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Adam Goldman, Owner FranchiseCoach.net
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Under head coach Dave Doeren, the record for four-star signings for NC State in a single recruiting class has been five, done twice.
In 2015, running backs Reggie Gallaspy, Nyheim Hines and Johnny Frasier were all four stars, in addition to defensive lineman Darian Roseboro and offensive tackle Emanuel McGirt. Then, in the 2018 class there was quarterback Devin Leary, running back Ricky Person Jr., defensive tackle Alim McNeill, linebacker Payton Wilson and defensive back De’Von Graves.
All the pieces would have to come together, including NC State pulling out some recruitments that we might call long-shots at the moment, but there is a realistic (even if far-fetched) path to breaking the record with six four-stars in the 2022 class:
• Quarterback MJ Morris from Atlanta’s Pace Academy may decide this week on his college, with the likely choice being either NC State, Georgia Tech and Nebraska. One date we have heard thrown around is Wednesday, but Morris himself has not come out and said anything so it could be simply a false rumor.
Nevertheless, a decision is almost certainly on the horizon and will be in before the month is over. If you missed it in the top 25, here’s the latest we had: Nebraska made a big impression with his weekend visit for its spring game, but his father did not make the trip and we fall back to what we were hearing pre-visit, that Nebraska was a likely longshot.
Georgia Tech continues to kick the tires on Maryland commit and Canton, Ga., native AJ Swann, and questions remain if they have shifted their focus to Morris or more in the whoever commits first mold. The wildcard is that the state of Georgia has passed its name, image and likeness card, and states with those laws will likely have an advantage for the time being.
We believe NC State has a good chance, but it’s not a sure thing.
• Athletic running back Michael Allen from Rose High in Greenville, N.C., is a good bet to pick either UNC or NC State, and as noted in our story early playing time is important. Allen does not seem to want to be the workhorse as a rookie so much as getting early opportunities to play, and the expectation is NC State will have that. The Pack has signed only one running back in its last two classes — Demie Sumo in the 2021 class — whereas UNC signed three last year alone.
The one caveat is the Heels’ in-state track record under Mack Brown has been undeniably strong, and that cannot be dismissed.
• Offensive tackle Nick Williams from North Augusta (S.C.) Fox Creek School is not someone that has received a lot of publicity, but NC State is involved. He boasted an impressive early offer list, but the caveat here is there are some questions as to how many programs on that list are still involved (and for that matter, will Williams stay a four-star going forward).
• Defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland from Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood has set up his official visit to NC State on June 12, so the Wolfpack is firmly in the mix here. Of the schools most heavily involved, NC State has been around the longest. They were actively recruiting Cleveland even while he was committed to Miami. He and defensive line coach Charley Wiles have a good rapport, and the fact that NC State would be willing to let him try baseball in college if he wanted has been a signal to him as to how much NC State would like Cleveland.
• Defensive tackle Curtis Neal from Hough High in Cornelius, N.C., would be an ideal fit for the Pack’s three-man front. He is well familiar with the program and has plenty of friends on the team. Even when Neal claimed a top six that did not include NC State, there was a feeling around Raleigh that the Pack was a strong player, hence why we had him higher up in our top 25 from the get-go.
That said, rumblings that Ohio State is making an aggressive push are concerning from NC State’s perspective. Neal has a chip on his shoulder approach to recruiting, believing because he may be an inch or two below ideal height teams and analysts are not giving him his due respect. Landing at an Ohio State could be a validation of sorts for Neal.
• Linebacker Torren Wright from A.L. Brown High in Kannapolis, N.C., was, back in the spring, considered a pretty good bet for NC State. His recruitment has not quite yet taken off as had been anticipated, although he does have the offer from Michigan. NC State is definitely strong in the picture for Wright, and we would not be surprised if he is a summer-time decision.
That’s the six four-stars in which it is not out of the equation that NC State can land, and if the dominoes fall correctly it could be a dream scenario.
Adam Goldman, Owner FranchiseCoach.net
Email: agoldman@franchisecoach.net
DM: @FranchiseCoach
•••
Under head coach Dave Doeren, the record for four-star signings for NC State in a single recruiting class has been five, done twice.
In 2015, running backs Reggie Gallaspy, Nyheim Hines and Johnny Frasier were all four stars, in addition to defensive lineman Darian Roseboro and offensive tackle Emanuel McGirt. Then, in the 2018 class there was quarterback Devin Leary, running back Ricky Person Jr., defensive tackle Alim McNeill, linebacker Payton Wilson and defensive back De’Von Graves.
All the pieces would have to come together, including NC State pulling out some recruitments that we might call long-shots at the moment, but there is a realistic (even if far-fetched) path to breaking the record with six four-stars in the 2022 class:
• Quarterback MJ Morris from Atlanta’s Pace Academy may decide this week on his college, with the likely choice being either NC State, Georgia Tech and Nebraska. One date we have heard thrown around is Wednesday, but Morris himself has not come out and said anything so it could be simply a false rumor.
Nevertheless, a decision is almost certainly on the horizon and will be in before the month is over. If you missed it in the top 25, here’s the latest we had: Nebraska made a big impression with his weekend visit for its spring game, but his father did not make the trip and we fall back to what we were hearing pre-visit, that Nebraska was a likely longshot.
Georgia Tech continues to kick the tires on Maryland commit and Canton, Ga., native AJ Swann, and questions remain if they have shifted their focus to Morris or more in the whoever commits first mold. The wildcard is that the state of Georgia has passed its name, image and likeness card, and states with those laws will likely have an advantage for the time being.
We believe NC State has a good chance, but it’s not a sure thing.
• Athletic running back Michael Allen from Rose High in Greenville, N.C., is a good bet to pick either UNC or NC State, and as noted in our story early playing time is important. Allen does not seem to want to be the workhorse as a rookie so much as getting early opportunities to play, and the expectation is NC State will have that. The Pack has signed only one running back in its last two classes — Demie Sumo in the 2021 class — whereas UNC signed three last year alone.
The one caveat is the Heels’ in-state track record under Mack Brown has been undeniably strong, and that cannot be dismissed.
• Offensive tackle Nick Williams from North Augusta (S.C.) Fox Creek School is not someone that has received a lot of publicity, but NC State is involved. He boasted an impressive early offer list, but the caveat here is there are some questions as to how many programs on that list are still involved (and for that matter, will Williams stay a four-star going forward).
• Defensive lineman Brandon Cleveland from Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood has set up his official visit to NC State on June 12, so the Wolfpack is firmly in the mix here. Of the schools most heavily involved, NC State has been around the longest. They were actively recruiting Cleveland even while he was committed to Miami. He and defensive line coach Charley Wiles have a good rapport, and the fact that NC State would be willing to let him try baseball in college if he wanted has been a signal to him as to how much NC State would like Cleveland.
• Defensive tackle Curtis Neal from Hough High in Cornelius, N.C., would be an ideal fit for the Pack’s three-man front. He is well familiar with the program and has plenty of friends on the team. Even when Neal claimed a top six that did not include NC State, there was a feeling around Raleigh that the Pack was a strong player, hence why we had him higher up in our top 25 from the get-go.
That said, rumblings that Ohio State is making an aggressive push are concerning from NC State’s perspective. Neal has a chip on his shoulder approach to recruiting, believing because he may be an inch or two below ideal height teams and analysts are not giving him his due respect. Landing at an Ohio State could be a validation of sorts for Neal.
• Linebacker Torren Wright from A.L. Brown High in Kannapolis, N.C., was, back in the spring, considered a pretty good bet for NC State. His recruitment has not quite yet taken off as had been anticipated, although he does have the offer from Michigan. NC State is definitely strong in the picture for Wright, and we would not be surprised if he is a summer-time decision.
That’s the six four-stars in which it is not out of the equation that NC State can land, and if the dominoes fall correctly it could be a dream scenario.
