Current commits:
Three-star receiver Jakolbe Baldwin, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
Two-star safety Sean Brown, Charlotte (N.C.) Hough High
Three-star offensive lineman Lyndon Cooper, Carrollton (Ga.) High
Four-star receiver Micah Crowell, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
Three-star offensive tackle Jaleel Davis, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
Three-star cornerback Nate Evans, Virginia Beach (Va.) Cox High
Three-star linebacker Caden Fordham, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles High
Two-star offensive lineman Thornton Gentry, Chapin (S.C.) High
Three-star receiver Julian Gray, Huntersville (N.C.) Hopewell High
Three-star cornerback Mario Love Jr., Cornelius (N.C.) Hough High
Three-star quarterback Aaron McLaughlin, Alpharetta (Ga.) Denmark High
Three-star linebacker Jordan Poole, Oakboro (N.C.) West Stanly High
Three-star defensive lineman Travali Price, Lincolnton (N.C.) North Lincoln
Three-star tight end Cedric Seabrough, Swainsboro (Ga.) High
Three-star tight end Fredrick Seabrough, Swainsboro (Ga.) High
Two-star running back/athlete Demie Sumo, Willingboro (N.J.) High
Two-star defensive tackle/long snapper Jayden Tate, Lincolnton (N.C.) North Lincoln High
These are the top 20 players ranked in order of the odds we see them ending up at NC State.
1. Defensive tackle Rasheed Lyles, Athens (Tex.) Trinity Valley C.C.
The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder received his official offer from NC State on Aug. 1, and it is the lone major offer for him at this point. He added a few more FCS offers this past week. Lyles continues to state that he is willing to be patient, which could be a factor if he starts waiting too long. Realistically, how likely is Lyles to pick up new major FBS offers given there is unlikely to be any junior college football this fall. Lyles had 29 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, as a freshman at Trinity Valley. He is a native of Winnfield, La.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star linebacker/defensive end Jabril McNeill, Raleigh Sanderson High
Nothing is a given, at all, with McNeill. In particular, there is a vibe that Oregon is a strong contender with him. That said we are sticking with our current projection for the Wolfpack. It will be interesting to see if the lack of a fall football season for high schools in the state of North Carolina changes the dynamics with McNeill’s recruitment one way or the other when it pertains to the timeline. As a junior, McNeill (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) had 35 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and two sacks, in 11 games. He also recovered a pair of fumbles.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Three-star offensive lineman Yousef Mugharbil, Murphy (N.C.) High
Mugharbil, 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, announced a top seven in late July of NC State, Florida, Louisville, North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. It has long been believed by recruiting insiders that NC State was probably the top option among the in-state programs. Our best guess is that Florida and NC State are the ones standing out at the moment. There’s no question that NC State is putting the full court on Mugharbil.
Last week: 3
Projection: NC State
4. Three-star defensive end Zyun Reeves, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
Reeves, despite releasing a recent top five, seems to have a clear top three of NC State, Florida State and South Carolina. Reeves thus far has tended to play a low-key recruitment, and you’ve probably read us mention before how NC State tends to do well in those types of recruitments. The 6-6, 240-pound Reeves had 88 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks, last season. He’s also a pretty good basketball player who made all-conference.
Last week: 5
Projection: Unknown
5. Three-star safety Chase Hattley, Cary (N.C.) Panther Creek High
Hattley released his top eight last week, and there were no surprises. We really like the way the recruitment is trending for the Wolfpack, and we have picked up a vibe that West Virginia is the top competition unless Oklahoma and/or Florida State drastically turn up the heat. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder is a good athlete (has cleared 6-foot-4 in the high jump in track) and productive. He had 29 tackles, nine interceptions and five pass breakups as a junior. On offense he caught seven passes for 161 yards and three scores.
Last week: 6
Projection: Unknown
6. Three-star defensive end Zeiqui Lawton, South Charleston (W.V.) High
Nothing new with Lawton. We believe that the top three schools here are Cincinnati, Illinois and NC State, and although Cincy is the lone non-Power Five program on the list, the Bearcats could be a real team to watch here. Some believe that the Bearcats may even be the leader, but Lawton is high on the list because of his strong relationship with NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson.
Last week: 7
Projection: Unknown
7. Three-star defensive back Nykelius Johnson, West Florence (S.C.) High
Johnson is a Virginia Tech commit that was offered by NC State by the Hokies former and now Wolfpack current corners coach Brian Mitchell. Johnson’s recent likes on twitter suggests NC State could be emerging as a heavy player here, so of all the players committed elsewhere, Johnson may be closest to watch.
Last week: 15
Projection: Virginia Tech
8. Three-star defensive tackle Devin Lee, McDonough (Ga.) OLA
It would not stun us if Lee progresses towards a decision soon. He visited Duke, NC State, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech on his own one weekend, and then followed up with trips to Mississippi State and Ole Miss. That represents his top six. The conventional wisdom we’ve heard is that the quiet top three may be the two Mississippi-based programs plus NC State. Lee had 53 total tackles last season, including 26 for loss and 17 sacks. He also had 11 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal.
Last week: 8
Projection: Unknown
9. Three-star defensive lineman Marquise Brunson, Virginia Beach (Va.) Princess Anne High
Brunson (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) released a top 11, and based on the list our guess is the top schools at the moment are NC State, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Minnesota. We also believe the top three may be ahead of the others on that list.
Last week: 11
Projection: Unknown
10. Safety Chad Brown, Fresno (Calif.) City Community College
The 6-foot-3. 185-pounder picked up an offer from NC State earlier in July. It’s worth noting that Brown is a native of Baltimore, so the Pack is closest to his hometown among his current offers that also include Arizona, Boise State, Central Florida (which came last Friday), TCU, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Jose State. Brown had 24 tackles and six interceptions (one pick six) last year as a freshman. The million-dollar question is does the recent addition of junior college pickup Rakeim Ashford change the dynamics of the Brown recruitment.
Last week: 10
Projection: Unknown
Three-star receiver Jakolbe Baldwin, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
Two-star safety Sean Brown, Charlotte (N.C.) Hough High
Three-star offensive lineman Lyndon Cooper, Carrollton (Ga.) High
Four-star receiver Micah Crowell, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
Three-star offensive tackle Jaleel Davis, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
Three-star cornerback Nate Evans, Virginia Beach (Va.) Cox High
Three-star linebacker Caden Fordham, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles High
Two-star offensive lineman Thornton Gentry, Chapin (S.C.) High
Three-star receiver Julian Gray, Huntersville (N.C.) Hopewell High
Three-star cornerback Mario Love Jr., Cornelius (N.C.) Hough High
Three-star quarterback Aaron McLaughlin, Alpharetta (Ga.) Denmark High
Three-star linebacker Jordan Poole, Oakboro (N.C.) West Stanly High
Three-star defensive lineman Travali Price, Lincolnton (N.C.) North Lincoln
Three-star tight end Cedric Seabrough, Swainsboro (Ga.) High
Three-star tight end Fredrick Seabrough, Swainsboro (Ga.) High
Two-star running back/athlete Demie Sumo, Willingboro (N.J.) High
Two-star defensive tackle/long snapper Jayden Tate, Lincolnton (N.C.) North Lincoln High
These are the top 20 players ranked in order of the odds we see them ending up at NC State.
1. Defensive tackle Rasheed Lyles, Athens (Tex.) Trinity Valley C.C.
The 6-foot-2, 285-pounder received his official offer from NC State on Aug. 1, and it is the lone major offer for him at this point. He added a few more FCS offers this past week. Lyles continues to state that he is willing to be patient, which could be a factor if he starts waiting too long. Realistically, how likely is Lyles to pick up new major FBS offers given there is unlikely to be any junior college football this fall. Lyles had 29 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, as a freshman at Trinity Valley. He is a native of Winnfield, La.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star linebacker/defensive end Jabril McNeill, Raleigh Sanderson High
Nothing is a given, at all, with McNeill. In particular, there is a vibe that Oregon is a strong contender with him. That said we are sticking with our current projection for the Wolfpack. It will be interesting to see if the lack of a fall football season for high schools in the state of North Carolina changes the dynamics with McNeill’s recruitment one way or the other when it pertains to the timeline. As a junior, McNeill (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) had 35 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and two sacks, in 11 games. He also recovered a pair of fumbles.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Three-star offensive lineman Yousef Mugharbil, Murphy (N.C.) High
Mugharbil, 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, announced a top seven in late July of NC State, Florida, Louisville, North Carolina, Penn State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech. It has long been believed by recruiting insiders that NC State was probably the top option among the in-state programs. Our best guess is that Florida and NC State are the ones standing out at the moment. There’s no question that NC State is putting the full court on Mugharbil.
Last week: 3
Projection: NC State
4. Three-star defensive end Zyun Reeves, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
Reeves, despite releasing a recent top five, seems to have a clear top three of NC State, Florida State and South Carolina. Reeves thus far has tended to play a low-key recruitment, and you’ve probably read us mention before how NC State tends to do well in those types of recruitments. The 6-6, 240-pound Reeves had 88 tackles, including 13.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks, last season. He’s also a pretty good basketball player who made all-conference.
Last week: 5
Projection: Unknown
5. Three-star safety Chase Hattley, Cary (N.C.) Panther Creek High
Hattley released his top eight last week, and there were no surprises. We really like the way the recruitment is trending for the Wolfpack, and we have picked up a vibe that West Virginia is the top competition unless Oklahoma and/or Florida State drastically turn up the heat. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder is a good athlete (has cleared 6-foot-4 in the high jump in track) and productive. He had 29 tackles, nine interceptions and five pass breakups as a junior. On offense he caught seven passes for 161 yards and three scores.
Last week: 6
Projection: Unknown
6. Three-star defensive end Zeiqui Lawton, South Charleston (W.V.) High
Nothing new with Lawton. We believe that the top three schools here are Cincinnati, Illinois and NC State, and although Cincy is the lone non-Power Five program on the list, the Bearcats could be a real team to watch here. Some believe that the Bearcats may even be the leader, but Lawton is high on the list because of his strong relationship with NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson.
Last week: 7
Projection: Unknown
7. Three-star defensive back Nykelius Johnson, West Florence (S.C.) High
Johnson is a Virginia Tech commit that was offered by NC State by the Hokies former and now Wolfpack current corners coach Brian Mitchell. Johnson’s recent likes on twitter suggests NC State could be emerging as a heavy player here, so of all the players committed elsewhere, Johnson may be closest to watch.
Last week: 15
Projection: Virginia Tech
8. Three-star defensive tackle Devin Lee, McDonough (Ga.) OLA
It would not stun us if Lee progresses towards a decision soon. He visited Duke, NC State, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech on his own one weekend, and then followed up with trips to Mississippi State and Ole Miss. That represents his top six. The conventional wisdom we’ve heard is that the quiet top three may be the two Mississippi-based programs plus NC State. Lee had 53 total tackles last season, including 26 for loss and 17 sacks. He also had 11 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal.
Last week: 8
Projection: Unknown
9. Three-star defensive lineman Marquise Brunson, Virginia Beach (Va.) Princess Anne High
Brunson (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) released a top 11, and based on the list our guess is the top schools at the moment are NC State, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Minnesota. We also believe the top three may be ahead of the others on that list.
Last week: 11
Projection: Unknown
10. Safety Chad Brown, Fresno (Calif.) City Community College
The 6-foot-3. 185-pounder picked up an offer from NC State earlier in July. It’s worth noting that Brown is a native of Baltimore, so the Pack is closest to his hometown among his current offers that also include Arizona, Boise State, Central Florida (which came last Friday), TCU, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Jose State. Brown had 24 tackles and six interceptions (one pick six) last year as a freshman. The million-dollar question is does the recent addition of junior college pickup Rakeim Ashford change the dynamics of the Brown recruitment.
Last week: 10
Projection: Unknown
