The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/112604
2013 football recruiting issue Jack Tocho ��� DB Dravious Wright ��� CB Charlotte Independence High 6-1 ��� 190 pounds Measurables: At a Shrine Bowl combine, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds and the shuttle in 4.48 seconds ��� Had a 34.9-inch vertical leap and did 18 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press. Stats: Had 55 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior ��� Returned two picks and three kickoffs for touchdowns ... Posted 48 tackles, five picks and 29 pass breakups as a junior. Ratings: Rivals.com rated him as a three-star recruit, the No. 58 corner in the country and the No. 22 prospect in North Carolina ��� Given three stars by ESPN, which ranked him the No. 109 corner nationally and the No. 59 player in the state ��� Listed as a twostar recruit by Scout.com and 247Sports ��� The latter also ranked him as the No. 189 corner in the country and No. 66 recruit in the state ��� Named the No. 24 recruit from North Carolina by National Underclassmen. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl for the Carolinas All-Star Game, where he started at corner and had four tackles, all solo, and a pass breakup ��� Named Associated Press first-team All-State ��� Also listed on the Carolina Preps first-team 4-A All-State squad ��� Picked for the Charlotte Observer���s All-Observer region team ��� Selected as the Southwestern 4-A Conference Co-Defensive Player of photo by ken martin the Year ��� Also runs track. Recruitment: Tocho was a camp standout for NC State. He ripped off a 40-yard dash time of 4.45 seconds and then shined in one-on-one drills.The Wolfpack immediately offered, and on June 21 Tocho accepted.Wake Forest made some runs at Tocho after his pledge and then again during the coaching chance, but he remained firm for the Wolfpack. Recruiter of record: Former offensive line coach Jim Bridge. Dave Doeren on Tocho: ���I know Coach [Richard] McNutt enjoyed getting to know Jack and just how serious he was. We don���t have a lot of depth in the secondary, so we���re getting a guy in Jack that is mature mentally and you know he is going to handle his business off the field and in the classroom.Those are the guys that are normally mature enough to handle playing early if you need them to do it, especially on special teams.��� Scouting report: Tocho is an above-average athlete with good size for a defensive back. Ideally he would be a corner given his size and speed, but he could also play safety. He has good ball skills and is a threat every time he gets his hands on the football.The key for him is proving he has the lateral quickness to play corner. 2013 projection: Depth in the secondary is questionable, and given that Tocho has the size and athleticism to play both corner and safety, he may get onto the field next fall. Vero Beach (Fla.) High 5-10 ��� 185 pounds Measurables: Reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds. Stats: Contributed 68 tackles, including 42 solo hits and a sack, a forced fumble and four pass breakups as a senior ��� Also ran for five touchdowns ��� Posted 71 tackles (56 solo), one sack, two picks, three pass breakups and a fumble recovery as a junior. Ratings: Given two stars by Rivals.com ��� Rated a three-star recruit, the No. 110 corner in the country and the No. 197 prospect in Florida by 247Sports ��� Listed as a three-star prospect, the No. 95 corner nationally and the No. 223 player in the state by ESPN ��� Ranked as a three-star talent and the No. 108 corner in the nation by Scout.com. Honors/accomplishments: Selected secondteam Associated Press 8A All-State ��� Chosen to play in the Nike Florida All-Star Game ��� Made the Orlando Sentinel Mideast Florida Super 60 list at No. 12 ��� Two-time first-team all-area selection ��� Also runs track. Marquez Valdes ��� WR St. Petersburg (Fla.) Lakewood High 6-3 ��� 201 pounds Measurables: Was clocked under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Florida State summer camp ��� Reportedly has a 235-pound bench press. Stats: Made 24 receptions for 444 yards and six scores as a senior ��� Caught 28 passes for over 600 yards and six touchdowns as a junior. Ratings: Listed as a three-star player by Rivals.com ��� Named a three-star prospect, the No. 180 wide receiver in the country and the No. 213 recruit from Florida by ESPN ��� Rated a three-star prospect, the No. 207 receiver nationally and the No. 209 player in the state by 247Sports ��� Given two stars by Scout.com. Honors/accomplishments: Named MVP of the Pinellas Senior AllStar Game in December after making three catches for 98 yards and a touchdown in the contest. Recruitment: Valdes briefly committed to Louisville in the fall, but that did not last long. He took official visits to Houston and Toledo in December, before coaching changes helped his recruitment take off. New staffs at NC State, Cincinnati, Kentucky and South Florida all offered. Minnesota also jumped in with an offer. The Pack, though, got Valdes on campus for an official visit Jan. 11 and held a lead that lasted till signing day, despite trips to Cincinnati and USF. Valdes announced for the Pack Feb. 6. Recruiter of record: Wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson. Dave Doeren on Valdes: ���He had a great visit, and it was a lot of fun photo courtesy rivals.com to see him go through it. I know Coach Jackson is ready to get him on campus and work with him. He���s a guy that is a vertical threat and can make plays over the top of coverages.��� Scouting report: Valdes has the physical tools to be a top receiver. He has good size and can run away from defenders. He also proved on film that he can go up and make tough catches in the air, especially in the red zone. 2013 projection: Given NC State���s need for a receiver or two to step up this fall, and given that Valdes is one of the more polished wideouts in the class, it would not be a surprise if he found some early playing time at NC State. photo courtesy rivals.com Recruitment: Wright was a decent bet to end up at Northern Illinois had Dave Doeren returned for another year with the Huskies. Along with fellow Vero Beach corner Sean Paul, Wright visited NIU in September. When Doeren left for NCSU however, he made Wright and Paul priorities for the Pack. Both visited the weekend of Jan. 11, and before leaving for home became the first two commits for Doeren at NCSU. Recruiter of record: Cornerbacks coach Richard McNutt. Dave Doeren on Wright: ���Dre is a corner, nickel safety and return guy. Dre is a contact player. He will flat knock people out. Those are my kind of guys on defense and special teams. There���s not many corners who will hit like linebackers, but he will. He puts his face on people as we call it.��� Scouting report: Wright shows on film that he is one of the hardest hitters signed in the 2013 class. Size-wise he is more suited to play corner, and he has the speed to line up there. His physicality, though, may make him an asset at safety. 2013 projection: Wright garnered a good reputation among local scouts in Florida, and it would not be a surprise if he sneaked his way onto the field this fall given the uncertainty about the depth in the secondary. March 2013��� ������ 43 34-36,38-40,42-43.Recruiting Bios.indd 43 2/26/13 1:16 PM