The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1087622
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State had one of its best recruiting classes ever, particularly from the state of North Carolina. The Wolfpack will be welcome 16 in-state players from its class of 2019 — 15 signees and one blueshirt recruit — which powered the class to be ranked No. 28 nation- ally by Rivals.com, the program's highest finish nationally since 2005 (No. 27). All 16 natives were ranked among the outlet's top 51 players in the state. The ability to sell the NFL dream to re- cruits became a lot easier after a school-record seven players were drafted in 2018, and six more were invited to this year's NFL Com- bine. Several of those players were ranked as three-star recruits or lower, which has allowed NCSU head coach Dave Doeren to point to the Wolfpack's stellar ability of developing players on the recruiting trail. "I think when kids can see it, it's different from when you just talk about it," Doeren said. "I can tell you right now if you are a quarterback or a defensive lineman or a wide- out — we are the only school in ACC history to have two first-team all-conference receivers with 1,000 yards — why wouldn't you want to come here? Those things sell themselves." The group was also ranked No. 4 in the ACC by Rivals.com — the Pack's highest conference standing since 2004. "The biggest and most important thing in every class is quarterback, and then after that, the trenches," Rivals.com national recruiting director Mike Farrell said. "I think they are the guys that don't get enough attention, guys on the offensive and defensive lines. "I think they did very well in both areas, but obviously did better on the defensive line." NCSU ultimately signed 20 players and added three blueshirt prospects that will enroll in August and immediately be put on scholar- ship. That doesn't include Oregon graduate transfer wide receiver Tabari Hines, who was a standout at Wake Forest; ex-Florida State quarterback Bailey Hockman, who attended Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College this past fall; or former USC linebacker Levi Jones, a top-100 recruit in the class of 2017 that enrolled this spring after transferring. NC State landed players at every position group, except the two kicking specialists. Two recruits from Savannah, Ga., and play- ers from Colorado, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey and Virginia, join the North Carolina contingent, which stole most of the headlines. "In 2019, NC State did a fantastic job of getting the best players in the state, and they had to," Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic recruiting analyst Adam Friedman said. "They were set up perfectly. The competition was down and they had to capitalize on that, and they did that." NC State loaded up on defense, particu- larly in-state defensive linemen, headlined by Roxboro Person four-star Joshua Har- ris and New London North Stanly four-star C.J. Clark, a pair of defensive tackles ranked among the nation's top 200 recruits by Ri- vals.com. Clayton High three-star Savion Jackson, once ranked as a top-200 recruit, and Concord Cox Mill High three-star Ter- rell Dawkins are defensive ends who round out the group and bring strong long-term potential. "These guys had offers from a lot of dif- ferent programs," Farrell said. "They were able to do a good job of keeping them home. It's a good combination of interior guys with outside pass rushers." Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High's Drake Thomas, who is the younger brother of NCSU redshirt sophomore slot receiver Thayer Thomas, and Shelby (N.C.) High's Jaylon Scott fortify the linebacker spots. Thomas' leadership skills and special teams potential could get him on the field early. "Drake is a really, really smart linebacker that hits like a ton of bricks," Friedman said. "He always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He does his homework. He isn't the biggest linebacker, but he makes a million tackles." The secondary has four signees who will eventually get sorted out in the Wolfpack's nickel, safety and cornerback spots. Rocky Mount (N.C.) High's Shyheim Battle, Corne- lius (N.C.) Hough's Jalen Frazier, Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine Military School's Jakeen Harris and late pickup Cecil Powell of Sun- rise (Fla.) Piper, a former Baylor commit, will provide much-needed depth. Battle was the highest ranked, with Ri- BACKYARD BOOST Wolfpack Owns The State And Inks Its Highest-Rated Class Since 2005 The Pack's strong class was well-represented in the annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game. Five future Wolfpackers played in the game (clockwise from the top left): defensive tackle Joshua Harris, defensive end Savion Jackson, running back Zonovan Knight, linebacker Drake Thomas and tight end Kam Walker. PHOTO BY MATT CARTER