The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1087622
38 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Measurables: At the Nike Camp in Charlotte, checked in at 6-2, 173 pounds … Was laser-timed at 4.72 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 4.25 seconds in the shuttle … Had a 36.0-foot power ball throw and 30.8-inch vertical leap … Finished with an overall Nike Football Rating of 87.81. Stats: Registered 34 tackles (25 solo), two stops for loss, two passes broken up, one interception, one fumble re- covery and one forced fumble in eight games as a senior … Also returned five kickoffs for an average of 22.6 yards and one punt for 10 yards, and hauled in five passes for 70 yards on offense … During his junior year, compiled 31 stops (24 solo), one tackle for loss and three pass breakups in 11 games … Caught 17 passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns, and returned four kickoffs for a 24.8-yard average … As a sophomore, he made 36 tackles (29 solo), two interceptions (one pick-six), five passes broken up, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in 14 games. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game, but did not play because of an injury sustained during his senior sea- son … Was named all-conference as a senior … Three-year starter … Regarded by The Fayetteville Observer as the No. 9 player in North Carolina, while The Charlotte Observer had him at No. 14 … Also played basketball and averaged 9.3 points per game as a junior. Recruitment: Picked up an offer from NC State after a strong performance at its summer camp prior to his junior season … Duke and NC State were his lone offers until he blew up following his junior season, and added offers from Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech, among others … Chose NC State over Clemson July 25 and enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Cornerbacks coach George Barlow 2019 PROJECTION NC State would love for Battle to get into the mix early and compete at corner, which is a position that has been targeted over the past two recruiting cycles as an area that needs to be upgraded. But his best bet for early playing time is on special teams, which he showed the potential for being able to do at Rocky Mount, especially on coverage units. SHYHEIM BATTLE CORNERBACK • 6-2, 175 Rocky Mount, N.C. • Rocky Mount High School Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 30 12 ✪ ✪ ✪ 479 48 25 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 57 31 Scouting report: Excellent size/frame for a corner … Not an elite athlete, but is athletic enough … Has the potential to make an early impact on special teams. " Quotable For his size at 173 or whatever, you'd think he was a cover kid, but he's actually a tough physical kid. He does a good job filling the run and he's a pretty good open field tackler. — Rocky Mount head coach Jason Battle Measurables: At the Nike Camp in Charlotte, checked in at 6-2½, 301 pounds … Was laser-timed at 5.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 4.62 seconds in the shuttle … Had a 37.5-foot power ball throw and 21.6-inch vertical leap … Finished with an overall Nike Football Rating of 69.78. Stats: As a senior, registered 83 tackles (51 solo), six sacks, three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble in nine games … Posted 79 tackles (37 solo), nine sacks, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, one pass broken up and a safety in 12 games during his junior cam- paign … As a sophomore, notched 130 tackles (105 solo), five sacks, two passes broken up, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry in 12 con- tests … Recorded 86 tackles (29 solo), one sack, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two quarterback hurries and one pass broken up in nine games as a freshman. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game, but did not play because of an injury sustained during his senior season … Named second-team All-State by USA Today … Named to the WSOC Big 22 for its Charlotte-based viewing area's top high school football players … Listed by The Fayetteville Observer at No. 12 and The Charlotte Ob- server at No. 13 in their respective state rankings … Also played basketball and threw the shot put in track. Recruitment: NC State was the first school to offer him, extending one in the spring following his sophomore season … Developed into a national-level recruit with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Penn State and Tennessee, among others … Chose NC State over Georgia and UNC June 18, and held firm despite overtures from new UNC head coach Mack Brown in December … En- rolled early. Recruiter of record: Former tight ends/fullbacks coach and special teams coordinator Eddie Faulkner 2019 PROJECTION A lot will depend on how quickly Clark can recover from a torn labrum in his shoulder, which he suffered during his senior season. If he can recover quick enough to participate in the summer conditioning program, he has a chance to get onto the field this fall due to depth concerns at defensive tackle. Scouting report: High-motor defensive tackle who moves well … Has the ideal size/frame for an interior lineman … Probably best suited for three-technique defensive tackle due to his ability to be disruptive in the backfield. " Quotable NC State is getting a phenomenal player. We call him 'Friday Night Lights' and [in college], he can be 'Saturday's.' He is just a freak when it comes to size and speed. There is a reason why everybody was after him. They got a good one. — North Stanly head coach Scott Crisco C.J. CLARK DEFENSIVE TACKLE • 6-3, 280 New London, N.C. • North Stanly High Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 186 13 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 173 13 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 276 19 9 15 Signees committed to NC State in the summer. The Wolfpack landed 16 verbal commitments between June 1 and Aug. 2, and of that group 13 were North Carolinians. While one, offensive tackle Triston Miller from Charlotte Christian, chose to sign elsewhere in December, the rest held firm throughout the fall, leaving the Pack with just having to put the finishing touches on its class in the fall and winter. THE 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS