT/DL, Pfafftown Reagan
Luke Rector, C, Valdese Draughn
Keith Sampson Jr., DT, New Bern High
Monteque Rhames, DE, Sumter (S.C.) High
Isaiah Shirley, DE, Boone Watauga High
Chris Peal, FS/ATH, Charlotte Providence Day
Zack Myers, S, Arden Christ School
KP Price, S, Towson (Md.) Calvert Hall
Tamarcus Cooley, ATH, Knightdale High
Jordan Tapscott, ATH, Nokesville (Va.) Kettle Run
Ta'Darrin Griffin, ATH, Shelby High
Class of 2024:
Jonathan Paylor, WR, Burlington Cummings High
Alex Taylor, WR, Greensboro Grimsley High
Jordan Shipp, WR, Charlotte Providence Day
Channing Goodwin, WR, Charlotte Providence Day
Micah Gilbert, WR, Charlotte Christian
Javarius Green, WR, Shelby Crest
Jack Larsen, TE, Charlotte Catholic
Michael Lunsford, TE/FB, Ona (W.Va.) Cabell Midland
Anthony Quinn Jr., RB, Fayetteville Seventy-First
Ryan Mitchell, OL, Midlothian (Va.) Manchester
Kenny Walz, OL, Midlothian (Va.) Manchester
Jake Guarnera, OL, Ponte Vedra (Fla.) Beach
Jaden Pierce, DT, Sheby High
Cayden Jones, OLB/S, Arden Christ School
Mekhai White, ATH, King's George (Va.) High
Talking to the recruits, you see how fluid it is. For instance, if Peal comes from Providence Day, then sophomore wide receivers Jordan Shipp and Channing Goodwin will attend. All three have offers from NC State.
We mentioned last week that the guys who probably would have come last Saturday, but not this Sunday due to agreeing to go to other Junior Days:
Christian Hamilton, WR, Harrisburg Hickory Ridge
Chris Culliver, WR, Maiden High
Sullivan Absher, OT, Belmont South Point
Rico Walker, OLB/DE, Hickory High
Grant Tucker, OLB/ATH, Charlotte Christian
2. The class of 2022 has been put to bed on Rivals.com’s national and state rankings. There wasn’t a lot of movement from the last ranking Dec. 9, but part of that is the Wolfpack’s signees didn’t play in all-star games.
However, one player popped up in a new category. Whiteville senior Daejuan Thompson is now ranked as the No. 37 outside linebacker in the country, which 14 spots behind fellow signee Torren Wright of Kannapolis (N.C.) Brown. The 6-3, 200-pound Thompson is basically 20-30 pounds away from potentially being a future key contributor at NC State.
NC State’s small 12-man class is currently ranked No. 60 nationally by Rivals.com, but No. 28 overall for average stars per player at 3.23.
North Carolina products:
8. Torren Wright, outside linebacker, Kannapolis Brown; No. 23 OLB nationally
12. Daejuan Thompson, outside linebacker, Whiteville High; No. 37 OLB nationally
13. Michael Allen, all-purpose back, Greenville Rose; Also No. 13 all-purpose back nationally
19. Isaiah Crowell, safety, Kernersville East Forsyth
21. Jackson Vick, athlete, Bailey Southern Nash
25. Terrell Timmons, wide receiver, Greensboro Northern Guilford
28. Rylan Vann, center, Cary High
Georgia duo:
23. MJ Morris, dual-threat quarterback, Carrollton High; No. 235 overall nationally; No. 3 dual-threat QB nationally
81. Jacarrius Peak, offensive guard, Valdosta High; No. 45 guard nationally
Florida duo:
51. Brandon Cleveland, strongside defensive end, Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day; No. 30 strongside DE nationally
Unranked: Nick Campbell, strongside defensive end, Minneola (Fla.) Lake Minneola
South Carolina product:
13. Davin Jackson, defensive tackle; Sumter (S.C.) High
3. The month of January must feel like Christmas for football recruits with college coaches coming to their high schools and scholarships getting tossed around.
Unofficially, about 48 prospect currently have at least one Division I offer. For many the next goal is to get an offer from a Power Five Conference program, one from an ACC school or dream school. It seems a little bit crazy when you look back and NC State found guys like safety Earl Wolff from Raeford (N.C.) Hoke County, defensive lineman B.J. Hill from Oakboro (N.C.) West Stanly and running back Jaylen Samuels of powerhouse Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek at June camps.
There are three productive players that will be interesting to watch over the next six months — Denver (N.C.) East Lincoln junior middle linebacker Ben Cutter, Southern Durham (N.C.) High junior defensive end Jaybron Harvey and Waxhaw (N.C.) Cuthbertson sophomore wide receiver Keenan Jackson. NC State hasn’t offered them, but they have some advocates because their HUDL film is impressive.
Cutter will remind many of NC State linebacker Drake Thomas, and he is just as productive at East Lincoln as Thomas was at Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage. Both even pinch-hit at running back due to injuries.
Cutter has an astonishing 386 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had 158 stops and 15 tackles for loss in 12 games this past season. The 6-1, 220-pounder has offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Liberty. The key will be if he lives up to his self-reported 4.6-second 40-yard speed.
Talking to Harvey this week and then seeing him in-person at a basketball game, he’s now healthy. He hurt his ankle in the last playoff game last November, and just returned to playing hoops this week. Originally, he thought basketball was his college ticket like his older brother. However his dad played football at West Virginia.
The 6-3, 215-pounder now knows football is his college ticket. He has offers from Wake Forest, Duke, Louisville, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State and Liberty among others. What makes Harvey unique is he is a true weapon on passing downs. He had 129 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks, plus an interception in 11 games played this season. He said his goal is to get up to 230 pounds, and he showed his explosiveness is back during Southern Durham’s basketball game Wednesday.
Jackson came to the NC State game against Syracuse on Nov. 20. His recruitment is more in its infancy compared to the other two. Maybe colleges want to see him run with his 6-3, 185-pound frame. On the field, he had 52 catches for 772 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games.
Jackson torched Weddington High for five catches for 173 yards and a score, and he had six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in a 42-31 win over Boone (N.C.) Watauga. He impressed the Watauga coach, who has a NC State target of his own in junior defensive end Isaiah Shirley.
We’ll likely be updating names throughout the weekend, and the weather seems to be agreeing, though cold at high of 42 degrees and low of 17 on Sunday.
NC State is hopeful that these guys will come (not a final list):
Class of 2023:
Lex Thomas, QB, Rolesville High (commit)
Daylan Smothers, RB, Charlotte Chambers High
JT Smith, RB, Cornelius Hough
Marqies McCombs, RB, Forest City Chase
Noah Rogers, WR, Rolesville High
Kevin Concepcion, WR, Charlotte Chambers
Nathan Leacock, WR, Raleigh Millbrook
Ja'Keith Hamilton, WR, Shelby High
Javonte Vereen, TE, Havelock High
Connor Cox, TE, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles
Sam Pendleton, OT, Pfafftown Reagan High (this Friday, but not Sunday)
Chris Burton, OL, Cary High
Jamaal Jarrett, OT/NT, Greensboro Grimsley
Spencer Webb, OT/DL, Pfafftown Reagan
Luke Rector, C, Valdese Draughn
Keith Sampson Jr., DT, New Bern High
Monteque Rhames, DE, Sumter (S.C.) High
Isaiah Shirley, DE, Boone Watauga High
Chris Peal, FS/ATH, Charlotte Providence Day
Zack Myers, S, Arden Christ School
KP Price, S, Towson (Md.) Calvert Hall
Tamarcus Cooley, ATH, Knightdale High
Jordan Tapscott, ATH, Nokesville (Va.) Kettle Run
Ta'Darrin Griffin, ATH, Shelby High
Class of 2024:
Jonathan Paylor, WR, Burlington Cummings High
Alex Taylor, WR, Greensboro Grimsley High
Jordan Shipp, WR, Charlotte Providence Day
Channing Goodwin, WR, Charlotte Providence Day
Micah Gilbert, WR, Charlotte Christian
Javarius Green, WR, Shelby Crest
Jack Larsen, TE, Charlotte Catholic
Michael Lunsford, TE/FB, Ona (W.Va.) Cabell Midland
Anthony Quinn Jr., RB, Fayetteville Seventy-First
Ryan Mitchell, OL, Midlothian (Va.) Manchester
Kenny Walz, OL, Midlothian (Va.) Manchester
Jake Guarnera, OL, Ponte Vedra (Fla.) Beach
Jaden Pierce, DT, Sheby High
Cayden Jones, OLB/S, Arden Christ School
Mekhai White, ATH, King's George (Va.) High
Talking to the recruits, you see how fluid it is. For instance, if Peal comes from Providence Day, then sophomore wide receivers Jordan Shipp and Channing Goodwin will attend. All three have offers from NC State.
We mentioned last week that the guys who probably would have come last Saturday, but not this Sunday due to agreeing to go to other Junior Days:
Christian Hamilton, WR, Harrisburg Hickory Ridge
Chris Culliver, WR, Maiden High
Sullivan Absher, OT, Belmont South Point
Rico Walker, OLB/DE, Hickory High
Grant Tucker, OLB/ATH, Charlotte Christian
2. The class of 2022 has been put to bed on Rivals.com’s national and state rankings. There wasn’t a lot of movement from the last ranking Dec. 9, but part of that is the Wolfpack’s signees didn’t play in all-star games.
However, one player popped up in a new category. Whiteville senior Daejuan Thompson is now ranked as the No. 37 outside linebacker in the country, which 14 spots behind fellow signee Torren Wright of Kannapolis (N.C.) Brown. The 6-3, 200-pound Thompson is basically 20-30 pounds away from potentially being a future key contributor at NC State.
NC State’s small 12-man class is currently ranked No. 60 nationally by Rivals.com, but No. 28 overall for average stars per player at 3.23.
North Carolina products:
8. Torren Wright, outside linebacker, Kannapolis Brown; No. 23 OLB nationally
12. Daejuan Thompson, outside linebacker, Whiteville High; No. 37 OLB nationally
13. Michael Allen, all-purpose back, Greenville Rose; Also No. 13 all-purpose back nationally
19. Isaiah Crowell, safety, Kernersville East Forsyth
21. Jackson Vick, athlete, Bailey Southern Nash
25. Terrell Timmons, wide receiver, Greensboro Northern Guilford
28. Rylan Vann, center, Cary High
Georgia duo:
23. MJ Morris, dual-threat quarterback, Carrollton High; No. 235 overall nationally; No. 3 dual-threat QB nationally
81. Jacarrius Peak, offensive guard, Valdosta High; No. 45 guard nationally
Florida duo:
51. Brandon Cleveland, strongside defensive end, Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day; No. 30 strongside DE nationally
Unranked: Nick Campbell, strongside defensive end, Minneola (Fla.) Lake Minneola
South Carolina product:
13. Davin Jackson, defensive tackle; Sumter (S.C.) High
3. The month of January must feel like Christmas for football recruits with college coaches coming to their high schools and scholarships getting tossed around.
Unofficially, about 48 prospect currently have at least one Division I offer. For many the next goal is to get an offer from a Power Five Conference program, one from an ACC school or dream school. It seems a little bit crazy when you look back and NC State found guys like safety Earl Wolff from Raeford (N.C.) Hoke County, defensive lineman B.J. Hill from Oakboro (N.C.) West Stanly and running back Jaylen Samuels of powerhouse Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek at June camps.
There are three productive players that will be interesting to watch over the next six months — Denver (N.C.) East Lincoln junior middle linebacker Ben Cutter, Southern Durham (N.C.) High junior defensive end Jaybron Harvey and Waxhaw (N.C.) Cuthbertson sophomore wide receiver Keenan Jackson. NC State hasn’t offered them, but they have some advocates because their HUDL film is impressive.
Cutter will remind many of NC State linebacker Drake Thomas, and he is just as productive at East Lincoln as Thomas was at Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage. Both even pinch-hit at running back due to injuries.
Cutter has an astonishing 386 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had 158 stops and 15 tackles for loss in 12 games this past season. The 6-1, 220-pounder has offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Liberty. The key will be if he lives up to his self-reported 4.6-second 40-yard speed.
Talking to Harvey this week and then seeing him in-person at a basketball game, he’s now healthy. He hurt his ankle in the last playoff game last November, and just returned to playing hoops this week. Originally, he thought basketball was his college ticket like his older brother. However his dad played football at West Virginia.
The 6-3, 215-pounder now knows football is his college ticket. He has offers from Wake Forest, Duke, Louisville, Arizona State, Vanderbilt, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State and Liberty among others. What makes Harvey unique is he is a true weapon on passing downs. He had 129 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 28.5 sacks, plus an interception in 11 games played this season. He said his goal is to get up to 230 pounds, and he showed his explosiveness is back during Southern Durham’s basketball game Wednesday.
Jackson came to the NC State game against Syracuse on Nov. 20. His recruitment is more in its infancy compared to the other two. Maybe colleges want to see him run with his 6-3, 185-pound frame. On the field, he had 52 catches for 772 yards and nine touchdowns in 13 games.
Jackson torched Weddington High for five catches for 173 yards and a score, and he had six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown in a 42-31 win over Boone (N.C.) Watauga. He impressed the Watauga coach, who has a NC State target of his own in junior defensive end Isaiah Shirley.
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