The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/112604
2013 football recruiting issue Bra���Lon Cherry ��� WR Matt Dayes ��� RB New Bern (N.C.) High ��� 5-11 ��� 175 pounds Measurables: At a Shrine Bowl combine ran the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds and the shuttle in 4.19 seconds ��� Had a 37.5-inch vertical leap and did 15 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press. Stats: Offensively, caught 39 passes for 795 yards and nine touchdowns, and ran 15 times for 185 yards and two scores ��� Defensively, notched 46 tackles (29 of them solo), four interceptions (two of which he returned for scores), 24 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery ��� On special teams returned 10 kicks for an average of 43.5 yards and six punts for an average of 22.8 yards. photo by matt carter Ratings: Given three stars by Rivals.com ��� Listed by National Underclassmen as the No. 35 recruit from the state ��� Regarded as a two-star recruit, the No. 276 wide receiver in the country and No. 57 player in the state by 247Sports ��� Ranked as a three-star talent, the No. 138 wideout nationally and the No. 40 recruit in North Carolina by ESPN. Honors/accomplishments: Helped New Bern to an undefeated 15-0 season and the state 4-A title ��� Recorded 145 total yards (89 receiving, 56 rushing), a touchdown, four tackles and a forced fumble in the state championship game win ��� Named firstteam 4-A all-state by both Carolina Preps and NC Preps as a senior, and was also selected by the latter as first-team all-state for all classifications ��� Posted the second-best SPARQ score, a measure of overall athleticism, among more than 1,300 participants at the Charlotte Nike Football Combine in April. Recruitment: Cherry flew under the radar through the spring despite some impressive combine numbers. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at NCSU���s summer camp in June and received an offer from the Pack June 25, which he immediately accepted. Cherry enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Former special teams coordinator Jerry Petercuskie. Dave Doeren on Cherry: ���He���s got some pop to him. He can really explode in small spaces, and he goes up and gets the football. [New Bern] runs a similar offense to what we do, so he���ll be used to some of the components of our pass game and jet-sweep game already. Bra���Lon Cherry is more of a slot-type receiver that can make plays in space. That���s something that is obviously important to us.��� Scouting report: Everyone knew Cherry was one of the top athletes in the state. He showed this past season that he can effectively translate that onto the football field. He can be a dynamic playmaker on offense or a shutdown corner on defense. 2013 projection: Cherry is a speedster who could get on the field on special teams in addition to wide receiver, which is the position he was recruited to play even though he also has experience at corner. He has the benefit of enrolling early, which will give him a head start on the other wideouts in the class that will vie for early playing time. \Weston (Fla.) Cypress Bay High 5-9 ��� 190 pounds Measurables: At an Under Armour combine ran the 40-yard dash in 4.71 seconds and the shuttle in 4.51 seconds ��� Had a 26.5-inch vertical leap. Stats: Rushed 237 times for 1,878 yards and 31 touchdowns, and caught 11 passes for 150 yards and three more scores, as a senior ��� Ran 74 times for 484 yards and five touchdowns as a junior, despite missing more than half the season with an injury. Ratings: Rated by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 27 running back nationally ��� Regarded as a three-star recruit, the No. 59 tailback in the country and No. 56 recruit from Florida by Scout.com ��� Ranked the No. 92 player in the state by Florida Varsity ��� Picked as a three-star player, the No. 92 running back in the country and the No. 157 recruit from the state by ESPN ��� Rated three stars, the 52nd-best player nationally at his position and the No. 108 overall recruit from Florida by 247Sports ��� Listed as the 23rd-best prospect in the region by South Florida High School Sports. photo courtesy rivals.com Honors/accomplishments: Selected the region���s 8A-7A-6A Player of the Year by the Sun-Sentinel ��� Named first-team 8A All-State by the Associated Press ��� Helped Cypress Bay reach the 8A state title game as a senior and rushed for 170 yards and four touchdowns in the championship game defeat ��� Also runs track. Recruitment: Dayes originally committed to NC State over the summer while on an unofficial visit. He had offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Kentucky, South Florida and West Virginia at that point. After the coaching change, Dayes decommitted. He took official visits to Central Florida and Vanderbilt, and briefly looked to be headed to Vandy. But Dayes said that he went with his heart in the end and decided to recommit to NCSU on Jan. 30. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach Des Kitchings. Dave Doeren on Dayes: ���Matt is what I call a three-down back. He is very good on first and second down, inside-outside run, but can also catch the ball out of the backfield.��� Scouting report: Dayes is not the biggest running back, but he runs with a combination of balance, power and quickness that makes him equally effective between the tackles and in the open field. He has good vision for a running back, and he brings good enough speed to the table to break the long run. 2013 projection: There is a definite need for a running back from the class to play next season because NC State returns only two scholarship tailbacks from last fall. Dayes is one of the most highly touted prospects in the class and is a good bet to see the field in 2013. Jerod Fernandez ��� LB Lake Mary (Fla.) High 6-1 ��� 215 pounds Measurables: Reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds. Stats: Had 79 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks, as a junior ��� Made 83 tackles, including six for loss, as a sophomore. Ratings: Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com ��� Regarded as a three-star recruit, the 81st-best outside linebacker in the nation and the No. 133 player in Florida by ESPN ��� Listed by Scout.com as a two-star recruit and the No. 123 outside linebacker in the country ��� Rated by 247Sports as a three-star talent, the No. 120 outside linebacker nationally and the No. 205 recruit from Florida ��� Listed as the No. 105 prospect from the state by Florida Varsity. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to play in both the North-South FACA All-Star Classic and the Central Florida All-Star Game ��� Named region���s Defensive Player of the Year by the Orlando Football Club ��� Picked second-team 8A All-State by the Associated Press ��� Selected second-team All-Central Florida by the Orlando Sentinel ��� Also rated by that publication as the 26th-best player in the Central photo courtesy rivals.com Florida Super 60 ��� Was second-team All-Seminole Athletic Conference as a junior. Recruitment: Fernandez came close to verbally committing to NC State in April after visiting for the spring. A string of offers caused Fernandez to wait, but on June 8 he did pledge for the Pack. During the coaching transition, Fernandez lined up official visits to Duke, Pittsburgh and Rutgers in January, but an in-home visit from new head coach Dave Doeren firmed up Fernandez���s commitment, and he cancelled those trips. Recruiter of record: Former defensive backs coach Mike Reed. Dave Doeren on Fernandez: ���I���m really excited about what he brings to the table.Very physical, plays behind his pads, plays downhill, you can see him flip his hips in coverage and break on the ball.When he hits people, they go the direction you want them to go as a defender. ���With what we have position-wise at linebacker right now, he has a chance to play very early within our scheme. He comes from a really good program as well. He���ll be a sideline-to-sideline player in our 4-3 scheme.��� Scouting report: Fernandez is an aggressive linebacker with good instincts. He may be the best playmaker signed at the position by NC State, not only in this year���s class, but also in recent years. 2013 projection: NC State could use some help at linebacker. Fernandez was the most highly touted linebacker to sign with the Pack, so it would not be a shock if he sees the field. March 2013��� ������ 35 34-36,38-40,42-43.Recruiting Bios.indd 35 2/26/13 1:15 PM