Yesterday was the day that seniors in high school were given their first official offers. We can confirm that among uncommitted (or those who have pledged to other schools) the following were offered by NC State:
• Defensive back Joshua Pierre-Louis, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Benjamin School
• Defensive back Tyler Jones, Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange High
• Linebacker Jayland Parker, Macon (Ga.) Westside High — Colorado commit
• Offensive lineman Anthony Carter, Matthews (N.C.) Butler High
• Linebacker Devon Betty, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas High
There may be (and probably are) others, but those five we know were extended scholarships. Jones has flown under the radar in particular but we are told that NC State coaches are very excited about his potential. He’s a speedster who has been timed as fast at 10.75 seconds in the 100-meter dash this spring in track while checking in at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds.
Jones has the versatility that NC State is seeking these days in defensive backs. He also has offers from Duke, Louisville, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri (where he has taken an official visit), Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.
He has been fairly consistently listed on The Wolfpacker’s top five (or when it was greater number) list over the past few weeks, but the more we learn on Jones the more we understand how high he is on the Pack’s board. That said, our understanding is NC State is going to take one more defensive back, so if Pierre-Louis wants to pull the trigger before Jones he would likely be out of a spot.
Pierre-Louis also has offers from Auburn (although questionable if its official), Illinois, Minnesota and Rutgers, among others.
As for the others, a source told us yesterday that they felt like NC State was in a good position with Carter, who told us in July that he wanted to visit Texas A&M and Michigan State officially. While he was tweeting out his offers yesterday it was notable that Texas A&M was not one of them. Michigan State did offer him.
We have not heard much about Parker but obviously the fact that he is openly acknowledging picking up an offer from NC State is a sign that he has maintained an open line of communication with the Wolfpack.
***
Moving onto the football team, based on our conversations with sources these are the biggest question marks that we think will be focal points for the preseason camp:
• Figuring out the offensive line. This may surprise many by being the first thing we list, but it could play a role in what happens at quarterback, too. The spring was unfortunately not as productive as the coaches may have wanted due to all the injuries.
The depth is especially worrisome, with injuries slowing the development of some players plus some attrition. That means that some freshmen will have to be prepared to be ready.
The good news is that fifth-year senior Emanuel McGirt Jr. has stepped up, which we noted in our War Room on June 21: “Fifth-year senior and former ballyhooed four-star signee Emanuel McGirt Jr. is as healthy as he’s ever been at NC State and will have a chance to finally compete for a starting job."
• If the offensive line is still trying to shake itself out and it's getting close to the opener, that could be an extra advantage for redshirt sophomore Matt McKay at quarterback. He is the most athletic signal caller in the mix. McKay is a favorite going into the fall, and perhaps a healthy favorite, but we would caution subscribers into thinking it is wrapped up or a done deal. That is not the case.
• Can the young running backs stay healthy? They’re talented, but the Pack is an injury or two away from having big question marks in the backfield.
• How will the secondary look? There are hints that it could be a more aggressive defense this fall, and the defensive backs look deeper than ever at the first day of practice. But at some point it will have to produce in actual games.
• Can the young defensive linemen step up? There are a couple of good seniors on the line in defensive end James Smith-Williams and tackle Larrell Murchison, but this is the one position where there are a lot of talented first and second-year players and the sooner they starter playing older than their age the better the Pack will be.
We conclude our series of coaches’ comments on the newcomers first with defensive line coach Kevin Patrick:
On freshman end Savion Jackson:
“The power and speed and quickness that he has — he has one speed and just to see it so quick, it is definitely encouraging. The game has slow down for him too. I always say 4.2 [seconds in the 40-yard dash] is fast, but 4.2 in the wrong direction isn’t that fast.”
“Savion’s deal is just learning the defense and learning football IQ. He just has to get a better IQ for this game and understand how all of this fits. He’ll then be a much better player."
"It was definitely fun to watch him this spring."
On redshirt freshman tackle Derrick Eason:
“Eason was on the scout team all year last year. He came into the spring and had to be counted on a lot, so it was a big growing period. We are going to need a good fall camp for him. He has the ability and now it is about getting him to do it in a tight confined space in the trench, and know how to operate.”
On freshman tackle Joshua Harris:
“One thing he has, the size [at 6-4 and 352 pounds]. Just like all of them, it’s about getting that size moving in the right direction and execute with good fundamentals and technique. It will be scary.
“It isn’t easy to come into to college football and play right away. When you are at the front of that defensive line, things are happening at you a lot quicker. You are an incoming guy and not in as good a shape as you need to be, those things tend to weigh on you.”
“All the freshmen, including [defensive end] Terrell Dawkins, you can see why we recruited them. We just have to keep sharpening those knives up and get them better, and in position to help us win ball games.”
On redshirt freshman end Joseph Boletepeli:
“He had the wingspan, but now he’s working on his footwork and his eyes. He is getting better every day. He’s a junkie like the rest of these guys are. He sits in here and eats it up.”
On freshmen end Terrell Dawkins and tackle C.J. Clark, and Coastal Carolina transfer Jeffrey Gunter:
“Dawkins I’ve seen some things but he just needs his days. I can’t wait to get C.J.’s big butt out there. C.J. is going to be a force.
“Gunter is Gunter — I like him. He’s a freak.”
• Defensive back Joshua Pierre-Louis, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Benjamin School
• Defensive back Tyler Jones, Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange High
• Linebacker Jayland Parker, Macon (Ga.) Westside High — Colorado commit
• Offensive lineman Anthony Carter, Matthews (N.C.) Butler High
• Linebacker Devon Betty, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas High
There may be (and probably are) others, but those five we know were extended scholarships. Jones has flown under the radar in particular but we are told that NC State coaches are very excited about his potential. He’s a speedster who has been timed as fast at 10.75 seconds in the 100-meter dash this spring in track while checking in at 5-foot-11, 185 pounds.
Jones has the versatility that NC State is seeking these days in defensive backs. He also has offers from Duke, Louisville, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri (where he has taken an official visit), Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse and Vanderbilt.
He has been fairly consistently listed on The Wolfpacker’s top five (or when it was greater number) list over the past few weeks, but the more we learn on Jones the more we understand how high he is on the Pack’s board. That said, our understanding is NC State is going to take one more defensive back, so if Pierre-Louis wants to pull the trigger before Jones he would likely be out of a spot.
Pierre-Louis also has offers from Auburn (although questionable if its official), Illinois, Minnesota and Rutgers, among others.
As for the others, a source told us yesterday that they felt like NC State was in a good position with Carter, who told us in July that he wanted to visit Texas A&M and Michigan State officially. While he was tweeting out his offers yesterday it was notable that Texas A&M was not one of them. Michigan State did offer him.
We have not heard much about Parker but obviously the fact that he is openly acknowledging picking up an offer from NC State is a sign that he has maintained an open line of communication with the Wolfpack.
***
Moving onto the football team, based on our conversations with sources these are the biggest question marks that we think will be focal points for the preseason camp:
• Figuring out the offensive line. This may surprise many by being the first thing we list, but it could play a role in what happens at quarterback, too. The spring was unfortunately not as productive as the coaches may have wanted due to all the injuries.
The depth is especially worrisome, with injuries slowing the development of some players plus some attrition. That means that some freshmen will have to be prepared to be ready.
The good news is that fifth-year senior Emanuel McGirt Jr. has stepped up, which we noted in our War Room on June 21: “Fifth-year senior and former ballyhooed four-star signee Emanuel McGirt Jr. is as healthy as he’s ever been at NC State and will have a chance to finally compete for a starting job."
• If the offensive line is still trying to shake itself out and it's getting close to the opener, that could be an extra advantage for redshirt sophomore Matt McKay at quarterback. He is the most athletic signal caller in the mix. McKay is a favorite going into the fall, and perhaps a healthy favorite, but we would caution subscribers into thinking it is wrapped up or a done deal. That is not the case.
• Can the young running backs stay healthy? They’re talented, but the Pack is an injury or two away from having big question marks in the backfield.
• How will the secondary look? There are hints that it could be a more aggressive defense this fall, and the defensive backs look deeper than ever at the first day of practice. But at some point it will have to produce in actual games.
• Can the young defensive linemen step up? There are a couple of good seniors on the line in defensive end James Smith-Williams and tackle Larrell Murchison, but this is the one position where there are a lot of talented first and second-year players and the sooner they starter playing older than their age the better the Pack will be.
We conclude our series of coaches’ comments on the newcomers first with defensive line coach Kevin Patrick:
On freshman end Savion Jackson:
“The power and speed and quickness that he has — he has one speed and just to see it so quick, it is definitely encouraging. The game has slow down for him too. I always say 4.2 [seconds in the 40-yard dash] is fast, but 4.2 in the wrong direction isn’t that fast.”
“Savion’s deal is just learning the defense and learning football IQ. He just has to get a better IQ for this game and understand how all of this fits. He’ll then be a much better player."
"It was definitely fun to watch him this spring."
On redshirt freshman tackle Derrick Eason:
“Eason was on the scout team all year last year. He came into the spring and had to be counted on a lot, so it was a big growing period. We are going to need a good fall camp for him. He has the ability and now it is about getting him to do it in a tight confined space in the trench, and know how to operate.”
On freshman tackle Joshua Harris:
“One thing he has, the size [at 6-4 and 352 pounds]. Just like all of them, it’s about getting that size moving in the right direction and execute with good fundamentals and technique. It will be scary.
“It isn’t easy to come into to college football and play right away. When you are at the front of that defensive line, things are happening at you a lot quicker. You are an incoming guy and not in as good a shape as you need to be, those things tend to weigh on you.”
“All the freshmen, including [defensive end] Terrell Dawkins, you can see why we recruited them. We just have to keep sharpening those knives up and get them better, and in position to help us win ball games.”
On redshirt freshman end Joseph Boletepeli:
“He had the wingspan, but now he’s working on his footwork and his eyes. He is getting better every day. He’s a junkie like the rest of these guys are. He sits in here and eats it up.”
On freshmen end Terrell Dawkins and tackle C.J. Clark, and Coastal Carolina transfer Jeffrey Gunter:
“Dawkins I’ve seen some things but he just needs his days. I can’t wait to get C.J.’s big butt out there. C.J. is going to be a force.
“Gunter is Gunter — I like him. He’s a freak.”
