NC State has verbal commitments from the following prospects:
Three-star linebacker Devon Betty, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
Three-star offensive tackle Austin Blaske, Bloomingdale (Ga.) South Effingham High
Three-star defensive back Devan Boykin, Greensboro (N.C.) Ragsdale High
Three-star receiver Jalen Coit, Cheraw (S.C.) High
Three-star receiver Joshua Crabtree, Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High
Three-star quarterback Ben Finley, Phoenix (Ariz.) Paradise Valley High
Three-star offensive lineman Sean Hill, Brookwood (Ga.) Snellville High
Three-star offensive lineman Ethan Lane, Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer High
Three-star offensive lineman Patrick Matan, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga Prep
Three-star safety/nickel Nehki Meredith, Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan
Three-star linebacker Jayland Parker, Macon (Ga.) Westside High
Two-star defensive lineman Pheldarius Payne, Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa.
Four-star receiver Porter Rooks, Charlotte Myers Park High
Two-star receiver Anthony Smith, Huntingtown (Md.) High
Two-star tight end Ezemdi Udoh, Fayetteville (N.C.) Terry Sanford High
Three-star defensive tackle Davin Vann, Cary (N.C.) High
Three-star defensive back Aydan White, Asheville (N.C.) Christ School
Here is a listing of the top 10 prospects in the order that we think they are likely to pick NC State.
1. Kicker Ian Williams, Matthews (N.C.) Weddington High
Williams is expected to take an official visit this weekend to Raleigh. NC State appears comfortable with taking three scholarship kickers on the roster. Williams has also been offered by Army, Charlotte, Furman and Western Carolina, so obviously NC State stands out in that group. A commitment this weekend is not out of the question. It’s worth noting we were told that Williams was very impressive during the summer camp in Raleigh. Had NCSU been looking for a kicker at that point in this class, he probably would have been prioritized immediately.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star offensive lineman Anthony Carter, Matthews (N.C.) Butler High
Time has probably ran out on Carter trying to enroll early, so now it’s a matter of seeing if he will sign in December. We don’t have a lot of clues as to what he is doing, to be blunt. Our projection and his ranking is mainly due to us believing that by default NC State has to be in a good spot here.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Four-star offensive lineman R.J. Adams, Woodbridge (Va.) High
Adams made it to Raleigh last weekend for an unofficial visit and should return this Saturday for an official trip. The hope is that the back-to-back weekends at NC State will erode the lead that many thought Kentucky had built in November. He will announce his final decision Dec. 18 (signing day). This one could go either way.
Last week: 5
Projection: NC State/Kentucky (previously just Kentucky)
4. Three-star defensive back Joshua Pierre-Louis, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Benjamin School
Our understanding is that Pierre-Louis could be making an official visit this weekend to NC State. That would obviously be big for the Pack. Central Florida and Louisville joined the race this fall, but NCSU has done everything right with this recruitment for the speedster.
Last week: 4
Projection: Unknown
5. Two-star receiver Devin Chandler, Cornelius (N.C.) Hough High
In the latest example that recruiting is fluid, NC State appears to still be in the market for another receiver, so we have re-added the wideouts that dropped off last week back onto the list. We still think Chandler represents NC State’s best chance among that group. His stock has really risen this fall with offers from Duke, Illinois, Maryland, NC State, Virginia and Wisconsin, a list that defies his two-star ranking. He’s visited NC State for its summer camp and twice for games in the fall. He originally planned to sign in December, but we don’t know if that’s still the case.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Unknown
6. Safety Justin Harrington, Bakersfield (Calif.) C.C.
NC State is moving aggressively with Harrington, hoping he can come in and make an immediate contribution in a Pack secondary that obviously needs help. Harrington is a Raleigh native and is expected to make an official visit to NC State this weekend. That said, Oklahoma has also offered, and Harrington’s social media tendencies suggest the Sooners are in a really good spot.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Oklahoma
7. Three-star running back JJ Davis, Bluefield (W.Va.) High
As we noted last week, a source close to Davis’ summer traveling group noted to us that Davis’ recruitment is being held up some by colleges, including NC State, until he takes an upcoming SAT/ACT. He will likely wait until February to sign, and at that point a lot may depend on if NC State is okay at running back or not. There are some signs that perhaps NCSU would prefer another receiver now. (Recruiting is always fluid.)
Last week: 3
Projection: Unknown
8. Receiver Chris Scott, Dacula (Ga.) High
Scott is a super-fast receiver who was offered by NC State earlier in the fall. We dropped him from the list last week when we had an understanding that NCSU had filled up on receiver. Now it looks like the Pack wants one more so we re-added Scott. However, it’s worth noting that Scott was recently offered by Vanderbilt and has scheduled an official visit there for Dec. 14.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Vanderbilt (previously unknown)
9. Two-star receiver Ger-Cari Caldwell, Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern High
Caldwell was a receiver we were actually tracking earlier in the fall as a potential NC State target. He at that point was committed to East Carolina (Caldwell decommitted last Friday). NC State finally pulled the trigger on an offer this week, and Baylor, Illinois, Northwestern, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have recently as well. Caldwell is expected to officially visit Wake Forest this weekend. He caught 51 passes for 744 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in his breakout season. The 6-foot-4 receiver has also done a 6-foot-4 high jump in track.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Unknown
10. Four-star receiver Rico Powers, Atlanta (Ga.) Hapeville Charter
See Chandler and Scott, but Powers has verbally committed to South Carolina before NC State offered him in the fall. He is friends with Pack freshman safety Jakeen Harris, but there has not been much indication that Powers has softened up on his pledge to the point a visit would be forthcoming to Raleigh.
Last week: 9
Projection: South Carolina
Dropped out:
None
Three-star linebacker Devon Betty, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
Three-star offensive tackle Austin Blaske, Bloomingdale (Ga.) South Effingham High
Three-star defensive back Devan Boykin, Greensboro (N.C.) Ragsdale High
Three-star receiver Jalen Coit, Cheraw (S.C.) High
Three-star receiver Joshua Crabtree, Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High
Three-star quarterback Ben Finley, Phoenix (Ariz.) Paradise Valley High
Three-star offensive lineman Sean Hill, Brookwood (Ga.) Snellville High
Three-star offensive lineman Ethan Lane, Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer High
Three-star offensive lineman Patrick Matan, Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga Prep
Three-star safety/nickel Nehki Meredith, Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan
Three-star linebacker Jayland Parker, Macon (Ga.) Westside High
Two-star defensive lineman Pheldarius Payne, Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa.
Four-star receiver Porter Rooks, Charlotte Myers Park High
Two-star receiver Anthony Smith, Huntingtown (Md.) High
Two-star tight end Ezemdi Udoh, Fayetteville (N.C.) Terry Sanford High
Three-star defensive tackle Davin Vann, Cary (N.C.) High
Three-star defensive back Aydan White, Asheville (N.C.) Christ School
Here is a listing of the top 10 prospects in the order that we think they are likely to pick NC State.
1. Kicker Ian Williams, Matthews (N.C.) Weddington High
Williams is expected to take an official visit this weekend to Raleigh. NC State appears comfortable with taking three scholarship kickers on the roster. Williams has also been offered by Army, Charlotte, Furman and Western Carolina, so obviously NC State stands out in that group. A commitment this weekend is not out of the question. It’s worth noting we were told that Williams was very impressive during the summer camp in Raleigh. Had NCSU been looking for a kicker at that point in this class, he probably would have been prioritized immediately.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star offensive lineman Anthony Carter, Matthews (N.C.) Butler High
Time has probably ran out on Carter trying to enroll early, so now it’s a matter of seeing if he will sign in December. We don’t have a lot of clues as to what he is doing, to be blunt. Our projection and his ranking is mainly due to us believing that by default NC State has to be in a good spot here.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Four-star offensive lineman R.J. Adams, Woodbridge (Va.) High
Adams made it to Raleigh last weekend for an unofficial visit and should return this Saturday for an official trip. The hope is that the back-to-back weekends at NC State will erode the lead that many thought Kentucky had built in November. He will announce his final decision Dec. 18 (signing day). This one could go either way.
Last week: 5
Projection: NC State/Kentucky (previously just Kentucky)
4. Three-star defensive back Joshua Pierre-Louis, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Benjamin School
Our understanding is that Pierre-Louis could be making an official visit this weekend to NC State. That would obviously be big for the Pack. Central Florida and Louisville joined the race this fall, but NCSU has done everything right with this recruitment for the speedster.
Last week: 4
Projection: Unknown
5. Two-star receiver Devin Chandler, Cornelius (N.C.) Hough High
In the latest example that recruiting is fluid, NC State appears to still be in the market for another receiver, so we have re-added the wideouts that dropped off last week back onto the list. We still think Chandler represents NC State’s best chance among that group. His stock has really risen this fall with offers from Duke, Illinois, Maryland, NC State, Virginia and Wisconsin, a list that defies his two-star ranking. He’s visited NC State for its summer camp and twice for games in the fall. He originally planned to sign in December, but we don’t know if that’s still the case.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Unknown
6. Safety Justin Harrington, Bakersfield (Calif.) C.C.
NC State is moving aggressively with Harrington, hoping he can come in and make an immediate contribution in a Pack secondary that obviously needs help. Harrington is a Raleigh native and is expected to make an official visit to NC State this weekend. That said, Oklahoma has also offered, and Harrington’s social media tendencies suggest the Sooners are in a really good spot.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Oklahoma
7. Three-star running back JJ Davis, Bluefield (W.Va.) High
As we noted last week, a source close to Davis’ summer traveling group noted to us that Davis’ recruitment is being held up some by colleges, including NC State, until he takes an upcoming SAT/ACT. He will likely wait until February to sign, and at that point a lot may depend on if NC State is okay at running back or not. There are some signs that perhaps NCSU would prefer another receiver now. (Recruiting is always fluid.)
Last week: 3
Projection: Unknown
8. Receiver Chris Scott, Dacula (Ga.) High
Scott is a super-fast receiver who was offered by NC State earlier in the fall. We dropped him from the list last week when we had an understanding that NCSU had filled up on receiver. Now it looks like the Pack wants one more so we re-added Scott. However, it’s worth noting that Scott was recently offered by Vanderbilt and has scheduled an official visit there for Dec. 14.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Vanderbilt (previously unknown)
9. Two-star receiver Ger-Cari Caldwell, Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern High
Caldwell was a receiver we were actually tracking earlier in the fall as a potential NC State target. He at that point was committed to East Carolina (Caldwell decommitted last Friday). NC State finally pulled the trigger on an offer this week, and Baylor, Illinois, Northwestern, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have recently as well. Caldwell is expected to officially visit Wake Forest this weekend. He caught 51 passes for 744 yards and six touchdowns as a senior in his breakout season. The 6-foot-4 receiver has also done a 6-foot-4 high jump in track.
Last week: Unrated
Projection: Unknown
10. Four-star receiver Rico Powers, Atlanta (Ga.) Hapeville Charter
See Chandler and Scott, but Powers has verbally committed to South Carolina before NC State offered him in the fall. He is friends with Pack freshman safety Jakeen Harris, but there has not been much indication that Powers has softened up on his pledge to the point a visit would be forthcoming to Raleigh.
Last week: 9
Projection: South Carolina
Dropped out:
None
