Current commits:
Three-star receiver Jakolbe Baldwin, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
Three-star receiver Julian Gray, Huntersville (N.C.) Hopewell High
Three-star cornerback Mario Love Jr., Cornelius (N.C.) Hough High
Three-star running back Caleb McDowell, Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County High
These are the top 50 players ranked in order of the odds we see them ending up at NC State.
1. Linebacker Trevin Wallace, Jesup (Ga.) Wayne County High
One major correction of note on Wallace as we confirmed that NC State likes him as a linebacker (last we had him listed at receiver). Wallace is an athletic 6-foot-2, 215-pounder who shines on film, so the question is will Wallace’s stock rise now that he has a Wolfpack offer. He has been timed at 11.09 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 22.84 seconds in the 200, plus he has cleared 6-foot-2 on the high jump and leaped 22-3 in the long jump. NC State is the only offer Wallace has tweeted about, although there are reports that Illinois has also offered.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star offensive tackle Jaleel Davis, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
There has been some chatter in recent weeks that the momentum is building with Davis. Landing Davis’ teammate, Jakolbe Baldwin, is sure to help NC State with the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder. He also has scholarships from Georgia Tech, Kansas, South Carolina and Tennessee, but we have heard mixed signals on how hard some of those schools are going after Davis.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Two-star offensive lineman Thornton Gentry, Chapin (S.C.) High
Gentry, who probably projects on the interior in college, also has Power Five offers from Kansas State, Missouri, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, but of that group we would think the only realistic challenger is Virginia Tech and perhaps Missouri (depending on how much SEC bias Gentry might have). NC State was the 6-foot-5, 280-pounder’s first major offer, and he was going to come to the spring game before everything was canceled.
Last week: 3
Projection: NC State
4. Four-star quarterback Aaron McLaughlin, Alpharetta (Ga.) Denmark High
The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder has from all indications an apparent top four of NC State, Arkansas, Louisville and Miami. There might be some wiggle room for Baylor to be on that list. Earlier we thought Louisville was the top challenger, but it may actually be Miami. However, nothing has changed our thoughts that NC State is in a good position. McLaughlin threw for 2,018 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.
Last week: 6
Projection: NC State
5. Three-star linebacker/defensive end Jabril McNeill, Raleigh Sanderson High
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound McNeill has developed into a nice, national-level prospect. Like his brother, NC State junior defensive tackle Alim McNeill, we think that Jabril is going to enjoy the recruiting process a bit. Some may remember that it was not untl-late summer that Alim admitted NC State was his favorite, and he didn’t commit until the fall. Ultimately, we think it will be difficult to imagine McNeill not going where his brother went. As a junior, McNeill had 35 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and two sacks, in 11 games. He also recovered a pair of fumbles.
Last week: 5
Projection: NC State
6. Three-star linebacker Jordan Poole, Oakboro (N.C.) West Stanly High
We think the 6-foot, 215-pounder is a NC State-Virginia Tech battle, and it’s a close call, but we lean towards the Pack. Some of the in-state recruits, namely Mario Love, have been trying to help NC State’s cause here. The athletic Poole ran 113 times for 1,534 yards and 21 touchdowns on offense (in eight games) and had 36 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, a pick and a forced fumble.
Last week: 7
Projection: NC State
7. Four-star receiver Micah Crowell, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
We think Crowell, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, will have an itch to make a decision before the summer heats up. His recruitment did not take off because of a knee injury that forced him to miss last year, but NC State is still in on him based on the potential he showed when making 25 receptions for 511 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 15 games while helping East Forsyth to the first of its back-to-back state titles. Wake Forest is also a serious threat here.
Last week: 10
Projection: NC State
8. Three-star offensive tackle Colby Smith, Wentworth (N.C.) Rockingham County High
Smith announced his top five this past week and NC State as expected made the cut. While the 6-foot-7, 280-pounder is a lifelong UNC fan and the Heels have made the cut, all indications are that UNC has not prioritized Smith (a development that we’ve known about for over a month and hence why we have always hinted we like how the recruitment is unfolding for NC State. We think this one could be a Tennessee-NC State battle, and for several reasons we think that would be favorable in the end for the Wolfpack. We’re not sure we can see Smith more than a couple of hours away from home for college.
Last week: 7
Projection: NC State
9. Two-star defensive tackle Zeek Biggers, Mt. Ulla (N.C.) West Rowan High
Right now this would seem to be a battle between Georgia Tech and NC State, and he visited both schools during the winter. We are still trying to find out if the massive Biggers (6-foot-4, 320 pounds by our estimate) will be an offensive line or nose tackle target for the Wolfpack. He had 85 tackles, including nine for loss and 2.5 sacks, in 11 games as.a junior. He also had three QB hurries and two forced fumbles.
Last week: 8
Projection: NC State
10. Two-star safety Sean Brown, Charlotte (N.C.) Hough High
We moved Brown up some after NC State landed his teammate in the Hough secondary in Love. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder also has offers from Louisville, Michigan State and Wake Forest. As a junior, Brown had 65 tackles, including four for loss and three sacks, in 13 games. He also had a pick.
Last week: 13
Projection: NC State
11. Three-star defensive end Zyun Reeves, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
The 6-6, 240-pounder also has offers from Duke, Florida State, Illinois, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech, after he 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. The early buzz was that NC State and South Carolina were his top two, but the Noles may have made a move up the list. We have him picked for NC State but it’s not a high confidence projection. Thus far Reeves has been leading a low-key recruitment. (Sometimes those are the ones that play out best for NC State.)
Last week: 14
Projection: NC State
12. Long snapper/lineman Jayden Tate, Lincolnton (N.C.) North Lincoln High
Tate has offers from Louisville and NC State. Tate may project more than just a long snapper in college. It is also worth noting that he has a close relationship with prime Wolfpack target Travali Price (they are practically brothers).
Last week: 14
Projection: NC State/Louisville
Three-star receiver Jakolbe Baldwin, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
Three-star receiver Julian Gray, Huntersville (N.C.) Hopewell High
Three-star cornerback Mario Love Jr., Cornelius (N.C.) Hough High
Three-star running back Caleb McDowell, Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County High
These are the top 50 players ranked in order of the odds we see them ending up at NC State.
1. Linebacker Trevin Wallace, Jesup (Ga.) Wayne County High
One major correction of note on Wallace as we confirmed that NC State likes him as a linebacker (last we had him listed at receiver). Wallace is an athletic 6-foot-2, 215-pounder who shines on film, so the question is will Wallace’s stock rise now that he has a Wolfpack offer. He has been timed at 11.09 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 22.84 seconds in the 200, plus he has cleared 6-foot-2 on the high jump and leaped 22-3 in the long jump. NC State is the only offer Wallace has tweeted about, although there are reports that Illinois has also offered.
Last week: 1
Projection: NC State
2. Three-star offensive tackle Jaleel Davis, Rockingham (N.C.) Richmond County High
There has been some chatter in recent weeks that the momentum is building with Davis. Landing Davis’ teammate, Jakolbe Baldwin, is sure to help NC State with the 6-foot-5, 300-pounder. He also has scholarships from Georgia Tech, Kansas, South Carolina and Tennessee, but we have heard mixed signals on how hard some of those schools are going after Davis.
Last week: 2
Projection: NC State
3. Two-star offensive lineman Thornton Gentry, Chapin (S.C.) High
Gentry, who probably projects on the interior in college, also has Power Five offers from Kansas State, Missouri, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, but of that group we would think the only realistic challenger is Virginia Tech and perhaps Missouri (depending on how much SEC bias Gentry might have). NC State was the 6-foot-5, 280-pounder’s first major offer, and he was going to come to the spring game before everything was canceled.
Last week: 3
Projection: NC State
4. Four-star quarterback Aaron McLaughlin, Alpharetta (Ga.) Denmark High
The 6-foot-5, 215-pounder has from all indications an apparent top four of NC State, Arkansas, Louisville and Miami. There might be some wiggle room for Baylor to be on that list. Earlier we thought Louisville was the top challenger, but it may actually be Miami. However, nothing has changed our thoughts that NC State is in a good position. McLaughlin threw for 2,018 yards and 17 touchdowns last year.
Last week: 6
Projection: NC State
5. Three-star linebacker/defensive end Jabril McNeill, Raleigh Sanderson High
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound McNeill has developed into a nice, national-level prospect. Like his brother, NC State junior defensive tackle Alim McNeill, we think that Jabril is going to enjoy the recruiting process a bit. Some may remember that it was not untl-late summer that Alim admitted NC State was his favorite, and he didn’t commit until the fall. Ultimately, we think it will be difficult to imagine McNeill not going where his brother went. As a junior, McNeill had 35 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and two sacks, in 11 games. He also recovered a pair of fumbles.
Last week: 5
Projection: NC State
6. Three-star linebacker Jordan Poole, Oakboro (N.C.) West Stanly High
We think the 6-foot, 215-pounder is a NC State-Virginia Tech battle, and it’s a close call, but we lean towards the Pack. Some of the in-state recruits, namely Mario Love, have been trying to help NC State’s cause here. The athletic Poole ran 113 times for 1,534 yards and 21 touchdowns on offense (in eight games) and had 36 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, a pick and a forced fumble.
Last week: 7
Projection: NC State
7. Four-star receiver Micah Crowell, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
We think Crowell, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, will have an itch to make a decision before the summer heats up. His recruitment did not take off because of a knee injury that forced him to miss last year, but NC State is still in on him based on the potential he showed when making 25 receptions for 511 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 15 games while helping East Forsyth to the first of its back-to-back state titles. Wake Forest is also a serious threat here.
Last week: 10
Projection: NC State
8. Three-star offensive tackle Colby Smith, Wentworth (N.C.) Rockingham County High
Smith announced his top five this past week and NC State as expected made the cut. While the 6-foot-7, 280-pounder is a lifelong UNC fan and the Heels have made the cut, all indications are that UNC has not prioritized Smith (a development that we’ve known about for over a month and hence why we have always hinted we like how the recruitment is unfolding for NC State. We think this one could be a Tennessee-NC State battle, and for several reasons we think that would be favorable in the end for the Wolfpack. We’re not sure we can see Smith more than a couple of hours away from home for college.
Last week: 7
Projection: NC State
9. Two-star defensive tackle Zeek Biggers, Mt. Ulla (N.C.) West Rowan High
Right now this would seem to be a battle between Georgia Tech and NC State, and he visited both schools during the winter. We are still trying to find out if the massive Biggers (6-foot-4, 320 pounds by our estimate) will be an offensive line or nose tackle target for the Wolfpack. He had 85 tackles, including nine for loss and 2.5 sacks, in 11 games as.a junior. He also had three QB hurries and two forced fumbles.
Last week: 8
Projection: NC State
10. Two-star safety Sean Brown, Charlotte (N.C.) Hough High
We moved Brown up some after NC State landed his teammate in the Hough secondary in Love. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder also has offers from Louisville, Michigan State and Wake Forest. As a junior, Brown had 65 tackles, including four for loss and three sacks, in 13 games. He also had a pick.
Last week: 13
Projection: NC State
11. Three-star defensive end Zyun Reeves, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth High
The 6-6, 240-pounder also has offers from Duke, Florida State, Illinois, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia and Virginia Tech, after he 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. The early buzz was that NC State and South Carolina were his top two, but the Noles may have made a move up the list. We have him picked for NC State but it’s not a high confidence projection. Thus far Reeves has been leading a low-key recruitment. (Sometimes those are the ones that play out best for NC State.)
Last week: 14
Projection: NC State
12. Long snapper/lineman Jayden Tate, Lincolnton (N.C.) North Lincoln High
Tate has offers from Louisville and NC State. Tate may project more than just a long snapper in college. It is also worth noting that he has a close relationship with prime Wolfpack target Travali Price (they are practically brothers).
Last week: 14
Projection: NC State/Louisville
