The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1043000
118 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER W ith most of NC State's football re- cruiting in the class of 2019 done, here are 10 names to watch while attention shifts towards next year's seniors. QUARTERBACK HARRISON BAILEY Marietta (Ga.) High Bailey is one of the prized prospects in the 2020 class. He is rated as a four-star recruit, and the No. 2 pro-style quar- terback and No. 27 overall prospect in the country by Rivals.com. The 6-4, 220-pounder visited NC State when it hosted Virginia Sept. 29, and the Pack is one of four schools prominently in the mix. The others are Georgia, Michigan and Tennessee. "It was a little different from places I have seen before, so I liked it," Bailey told Rivals.com. "They have produced some good quarterbacks, they run a good offense and they really made a pretty good first impression. "I saw the game and atmosphere, and got to talk some with the coaches. They were telling me to come up there ready to work and be ready to go to the next level. It was a good visit." Through seven games this year, Bailey had completed 62.6 percent of his passes (184 of 294) for 2,341 yards with 25 touch- downs and just six picks. DEFENSIVE LINEMAN JACOLBE COWAN Charlotte Providence Day The 6-5, 250-pounder has been a well- known recruit since he fin- ished his freshman year, and he plays for one of the higher profile programs in the state of North Carolina. Cowan claims offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Geor- gia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State, among many others, but NC State was able to get Cowan in Raleigh for the Virginia game. Rivals.com rates Cowan as a four-star prospect, the No. 4 player in North Caro- lina, and the No. 7 strongside defensive end and No. 125 overall player nationally. In his first seven contests of his junior season, Cowan posted 23 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. QUARTERBACK JACOLBY CRISWELL Morrilton (Ark.) High The Pack was Criswell's first major offer and he camped at NC State in June. That plus offensive coordinator and Arkansas native Eli Drinkwitz's ties to the state have the Pack in contention. The 6-1, 205-pounder emerged as a bona fide SEC target over the sum- mer, adding offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Missis- sippi State and Ole Miss. His brother Dre Greenlaw is a senior linebacker for Arkan- sas. Rivals.com rates Criswell as a three- star prospect and the No. 13 dual-threat quarterback in the country. WIDE RECEIVER JOSHUA DOWNS Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett High The Downs name may sound familiar. He is the son of former NC State running back Gary Downs, who rushed for 1,642 yards and 23 touchdowns with the Wolfpack from 1990-93. Gary Downs is now the run- ning backs coach for East Tennessee State. His son Joshua is a four-star prospect that caught 63 passes for 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore. In his first eight games this season, he had 27 receptions for 493 yards and five scores. Rivals.com lists Downs (5-9, 160 pounds) as the No. 26 junior in talent-rich Georgia, and the No. 39 wide receiver and No. 220 overall prospect nationally. Michigan, North Carolina and Oregon are also strong contenders for Downs. DEFENSIVE END DESMOND EVANS Sanford (N.C.) Lee County High Evans has been on the radar of area teams since his breakout freshman sea- son during which he reeled in offers from several schools, includ- ing NC State. The 6-6, 230-pounder visited NCSU for its home game against Virginia Sept. 29. Clemson, North Carolina, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech are some of Evans' other notable offers. Rivals.com ranks him as a four-star talent, the No. 2 junior in the state, and the No. 3 weakside defensive end and No. 65 overall prospect in the country. In the first five games of his junior sea- son, Evans had 34 total stops, 14 tackles for loss and six sacks, and also contributed 13 quarterback hurries. LINEBACKER MOHAMED KABA Clinton (N.C.) High The 6-3, 205-pound Kaba was at Scot- land High in Laurinburg, N.C., before transferring to Clinton High for his junior year. By the midway point of his junior year, Kaba already had offers from Duke, NC State, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and East Carolina. ■ FOOTBALL RECRUITING Moving Ahead To The 2020 Class Rivals.com rates Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett's Joshua Downs — the son of former NC State running back Gary Downs (1990-93) — as the No. 39 wideout and No. 220 overall recruit nationally. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM