1. There has been a lot of consternation about the lack of four-star prospects and lack or ranked players in the state of North Carolina in the class of 2023.
After this week’s update, there are 11 players who are four stars and six of them are ranked in the Rivals250. Only five players were ranked in 2022 from the state, and just four in 2017. The average between 2015-21 has been nine prospects, with a high of 13 in the class of 2016.
The motivation for the debate this week on the message board has been Havelock (N.C.) High H-back Javonte Vereen going from a four-star prospect to a three star. Vereen checked in at 6-foot-2 and 201.5 pounds with a 6-6 wingspan, making the size of a wide receiver, which for all intents and purposes he’ll be at NC State.
NC State will use him as a flex tight end/H-back type and he’s the perfect fit for that role, so in that sense, he’s a five-star addition for that role. NC State recruits tight ends who are a “H” and “Y” and as converted wide receiver Christopher Toudle has proved at the “H,” you don’t have to be a traditional tight end.
The two big questions of late is should there be more than six players ranked, and how many of the 11 four-star prospects can NC State get.
Of the 11 in-state prospects, the Wolfpack are heavily involved with four of them — Rolesville (N.C.) High wide receiver Noah Rogers, Charlotte (N.C.) Chambers wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, Arden (N.C.) Christ School defensive back Zack Myers and Charlotte running back Daylan Smothers, who could be finding a new school. Rogers is slowly coming around again on NC State again after nearly committing to Ohio State in late May. Myers and Concepcion are both officially visiting NC State on June 16-18. Smothers has made it clear that NC State is his top in-state college option, and he’s close with Concepcion after playing together at Chambers the last three years.
Two players have already picked colleges in tackles Sam Pendleton of Pfatttown Reagan and Sullivan Absher of Belmont South Point, who recently picked Notre Dame.
NC State preferred Greensboro Grimsley’s Jamaal Jarrett on the offensive line, but he wants to play nose tackle. The last two on the lists, Hickory defensive end Rico Walker and Harrisburg Hickory Ridge wide receiver Christian Hamilton faded away from the Wolfpack’s recruiting board.
Two players haven’t been offered by NC State in Southern Durham defensive end Jaybron Harvey and Concord Robinson defensive end Daevin Hobbs.
Of the non-Rivals250 players, Myers could be make the best case of being ranked in the future because Christ School has a daunting schedule with Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day (Sept. 2), Charlotte Providence Day (Sept. 23) and Charlotte Christian (Oct. 21) on it. A good showing by Myers could vault him into being ranked.
2. The sister topic to stars do matter, is so does player development and a good strength and conditioning program. Maybe in this era of transferring we’ll see more opportunities of players who don’t pan out at one school, but do well at NC State because of the Wolfpack coaches and S&C coach Dantonio Burnette.
NC State’s bread and butter has been three-star prospects.
Landing two-star prospects is getting rarer and rarer. Part of that is due to technology for both recruiting analysts and for colleges.The two-star prospects that NC State has landed the last five years (not including specialists) included safeties Sean Brown and Darius Edmundson in 2021, wide receiver Anthony Smith and tight end Ezemdi Udoh in 2020, cornerback Cecil Powell and running back Delbert Mimms III in 2019 and defensive tackle Val Martin and linebacker C.J. Hart in 2018.
Edmundson and Martin came from the junior ranks and that is a different evaluation dynamic. Brown looks to be a nice piece for the future, and Smith should be in the rotation this season. Udoh and Mimms could be career backups who help out on special teams.
Powell would have been a solid player, but has had serious injuries that could alter his playing future. Hart was a backup, who transferred to Illinois and moved into the starting lineup with the Fighting Illini before getting hurt.
With four stars, you hope they become NFL players, and more specifically an early round draft choice. A lot can change between 3-to-5 years of college.
• Former coach Chuck Amato landed 13 four-star prospects and eight five stars from 2002-07.
• Former coach Tom O’Brien landed 12 four-star prospects and three five stars from 2007-13.
• Current coach Dave Doeren has landed 27 four-star prospects since 2013.
NC State has had 20 players drafted in the first three round in the Rivals.com era, which began giving star ratings in 2002.
Here is breakdown — seven four stars; seven three stars; six two stars.
2006:
First round: Mario Williams (4 stars); Manny Lawson (2 stars); John McCargo (2 stars)
2007:
Third round: DeMarcus Tyler (3 stars)
2008:
Third round: DaJuan Morgan (3 stars)
2011:
Third round: Nate Irving (2 stars);
2012:
Third round: T.J. Graham (2 stars); Russell Wilson (2 stars)
2013:
Second round: David Amerson (4 stars)
Third round: Mike Glennon (4 stars)
2016:
Third round: Joe Thuney (3 stars); Jacoby Brissett (4 stars)
2017:
Second round: Josh Jones (3 stars)
2018:
First round: Bradley Chubb (3 stars)
Third round: B.J. Hill (3 stars); Justin Jones (4 stars)
2019:
First round: Garrett Bradbury (2 stars)
Third round: Germaine Pratt (4 stars)
2021:
Third round: Alim McNeill (4 stars)
2022:
First round: Ikem Ekwonu (3 stars)
3. The first three days of NC State’s football camps could have its own The Run Down.
Of the players that got offered, the last of the interviews needed is rising junior punter/kicker Jack Morgese of Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII.
The biggest news for the class of 2023 was offering Sumer (S.C.) Lakewood cornerback Brandon Cisse, who could be on commitment watch the next two weeks or so. NC State is his lone high major offer at the moment, but after running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash he opened eyes Saturday. Then he returned with his parents Tuesday for an unofficial visit.
The biggest offers given out in the class of 2024 were to linebacker Cannon Lewis of Ona (W.Va.) Cabell Midland High and offensive lineman Jake Guarnera of Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High.
Lewis came to NC State for Junior Day on Jan. 31 and has offers from Marshall, Toledo and Eastern Kentucky. He ran a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash at 6-1 1/2 and 207 pounds and that proved his athleticism.
The 6-4, 290-pound Guarnera has been to NC State a total of five times after this past weekend. He proved to offensive line coach John Garrison that he’s improved over the last year and came away with an offer Friday. His connection to NC State is his junior high coach Tom Fordham, who is the father of NCSU linebacker Caden Fordham.
Not camp related, but after camp ended Saturday, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day junior safety Brody Barnhardt stopped by for a few hours and earned an NC State offer. Barnhardt has a pretty good offer list already with NC State, Boston College, Charlotte, East Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia. Wake Forest just offered Tuesday.
The class of 2025 produced an offer to rising sophomore wide receiver Je’rel Bolder of Forest Hills High in Marshville, N.C., which is southeast of Charlotte. Bolder is just 14 years old, but he clocked 4.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 33.8 inches in the vertical jump. He also earned an offer to Duke last weekend.
The class of 2026 even produced one offer at camp. Cornerback Dontrae Walls Jr. drew the interest of NC State cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell during the spring. Walls came to camp and at 14 years old, he earned an offer from NC State, and then picked one up two days later from Virginia Tech. The Newport News, Va., product will be attending Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake, Va.
After this week’s update, there are 11 players who are four stars and six of them are ranked in the Rivals250. Only five players were ranked in 2022 from the state, and just four in 2017. The average between 2015-21 has been nine prospects, with a high of 13 in the class of 2016.
The motivation for the debate this week on the message board has been Havelock (N.C.) High H-back Javonte Vereen going from a four-star prospect to a three star. Vereen checked in at 6-foot-2 and 201.5 pounds with a 6-6 wingspan, making the size of a wide receiver, which for all intents and purposes he’ll be at NC State.
NC State will use him as a flex tight end/H-back type and he’s the perfect fit for that role, so in that sense, he’s a five-star addition for that role. NC State recruits tight ends who are a “H” and “Y” and as converted wide receiver Christopher Toudle has proved at the “H,” you don’t have to be a traditional tight end.
The two big questions of late is should there be more than six players ranked, and how many of the 11 four-star prospects can NC State get.
Of the 11 in-state prospects, the Wolfpack are heavily involved with four of them — Rolesville (N.C.) High wide receiver Noah Rogers, Charlotte (N.C.) Chambers wide receiver Kevin Concepcion, Arden (N.C.) Christ School defensive back Zack Myers and Charlotte running back Daylan Smothers, who could be finding a new school. Rogers is slowly coming around again on NC State again after nearly committing to Ohio State in late May. Myers and Concepcion are both officially visiting NC State on June 16-18. Smothers has made it clear that NC State is his top in-state college option, and he’s close with Concepcion after playing together at Chambers the last three years.
Two players have already picked colleges in tackles Sam Pendleton of Pfatttown Reagan and Sullivan Absher of Belmont South Point, who recently picked Notre Dame.
NC State preferred Greensboro Grimsley’s Jamaal Jarrett on the offensive line, but he wants to play nose tackle. The last two on the lists, Hickory defensive end Rico Walker and Harrisburg Hickory Ridge wide receiver Christian Hamilton faded away from the Wolfpack’s recruiting board.
Two players haven’t been offered by NC State in Southern Durham defensive end Jaybron Harvey and Concord Robinson defensive end Daevin Hobbs.
Of the non-Rivals250 players, Myers could be make the best case of being ranked in the future because Christ School has a daunting schedule with Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day (Sept. 2), Charlotte Providence Day (Sept. 23) and Charlotte Christian (Oct. 21) on it. A good showing by Myers could vault him into being ranked.
2. The sister topic to stars do matter, is so does player development and a good strength and conditioning program. Maybe in this era of transferring we’ll see more opportunities of players who don’t pan out at one school, but do well at NC State because of the Wolfpack coaches and S&C coach Dantonio Burnette.
NC State’s bread and butter has been three-star prospects.
Landing two-star prospects is getting rarer and rarer. Part of that is due to technology for both recruiting analysts and for colleges.The two-star prospects that NC State has landed the last five years (not including specialists) included safeties Sean Brown and Darius Edmundson in 2021, wide receiver Anthony Smith and tight end Ezemdi Udoh in 2020, cornerback Cecil Powell and running back Delbert Mimms III in 2019 and defensive tackle Val Martin and linebacker C.J. Hart in 2018.
Edmundson and Martin came from the junior ranks and that is a different evaluation dynamic. Brown looks to be a nice piece for the future, and Smith should be in the rotation this season. Udoh and Mimms could be career backups who help out on special teams.
Powell would have been a solid player, but has had serious injuries that could alter his playing future. Hart was a backup, who transferred to Illinois and moved into the starting lineup with the Fighting Illini before getting hurt.
With four stars, you hope they become NFL players, and more specifically an early round draft choice. A lot can change between 3-to-5 years of college.
• Former coach Chuck Amato landed 13 four-star prospects and eight five stars from 2002-07.
• Former coach Tom O’Brien landed 12 four-star prospects and three five stars from 2007-13.
• Current coach Dave Doeren has landed 27 four-star prospects since 2013.
NC State has had 20 players drafted in the first three round in the Rivals.com era, which began giving star ratings in 2002.
Here is breakdown — seven four stars; seven three stars; six two stars.
2006:
First round: Mario Williams (4 stars); Manny Lawson (2 stars); John McCargo (2 stars)
2007:
Third round: DeMarcus Tyler (3 stars)
2008:
Third round: DaJuan Morgan (3 stars)
2011:
Third round: Nate Irving (2 stars);
2012:
Third round: T.J. Graham (2 stars); Russell Wilson (2 stars)
2013:
Second round: David Amerson (4 stars)
Third round: Mike Glennon (4 stars)
2016:
Third round: Joe Thuney (3 stars); Jacoby Brissett (4 stars)
2017:
Second round: Josh Jones (3 stars)
2018:
First round: Bradley Chubb (3 stars)
Third round: B.J. Hill (3 stars); Justin Jones (4 stars)
2019:
First round: Garrett Bradbury (2 stars)
Third round: Germaine Pratt (4 stars)
2021:
Third round: Alim McNeill (4 stars)
2022:
First round: Ikem Ekwonu (3 stars)
3. The first three days of NC State’s football camps could have its own The Run Down.
Of the players that got offered, the last of the interviews needed is rising junior punter/kicker Jack Morgese of Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII.
The biggest news for the class of 2023 was offering Sumer (S.C.) Lakewood cornerback Brandon Cisse, who could be on commitment watch the next two weeks or so. NC State is his lone high major offer at the moment, but after running a 4.45-second 40-yard dash he opened eyes Saturday. Then he returned with his parents Tuesday for an unofficial visit.
The biggest offers given out in the class of 2024 were to linebacker Cannon Lewis of Ona (W.Va.) Cabell Midland High and offensive lineman Jake Guarnera of Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High.
Lewis came to NC State for Junior Day on Jan. 31 and has offers from Marshall, Toledo and Eastern Kentucky. He ran a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash at 6-1 1/2 and 207 pounds and that proved his athleticism.
The 6-4, 290-pound Guarnera has been to NC State a total of five times after this past weekend. He proved to offensive line coach John Garrison that he’s improved over the last year and came away with an offer Friday. His connection to NC State is his junior high coach Tom Fordham, who is the father of NCSU linebacker Caden Fordham.
Not camp related, but after camp ended Saturday, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day junior safety Brody Barnhardt stopped by for a few hours and earned an NC State offer. Barnhardt has a pretty good offer list already with NC State, Boston College, Charlotte, East Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia. Wake Forest just offered Tuesday.
The class of 2025 produced an offer to rising sophomore wide receiver Je’rel Bolder of Forest Hills High in Marshville, N.C., which is southeast of Charlotte. Bolder is just 14 years old, but he clocked 4.62 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 33.8 inches in the vertical jump. He also earned an offer to Duke last weekend.
The class of 2026 even produced one offer at camp. Cornerback Dontrae Walls Jr. drew the interest of NC State cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell during the spring. Walls came to camp and at 14 years old, he earned an offer from NC State, and then picked one up two days later from Virginia Tech. The Newport News, Va., product will be attending Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake, Va.
