The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1000643
148 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER I t is a deep year in the state of North Caro- lina. The depth is so good that Clem- son — which has competed in the Col- lege Football Playoff each of the past three years — took a verbal commitment from Rivals.com's No. 45 player in the state. Entering July, NC State had done an excellent job securing its share of the best North Carolina has to offer. Here are The Wolfpacker's top 30 prospects in the state for the 2019 class. 1. QUAVARIS CROUCH, ATH Charlotte Harding Crouch is the consensus top prospect in the state, and for a time he was the top-rated player in the country according to Ri- vals.com. He is currently listed at No. 5 nationally. The 6-3, 225-pounder could excel at run- ning back in college. He compares favor- ably to former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star Eddie George with his running style, and ran for 3,283 yards and 33 touch- downs while leading Harding to a 4-A state title last year. However, he may prefer playing line- backer, where he had 48 tackles and 14 sacks in 2017. NC State signed Crouch's older brother, safety Malik Dunlap, in the 2018 class and hosted Crouch for an unofficial visit in June. Crouch has an array of options with every major program in the country having offered him. 2. SAVION JACKSON, DE Clayton High The 6-3, 260-pound Jack- son recorded 56 stops, 20 tackles for loss and eight sacks for 13-1 Clayton last fall. The year before, he piled up 51 tackles, 19.5 stops be- hind the line of scrimmage, seven sacks and a safety. Jackson is a rare combination of power and quick-twitch athleticism at the defen- sive end position, and he also plays with a non-stop motor that allows him to be a constant disruptor of opposing offenses. NC State beat out South Carolina in a spir- ited recruiting battle for Jackson. Rivals.com rates him as the No. 3 player in the state, and the No. 10 strongside defensive end and No. 123 overall player in the country. 3. SAM HOWELL, QB Monroe Sun Valley Howell is the undisputed top quarterback prospect in the state. He has a cannon arm, is athletic and plays tough. As a junior, while leading his team to the 3-AA semifinals, he com- pleted 225 of 382 passes for 3,372 yards with 36 touchdowns and just 11 picks. He also rushed 230 times for 1,594 yards and 24 scores. Rivals.com rates the 6-1, 205-pound Howell as the No. 2 recruit in the state, and the No. 5 pro-style quarterback and No. 121 overall player nationally. He has verbally committed to Florida State. 4. JOSHUA HARRIS, DT Roxboro Person Harris is a powerful 6-3, 315-pounder who surprises interior offensive linemen with his athleticism and light feet. To add to his value, he could also project as a top offensive line pros- pect if it does not work on defense. Harris was scheduled to announce his decision July 9, and NC State was con- sidered the favorite over Duke, Georgia, Ohio State, North Carolina and Tennessee. Rivals.com rates him as the No. 4 recruit in the state, and the No. 7 defensive tackle and No. 146 overall player in the land. 5. TRAVEON FRESHWATER, DE/LB Elizabeth City Northeastern high You would be hard- pressed to find a better playmaker in the state than Freshwater. As a junior, he rushed 118 times for 2,015 yards and 22 touchdowns while racking up at least 100 yards in 11 of 14 games. Yet he is more prized for his defensive talents, where he had 157 tackles and 27 sacks last year. The 6-2, 230-pounder already has 61 career sacks. NC State would be one of the favorites for Freshwater along with South Carolina and Virginia Tech, but programs are moni- toring his academic progress. Rivals.com lists him as a four-star talent, the No. 5 prospect in the state, and the No. 7 weak- side defensive end and No. 168 overall recruit nationally. 6. DRAKE THOMAS, LB Wake Forest Heritage Thomas may be the saf- est bet outside of Crouch among the top players in the state. With Thomas it's simple: he knows where he is going, he gets there fast and he gets the ball carrier ■ FOOTBALL RECRUITING A Loaded In-State Class Players 21-30 No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown/High School College 21. Ikem Ekwonu OL 6-4 290 Charlotte/Providence Day NC State 22. Anthony Harris S 6-1 160 Havelock/Havelock Tennessee 23. Lee Kpogba LB 6-2 210 Winston-Salem/Parkland West Virginia 24. Jacob Monk OL 6-3 290 Wendell/Corinth Holders Duke 25. Triston Miller OL 6-6 275 Charlotte/Country Day NC State 26. Keyon Lesane WR 6-0 180 Matthews/Butler NC State 27. Jalen Frazier DB 5-10 180 Cornelius/Hough NC State 28. Isaiah Kemp DB 6-2 180 Wilmington/Hoggard Duke 29. Christian Rorie DL 6-6 260 Raleigh/Enloe — 30. Parker Moorer OL 6-5 290 Charlotte/Mallard Creek Maryland Rivals.com rates Charlotte Harding's Quavaris Crouch as the country's No. 5 overall player. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM