1. NC State will host at least 21 uncommitted football prospects in June.
While some schools will have players visiting this weekend, NC State has concentrated on June 9-11, June 16-18 and June 23-25. There is always the risk that some of the players scheduled for later in the month will pick another school leading up to things, but that is part of the scheduling game.
The goal is simple, to eventually enter August with about 75 percent of the recruiting class done, which the Wolfpack have five verbal commits thus far. NC State has 10 seniors that come off the books.
Here is a breakdown of how I see things:
Xavier Gilliam, DE, Columbia (Md.) Wilde Lake: Gilliam came through NC State in mid-April while doing a tour of four different colleges in the state. It’s a good sign that the Wolfpack got his official visit locked in, but Penn State and Virginia Tech have put in the work thus far.
Keenan Jackson, WR, Matthews (N.C.) Weddington: Jackson has been recruited by NC State for over a year, and he has a busy June with visits lined up for Virginia Tech, NC State, Duke and North Carolina, and then a commitment June 29. If Jackson makes it to the UNC visit, that is a strong indicator that he’s the Tar Heels to lose.
Trenton Mitchell, OT, Gastonia (N.C.) Ashbrook: NC State was the first in-state Power Five program to believe in Mitchell and offered him, and he quickly set up an official visit. He has set up official visits to East Carolina, Rutgers and Maryland this month, so the competition isn’t overly scary. This is a recruitment that NC State needs to wrap up.
Jordan Shipp, WR, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day: Shipp is going to be interesting. Does Michigan want to go all in on him? He’ll find that out this weekend apparently on an official visit there, and he’s obviously close with UM junior commits Jaydn Davis and Channing Goodwin of Providence Day. Georgia is lurking too, but also probably have a wide receiver pecking order. I could be wrong, but I’ve always gotten more of a NC State over UNC vibe in talking to Shipp these last 16 months, if he elects to stay close to home.
Amaris Williams, DE, Clinton (N.C.) High: Williams is the fast riser due to impressive upside, measurables and not many defensive ends in North Carolina. NC State has done its part by identifying him early, offering him and getting him on campus multiple times. Rivals.com’s Adam Friedman has Florida and Tennessee leading, with Georgia lurking after a recent offer. Clemson might also jump in. NC State can only run its own race, and his official visit to Raleigh needs to be impressive.
Terrell Anderson, WR, Greensboro Grimsley: Anderson hasn’t gotten caught up in the hoopla of recruiting like some, and is more detached. It has made his recruitment rather simple. NC State is in a good spot, but what happens if Tennessee or where he grew up, Michigan, put the fullcourt press on? That is where it gets tricky. Pressing Anderson for a commitment would create some momentum.
Marcus Marcoll, OL, Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett: Marcoll’s family has been through the recruiting process before, with his defensive end older brother playing at Clemson. Marcoll has a good mix with NC State, LSU, Florida and Georgia Tech. It won’t be easy for the Wolfpack, but Marcoll’s is about personal relationships with coaches.
Robby Martin, OG, Huntington (W.Va.) High: Martin shuns interviews, so it’s sometimes hard to get a read on him, but he’s been to NC State multiple times unofficially, including after the hiring of offensive line coach Garett Tujague. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Tony Gibson knows the state of West Virginia inside-out and that helps. Penn State and WVU are also part of his top eight.
Ronnie Royal, DB/ATH, Gulf Shores (Ala.) High: The exciting Royal would be a tremendous boost for NC State, and the kind of out of state player the Wolfpack aren’t usually in the mix for. He has official visits set up for NC State and Boston College, and Central Florida is in the mix. This would be a coup for the Wolfpack, and then they’d probably have to hold on afterward if SEC schools circle back on him.
Jonathan Paylor, WR, Burlington (N.C.) Cummings: Paylor likes South Carolina and that’s obvious, but that doesn’t mean he also doesn’t have strong affinity for NC State and UNC. Landing Paylor is how NC State can flex its recruiting muscle, sort to speak, and let other schools know that it won’t be easy coming in and getting a player less than an hour from campus. He’s likely averaged four unofficial visits a year the last to years to the Wolfpack. Now is the time to close and create a positive perception of where NC State is going.
Alex Taylor, WR, Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley: Much like Paylor, Taylor definitely likes Clemson. NC State has been down that road before. CU has produced future pros like DeAndre Hopkins, Tee Higgins, Mike Williams and Sammy Watkins. I’ve also seen wide receivers from North Carolina go there and adjust slowly like former Greensboro Page’s Diondre Overton, Greenville Rose’s Carnell Powell and Durham Hillside’s Trevion Thompson. NC State’s job is to prove to Taylor and Paylor, and the other wide receiver prospects that it is cool again to catch passes in Raleigh. It will define the perception of the class of 2024, and probably the difference between a top 25 class and a top 40 one.
2. Is NC State football done with adding players for August fall camp? No.
A unique situation has developed where the Wolfpack will aim to add Clayton (N.C.) High senior wide receiver Dazmin James. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound James has two chapters to his recruitment with the second one about to be played out, which doesn’t normally happen in June.
The former Benson (N.C.) West Johnston player ended up being all-conference for 6-5 Clayton. MaxPreps.com had him for 43 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns, and he rushed 27 times for 321 yards and four scores in 11 games.
James signed his national letter of intent for Iowa Western Community College, which won the national title this past year against NC State-bound defensive end Jy’Keveous “Red” Hibbler and Northwest Mississippi C.C. Now, he has been released and is able to go to any college he chooses.
NC State offered James for football and track and field on Thursday, following a Liberty football offer. South Carolina has offered in track Friday. Will that list grow? Likely due to what he just did in track and field.
James won the NCHSAA 4A 100-meter dash with 10.46 seconds, edging Winston-Salem (N.C.) Parkland junior Antwan Hughes Jr. (10.55). Then he won the 200-meter dash with 21.06, topping Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek sophomore Christian Dixon. James was also part of the 800 relay squad that finished third, and he was named the 4A MVP.
To put that speed in perspective, former NC State star sprinter Cravont Charleston holds the 4A 100 state record with 10.38 at Charlotte Mallard Creek in 2016, and former Arkansas three-time All-American J-Mee Samuels of Winston-Salem Mount Tabor has the 4A 200 record with 20.61 in 2005.
While some schools will have players visiting this weekend, NC State has concentrated on June 9-11, June 16-18 and June 23-25. There is always the risk that some of the players scheduled for later in the month will pick another school leading up to things, but that is part of the scheduling game.
The goal is simple, to eventually enter August with about 75 percent of the recruiting class done, which the Wolfpack have five verbal commits thus far. NC State has 10 seniors that come off the books.
Here is a breakdown of how I see things:
June 9-11:
Xavier Gilliam, DE, Columbia (Md.) Wilde Lake: Gilliam came through NC State in mid-April while doing a tour of four different colleges in the state. It’s a good sign that the Wolfpack got his official visit locked in, but Penn State and Virginia Tech have put in the work thus far.
Keenan Jackson, WR, Matthews (N.C.) Weddington: Jackson has been recruited by NC State for over a year, and he has a busy June with visits lined up for Virginia Tech, NC State, Duke and North Carolina, and then a commitment June 29. If Jackson makes it to the UNC visit, that is a strong indicator that he’s the Tar Heels to lose.
Trenton Mitchell, OT, Gastonia (N.C.) Ashbrook: NC State was the first in-state Power Five program to believe in Mitchell and offered him, and he quickly set up an official visit. He has set up official visits to East Carolina, Rutgers and Maryland this month, so the competition isn’t overly scary. This is a recruitment that NC State needs to wrap up.
Jordan Shipp, WR, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day: Shipp is going to be interesting. Does Michigan want to go all in on him? He’ll find that out this weekend apparently on an official visit there, and he’s obviously close with UM junior commits Jaydn Davis and Channing Goodwin of Providence Day. Georgia is lurking too, but also probably have a wide receiver pecking order. I could be wrong, but I’ve always gotten more of a NC State over UNC vibe in talking to Shipp these last 16 months, if he elects to stay close to home.
Amaris Williams, DE, Clinton (N.C.) High: Williams is the fast riser due to impressive upside, measurables and not many defensive ends in North Carolina. NC State has done its part by identifying him early, offering him and getting him on campus multiple times. Rivals.com’s Adam Friedman has Florida and Tennessee leading, with Georgia lurking after a recent offer. Clemson might also jump in. NC State can only run its own race, and his official visit to Raleigh needs to be impressive.
June 16-18:
Terrell Anderson, WR, Greensboro Grimsley: Anderson hasn’t gotten caught up in the hoopla of recruiting like some, and is more detached. It has made his recruitment rather simple. NC State is in a good spot, but what happens if Tennessee or where he grew up, Michigan, put the fullcourt press on? That is where it gets tricky. Pressing Anderson for a commitment would create some momentum.
Marcus Marcoll, OL, Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett: Marcoll’s family has been through the recruiting process before, with his defensive end older brother playing at Clemson. Marcoll has a good mix with NC State, LSU, Florida and Georgia Tech. It won’t be easy for the Wolfpack, but Marcoll’s is about personal relationships with coaches.
Robby Martin, OG, Huntington (W.Va.) High: Martin shuns interviews, so it’s sometimes hard to get a read on him, but he’s been to NC State multiple times unofficially, including after the hiring of offensive line coach Garett Tujague. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Tony Gibson knows the state of West Virginia inside-out and that helps. Penn State and WVU are also part of his top eight.
Ronnie Royal, DB/ATH, Gulf Shores (Ala.) High: The exciting Royal would be a tremendous boost for NC State, and the kind of out of state player the Wolfpack aren’t usually in the mix for. He has official visits set up for NC State and Boston College, and Central Florida is in the mix. This would be a coup for the Wolfpack, and then they’d probably have to hold on afterward if SEC schools circle back on him.
Jonathan Paylor, WR, Burlington (N.C.) Cummings: Paylor likes South Carolina and that’s obvious, but that doesn’t mean he also doesn’t have strong affinity for NC State and UNC. Landing Paylor is how NC State can flex its recruiting muscle, sort to speak, and let other schools know that it won’t be easy coming in and getting a player less than an hour from campus. He’s likely averaged four unofficial visits a year the last to years to the Wolfpack. Now is the time to close and create a positive perception of where NC State is going.
Alex Taylor, WR, Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley: Much like Paylor, Taylor definitely likes Clemson. NC State has been down that road before. CU has produced future pros like DeAndre Hopkins, Tee Higgins, Mike Williams and Sammy Watkins. I’ve also seen wide receivers from North Carolina go there and adjust slowly like former Greensboro Page’s Diondre Overton, Greenville Rose’s Carnell Powell and Durham Hillside’s Trevion Thompson. NC State’s job is to prove to Taylor and Paylor, and the other wide receiver prospects that it is cool again to catch passes in Raleigh. It will define the perception of the class of 2024, and probably the difference between a top 25 class and a top 40 one.
2. Is NC State football done with adding players for August fall camp? No.
A unique situation has developed where the Wolfpack will aim to add Clayton (N.C.) High senior wide receiver Dazmin James. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound James has two chapters to his recruitment with the second one about to be played out, which doesn’t normally happen in June.
The former Benson (N.C.) West Johnston player ended up being all-conference for 6-5 Clayton. MaxPreps.com had him for 43 catches for 601 yards and five touchdowns, and he rushed 27 times for 321 yards and four scores in 11 games.
James signed his national letter of intent for Iowa Western Community College, which won the national title this past year against NC State-bound defensive end Jy’Keveous “Red” Hibbler and Northwest Mississippi C.C. Now, he has been released and is able to go to any college he chooses.
NC State offered James for football and track and field on Thursday, following a Liberty football offer. South Carolina has offered in track Friday. Will that list grow? Likely due to what he just did in track and field.
James won the NCHSAA 4A 100-meter dash with 10.46 seconds, edging Winston-Salem (N.C.) Parkland junior Antwan Hughes Jr. (10.55). Then he won the 200-meter dash with 21.06, topping Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek sophomore Christian Dixon. James was also part of the 800 relay squad that finished third, and he was named the 4A MVP.
To put that speed in perspective, former NC State star sprinter Cravont Charleston holds the 4A 100 state record with 10.38 at Charlotte Mallard Creek in 2016, and former Arkansas three-time All-American J-Mee Samuels of Winston-Salem Mount Tabor has the 4A 200 record with 20.61 in 2005.
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