The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1087622
56 ■ THE WOLFPACKER 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE The Best Recruiting Class Since 2005 NC State was listed at No. 28 nationally in the Rivals.com national team rankings — the Wolfpack's best showing since finishing No. 27 in 2005. The mark ranks tied for third all time in the Rivals.com era, which started in 2002. The average of 3.04 stars per signee was the fourth best since 2002. This class builds off the strength of last year's, which was ranked No. 34. It gives NC State only its second back-to-back top-35 classes since it had four consecutive from 2002-05. NCSU has landed nine four-star prospects in the last two years, six of which were in the Rivals250. NCSU head coach Dave Doeren has signed 14 players who were ranked in the final top 250 since getting hired on Dec. 1, 2012. His predecessor, Tom O'Brien, signed six from 2007-13. The nine four stars signed since 2018 is the most in a two-year period since 2003-04. Doeren has also signed his fourth top-35 class among his six total (counting only classes he was fully responsible for), while in the previ - ous 12 years NC State had six combined. Stats: Caught 21 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing 43 times for 156 yards and four scores in 11 games as a senior … As a junior, he notched 32 receptions for 556 yards and 11 touch- downs in 14 contests. Honors/accomplishments: Was honorable mention all-area and all-conference as a junior … Also played basketball, averaging 8.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a junior, and competes in track and field, where he was a two-time conference champ in the high jump with a personal best of 6-foot-4 in the event. Recruitment: Was offered by NC State in January while at a junior day … Also collected Power Five offers from Maryland and Wake Forest … Picked NC State March 16, 2018. Recruiter of record: Former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz Stats: During his senior season, he hauled in 15 passes for 156 yards and four scores … Reeled in 40 receptions for 371 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Honors/accomplishments: Was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game … Named first-team All-State by the Associated Press and was a second-team pick by USA Today in 2018 … Cho- sen to The Asheville Citizen-Times' All-Western North Carolina first team as a senior … Also plays basketball. Recruitment: Earned an offer from NC State after a strong performance at its summer camp … Added ACC offers from Louisville and Wake Forest after picking one up from the Wolfpack, but he never wavered in his commitment … Is a blueshirt, which means he will enroll as a walk-on on the first day of preseason camp and immediately be put on scholarship. Recruiter of record: Former offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford 2019 PROJECTION Toudle is probably going to redshirt while he works on his explosiveness and also continues to learn the position. 2019 PROJECTION Walker is a safe bet to redshirt because NC State has good depth at tight end, and that will allow him to continue his development at what is still a relatively new position. CHRIS TOUDLE WIDE RECEIVER • 6-3, 215 Wilmington, N.C. • Hoggard High School Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State ✪ ✪ ✪ — — 48 ✪ ✪ ✪ 977 115 42 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 23* 48 * Ranked as a tight end-H (H-back) KAM WALKER TIGHT END • 6-5, 235 Canton, N.C. • Pisgah High School Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State ✪ ✪ ✪ — — 36 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 80 75 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 33* 71 * Ranked as a tight end-Y (traditional tight end) Scouting report: Fits the profile of NC State's recent outside receiver recruits — tall and physical … Although not espe- cially fast, he is a decent athlete … Did not begin playing receiver until his junior year in high school and is still learning the position. Scouting report: Made the adjustment from playing primarily an outside receiver to an on-the-line tight end as a senior … Has good size and hands, and is a solid athlete … Needs to continue improving his blocking. " Quotable He has great physical talent, but the biggest compliment to him was his character and work ethic. That great of an athlete, it's really a special thing. — Hoggard head coach Craig Underwood " Quotable I thought it's a great fit for me. This is the offer I had been waiting on. — Walker NC State Football Recruiting Classes in Rivals.com Era Year Ranking Signees* Five-Stars Four-Stars Avg. Stars 2019 28 23 0 4 3.04 2018 34 24 0 5 3.08 2017 53 20 0 2 2.85 2016 43 23 0 2 2.83 2015 35 22 0 5 2.91 2014 30 31 0 3 2.94 2013 47 23 0 0 2.83 2012 54 22 0 0 2.77 2011 86 20 0 1 2.75 2010 34 19 1 4 3.05 2009 52 27 0 1 2.78 2008 31 26 0 6 2.77 2007 50 25 0 2 2.64 2006 51 20 0 0 2.45 2005 27 22 0 5 2.86 2004 28 18 1 3 2.89 2003 7 28 1 6 3.14 2002 34 24 1 4 2.75 * Signees total does not include transfers