The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1476803
8 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER N C State football recruiting had some fireworks on the Fourth of July when a pair of defensive backs committed to the Wolfpack. Safety Daemon Fagan is the most highly touted member thus far in the Pack's 2023 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder from Ameri- can Heritage High in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., checks in as a four-star recruit, the No. 52 player in the talent-rich state of Florida, and the No. 19 safety and No. 262 overall prospect nationally in the On3 Consensus (the only ranking that equally balances the ratings of the four major recruiting services). On3 has Fagan rated higher, listing him as the No. 46 prospect in the Sun- shine State, and the No. 19 safety and No. 212 overall recruit in the country. Fagan committed to NC State over of- fers from Miami and Ohio State. "There is a lot I like about NC State," Fagan told On3. "The coaches are men of their word. They are the most genu- ine people that recruited me, and I really believe in the coaching staff. "They made me feel important and have shown me how I can play early. The coaches, the opportunity to play early, and my feeling around Raleigh made NC State right for me." As a junior, Fagan compiled 28 total stops, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 interceptions. "I think when people see a taller safety like that, they don't think that they can move their hips and stuff like that," American Heritage head coach Mike Smith said. "He could bump out to corner and play some corner if he had to. He's got the ability to stop and start and change direction the same way a guy would be [at] 5-8, 5-11." Also committing on July 4 was On3 Consensus three-star Tamarcus Cooley from nearby Rolesville (N.C.) High. He picked NC State after also taking official visits to Minnesota, North Carolina and Ole Miss. Cooley made his decision after a quick revelation following a 6 a.m. wakeup alarm that morning. "I didn't even brush my teeth, my feet didn't even hit the ground," Cooley said. "I just woke up like, 'Oh, I've got to call Coach [Dave] Doeren.' I yelled it, too. "I woke everybody up." NC State is recruiting the 6-1, 185-pound Cooley as a nickel. This coming season will be his first playing at Rolesville after he previously suited up for Knightdale (N.C.) High. As a junior at Knightdale, Cooley had 41 receptions for 663 yards and 6 touchdowns in 10 games. He also ran for 3 scores and returned a pair of kickoffs the distance. Defensively, Cooley had 51 total tackles, 5 stops for loss, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions. First-year Rolesville head coach Richard Shuping was quickly impressed by his new star. "He's just a ball hawk," Shuping said. "If the ball is in the air, there's a very, very good chance he's coming down with it. He's everywhere. "He's just got a nose for the ball. He's all over the field, and if there's a play to be made, he's going to make it." T R A C K I N G THE PACK Wolfpack Football Winning In-State Recruiting Battles Three-star defensive back Tamarcus Cooley became another in-state success for the Pack when he chose NC State over Minnesota, North Carolina and Ole Miss in July. PHOTO BY MATT CARTER "There is a lot I like about NC State. The coaches are men of their word. They are the most genuine people that recruited me, and I really believe in the coaching staff." Daemon Fagan, four-star safety and NC State football commitment Four-star safety Daemon Fagan became the most highly rated member of NC State's 2023 class when he announced on July 4 that he intends to sign with the Wolfpack. PHOTO BY MATT CARTER