The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1215393
24 ■ THE WOLFPACKER etween the two signing days — Dec. 18 and Feb. 5 — NC State added 21 newcom- ers, all from the high school ranks, to join its program. The class ranked No. 42 nation- ally, according to Rivals.com, and came amidst challenging conditions after a tough fall on the field and numerous staff changes following the season. Yet, while reflecting on the class, head coach Dave Doeren sees a group that can be successfully molded to make an impact on the field. "We were looking for tough guys, competi- tive guys, loyal guys that love to train," Do- eren said. "I think that's the one thing in our program, is that we have to develop players. "Obviously, we are going to compete for every good player that we can that has the grades and the character, but we want young men that want to train so they look a lot different after a couple years with Coach Thunder [strength coach Dantonio Burnette] and his staff. They have that work ethic, that desire and that love. That's what this class is all about." As the class unfolded, it was clear that NC State targeted two specific areas above others: speed at the skill positions and of- fensive linemen. Getting Faster NC State has enjoyed NFL-caliber receiv- ers in the past few years, but not even those wideouts were considered speedsters. Both Kelvin Harmon (sixth-round pick) and Ja- kobi Meyers (undrafted free agent), coming off rookie seasons in the NFL with more than 350 receiving yards this past year, had their stocks drop in the 2019 NFL Draft because of less-than-average 40-yard dash times. Doeren was the first to admit during his signing day press conference that the Wolf- pack needed to get faster. "I think the biggest part as we got into this as a staff was to try to get some more team speed," Doeren said. "I feel like that's an Big And Fast NC State Added Speed And Also Boosted The Offensive Line In Its Signing Class BY MATT CARTER B