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•••
These are the top 25 players ranked in order of the odds we see them ending up at NC State.
1. Center/guard Rylan Vann, Cary (N.C.) High
The 6-foot-1, 260-pounder also has an offer from West Virginia (who offers everyone), but the Wolfpack was first and has the distinct advantages of being the hometown option and having his older brother Davin Vann, a freshman defensive tackle, on its roster. Doeren interestingly spoke very highly of Davis this week in his spring football press conference.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star athlete Jackson Vick, Bailey (N.C.) Southern Nash High
The 6-foot, 175-pound speedster also has offers from Duke, NC State, Syracuse and Wake Forest. Vick was a dynamic playmaker in 2019. He ran 99 times for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching six passes for 129 yards and two scores. He also added 26 tackles (including a sack), four interceptions and seven pass breakups while playing 16 games for a Southern Nash team that reached a state title game before losing to Charlotte Catholic.
So far in two games this year, Vick has rushed 43 times for 300 yards and two scores.
The early bets are on NC State and Wake Forest in this recruitment. Both schools have former teammates on their roster, but it’s worth noting that Southern Nash is another in-state program in which the Wolfpack has a strong relationship.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Three-star defensive back Isaiah Crowell, Winston-Salem (N.C.) East Forsyth High
The Pack may have as strong a relationship with East Forsyth as it has with any high school in the state. Then add to that equation that Crowell’s older brother, four-star receiver Micah Crowell, has just enrolled at NC State, and there are strong reasons to think Crowell picks the Wolfpack.
There were even rumors that one of the reasons Micah picked NC State over Wake Forest was because the Pack had offered Isaiah and WFU had not. The younger Crowell does have offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Louisville, Ole Miss, Syracuse and Virginia Tech after the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder had 61 tackles, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2019.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
4. Receiver Wesley Grimes, Raleigh (N.C.) Millbrook High
Talk about a strong start to his junior season. Grimes caught six passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns vs. Raleigh Enloe. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder was offered by the Wolfpack last week, an offer that appeared to be coming based on intel in recent weeks. This week, Vanderbilt joined the list of other scholarships along Duke, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Wisconsin.
Our projection of Grimes is based strictly on proximity here, but if Grimes continues to have explosive games this spring his stock could take off.
As a sophomore, Grimes had 32 receptions for 374 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 11 games.
Last week: 4
Projection: NC State
5. Three-star defensive lineman Davin Jackson, Sumter (S.C.) High
Now that his wrestling season is over (finished second in the state at heavyweight), look for Jackson to put more emphasis on recruiting. We feel that proximity will give the Pack an edge over offers from Georgia Tech, Kansas, Syracuse (which came Tuesday) and West Virginia.
Jackson is one of the players that NC State was able to get a junior-year film on already, and he had 64 tackles, including 20 for loss and seven sacks, with 10 quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble in 2020.
Last week: 5
Projection: NC State (previously unknown)
6. Four-star linebacker Torren Wright, Kannapolis (N.C.) A.L. Brown High
Among the top-rated in-state prospects, Wright (No. 6 in the state by Rivals.com) appears to be one of the Pack’s better early chances, but a recent offer from Michigan has caught his eye. He also set up an official visit to West Virginia in June. The Mountaineers have been one of the more aggressive teams in setting up OVs under the assumption the dead period will be lifted, finally, after May 31. South Carolina and Kentucky are also serious challengers.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder had 84 tackles, including 12 for loss and three sacks, while piling up an astounding 25 quarterback hurries in 2019.
Last week: 4
Projection: NC State
7. Four-star running back Michael Allen, Greenville (N.C.) Rose High
We repeatedly state not to read too much into our NC State projection here, as it’s a bit of a leap of faith. Allen recently did virtual visits to Louisville and South Carolina, the latter definitely a potential contender to watch.
Allen is a legit sub-4.5 seconds speed in the 40-yard dash sprinter who has also shown a nearly 40-inch vertical leap in combines. He ran 128 times for 906 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 284 yards and five scores in 2019.
Last week: 7
Projection: NC State
8. Three-star receiver Mehki Wall, Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High
This might be another leap of faith on our part, but we like how the recruitment has shaped up in the early phases. It is noteworthy that one of the likely top competitors, UNC, has already taken a similar-type receiver. Louisville is likely to be a tough competitor, as he is a good fit in their system and its receivers coach Gunter Brewer knows his way around the state.
But receivers coach Joker Phillips at NC State has already reached out to Wall, 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, for the Wolfpack. As a sophomore, Wall made 42 receptions for 812 yards and eight touchdowns, and he has returned four kicks for scores in his career. Through two games this spring, Wall caught nine passes for 130 yards and a touchdown and has returned two kickoffs for a total of 105 yards.
Last week: 8
Projection: NC State
9. Three-star offensive guard Trequan Alexander, Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit High
Alexander (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) is listed as a projection for NC State here, but the caveat is we need to see how hard the Wolfpack pursues. Currently, his only other Power Five offer is from Virginia Tech, which came in the summer of 2020. The Hokies are known, under head coach Justin Fuente, for throwing out offers rather prolifically and early.
Alexander had over 50 pancake blocks as a junior.
Last week: 9
Projection: NC State
10. Three-star defensive lineman Nick Campbell, Minneola (Fla.) Lake Minneola High
There are some around Raleigh who believe Campbell could be a sneaky name to watch on this list. We bumped him into the top 10 after Campbell confirmed plans to visit NC State, along with Louisville, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, in a series of self-guided tours over the spring.
Do not be surprised if a decision comes soon after that.
In late January, Campbell came out with a top eight of Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Louisville, Nebraska, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and South Florida. However, after evaluating his junior film, during which Campbell had 70 tackles, including 19 for loss and seven sacks, and an impressive four fumble recoveries, the Wolfpack offered the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder.
Last week: 15
Projection: Unknown
Email gkistner@jfqlending.com or shoot Gage Kistner a private message @Call_me_MortGAGE
You can check out their website JFQLending.com.
•••
These are the top 25 players ranked in order of the odds we see them ending up at NC State.
1. Center/guard Rylan Vann, Cary (N.C.) High
The 6-foot-1, 260-pounder also has an offer from West Virginia (who offers everyone), but the Wolfpack was first and has the distinct advantages of being the hometown option and having his older brother Davin Vann, a freshman defensive tackle, on its roster. Doeren interestingly spoke very highly of Davis this week in his spring football press conference.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star athlete Jackson Vick, Bailey (N.C.) Southern Nash High
The 6-foot, 175-pound speedster also has offers from Duke, NC State, Syracuse and Wake Forest. Vick was a dynamic playmaker in 2019. He ran 99 times for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching six passes for 129 yards and two scores. He also added 26 tackles (including a sack), four interceptions and seven pass breakups while playing 16 games for a Southern Nash team that reached a state title game before losing to Charlotte Catholic.
So far in two games this year, Vick has rushed 43 times for 300 yards and two scores.
The early bets are on NC State and Wake Forest in this recruitment. Both schools have former teammates on their roster, but it’s worth noting that Southern Nash is another in-state program in which the Wolfpack has a strong relationship.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Three-star defensive back Isaiah Crowell, Winston-Salem (N.C.) East Forsyth High
The Pack may have as strong a relationship with East Forsyth as it has with any high school in the state. Then add to that equation that Crowell’s older brother, four-star receiver Micah Crowell, has just enrolled at NC State, and there are strong reasons to think Crowell picks the Wolfpack.
There were even rumors that one of the reasons Micah picked NC State over Wake Forest was because the Pack had offered Isaiah and WFU had not. The younger Crowell does have offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Louisville, Ole Miss, Syracuse and Virginia Tech after the 5-foot-11, 175-pounder had 61 tackles, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2019.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
4. Receiver Wesley Grimes, Raleigh (N.C.) Millbrook High
Talk about a strong start to his junior season. Grimes caught six passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns vs. Raleigh Enloe. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder was offered by the Wolfpack last week, an offer that appeared to be coming based on intel in recent weeks. This week, Vanderbilt joined the list of other scholarships along Duke, Tennessee, Wake Forest and Wisconsin.
Our projection of Grimes is based strictly on proximity here, but if Grimes continues to have explosive games this spring his stock could take off.
As a sophomore, Grimes had 32 receptions for 374 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 11 games.
Last week: 4
Projection: NC State
5. Three-star defensive lineman Davin Jackson, Sumter (S.C.) High
Now that his wrestling season is over (finished second in the state at heavyweight), look for Jackson to put more emphasis on recruiting. We feel that proximity will give the Pack an edge over offers from Georgia Tech, Kansas, Syracuse (which came Tuesday) and West Virginia.
Jackson is one of the players that NC State was able to get a junior-year film on already, and he had 64 tackles, including 20 for loss and seven sacks, with 10 quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble in 2020.
Last week: 5
Projection: NC State (previously unknown)
6. Four-star linebacker Torren Wright, Kannapolis (N.C.) A.L. Brown High
Among the top-rated in-state prospects, Wright (No. 6 in the state by Rivals.com) appears to be one of the Pack’s better early chances, but a recent offer from Michigan has caught his eye. He also set up an official visit to West Virginia in June. The Mountaineers have been one of the more aggressive teams in setting up OVs under the assumption the dead period will be lifted, finally, after May 31. South Carolina and Kentucky are also serious challengers.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder had 84 tackles, including 12 for loss and three sacks, while piling up an astounding 25 quarterback hurries in 2019.
Last week: 4
Projection: NC State
7. Four-star running back Michael Allen, Greenville (N.C.) Rose High
We repeatedly state not to read too much into our NC State projection here, as it’s a bit of a leap of faith. Allen recently did virtual visits to Louisville and South Carolina, the latter definitely a potential contender to watch.
Allen is a legit sub-4.5 seconds speed in the 40-yard dash sprinter who has also shown a nearly 40-inch vertical leap in combines. He ran 128 times for 906 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 284 yards and five scores in 2019.
Last week: 7
Projection: NC State
8. Three-star receiver Mehki Wall, Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High
This might be another leap of faith on our part, but we like how the recruitment has shaped up in the early phases. It is noteworthy that one of the likely top competitors, UNC, has already taken a similar-type receiver. Louisville is likely to be a tough competitor, as he is a good fit in their system and its receivers coach Gunter Brewer knows his way around the state.
But receivers coach Joker Phillips at NC State has already reached out to Wall, 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, for the Wolfpack. As a sophomore, Wall made 42 receptions for 812 yards and eight touchdowns, and he has returned four kicks for scores in his career. Through two games this spring, Wall caught nine passes for 130 yards and a touchdown and has returned two kickoffs for a total of 105 yards.
Last week: 8
Projection: NC State
9. Three-star offensive guard Trequan Alexander, Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit High
Alexander (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) is listed as a projection for NC State here, but the caveat is we need to see how hard the Wolfpack pursues. Currently, his only other Power Five offer is from Virginia Tech, which came in the summer of 2020. The Hokies are known, under head coach Justin Fuente, for throwing out offers rather prolifically and early.
Alexander had over 50 pancake blocks as a junior.
Last week: 9
Projection: NC State
10. Three-star defensive lineman Nick Campbell, Minneola (Fla.) Lake Minneola High
There are some around Raleigh who believe Campbell could be a sneaky name to watch on this list. We bumped him into the top 10 after Campbell confirmed plans to visit NC State, along with Louisville, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, in a series of self-guided tours over the spring.
Do not be surprised if a decision comes soon after that.
In late January, Campbell came out with a top eight of Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Louisville, Nebraska, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and South Florida. However, after evaluating his junior film, during which Campbell had 70 tackles, including 19 for loss and seven sacks, and an impressive four fumble recoveries, the Wolfpack offered the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder.
Last week: 15
Projection: Unknown
