The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1487679
TRACKING THE PACK 12 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER The NC State football recruiting class expanded by two in Novem- ber with commitments from a pair of players previously pledged to other schools. Ho u rs b e fo re t h e Wo l f pa c k kicked off in Chapel Hill on Nov. 25 in what would be a win over North Carolina, former Vanderbilt linebacker pledge Kelvon McBride from Mobile (Ala.) Cottage Hill Christian Academy announced that he was flipping to the Wolf- pack. McBride had taken an official visit to NC State earlier in the month. "I did a little pros and cons list between the two schools, and it ended up that Vandy had more cons, but my main decision was basically because I have family in North Carolina," McBride ex- plained. During his senior football season at Cottage Hill Christian, the 6-3, 210-pounder recorded 78 tackles and an interception over the course of nine games. He had four double-digit tackle performances for a team that went 5-4 when McBride played. He also returned 3 punts for an aver- age of 26.7 yards. The On3 Consensus ranks McBride as the No. 93 linebacker prospect nation- ally and the No. 39 player in Alabama. McBride also plays basketball at the prep level. In the first six games of his senior season, he averaged 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds. In addition, McBride is a track athlete, and his times in that sport may have at- tracted NC State's attention. Last year at the Mobile County Championships, McBride was timed at 11.36 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 23.63 seconds in the 200, both personal bests. On Nov. 29, the Wolfpack landed a longtime target at running back, when it received a commitment from Ken- drick Raphael, a three-star pros- pect in the On3 Consensus out of Naples (Fla.) High. Raphael had taken an official visit to NC State in June, but shortly after that trip he chose Iowa over the Pack and BYU. In September, Raphael (5-11, 180 pounds) backed off his pledge to the Hawkeyes. Raphael's other Power Five of- fers included Boston College, Duke, Indiana, Iowa State, Louis- ville, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Pur- due and West Virginia. In 11 games as a junior, Raphael surpassed 100 yards eight times and finished with 126 rushes for 1,374 yards (10.9 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns. That helped Raphael achieve all-state and all- region honors. This past season, he ran 140 times for 1,731 yards (12.4 yards per rush) and 22 touchdowns in 12 games, helping Naples go 9-3. He eclipsed 100 yards in nine contests and scored mul- tiple times in eight. The On3 Consensus has Raphael rated as the No. 32 running back nationally and the No. 86 recruit from talent-rich Florida. The last running back from Naples (Fla.) High who went to NC State turned out very well. His name was Jamelle Eu- gene, and he ran for 1,478 yards over four years in Raleigh, including a ca- reer-best 667 yards and 5 touchdowns as a sophomore. He also caught 93 passes for 697 yards and 2 scores. The commitments of McBride and Raphael give NC State 15 recruits in the 2023 class. National signing day is Dec. 21, and NC State is seeking to add more high school prospects. Former Georgia Tech linebacker commit Kamal Bonner from Colquitt (Ga.) County High and current Florida State defensive tackle pledge Keith Sampson Jr., an On3 Consensus four-star from New Bern (N.C.) High, are scheduled to take official visits to Raleigh on the weekend of Dec. 9. As of Dec. 6, NC State was 31st in the On3 team rankings, and sixth in the ACC. Three-star linebacker Kelvon McBride had been committed to Vanderbilt but switched his pledge to NC State after visiting in November. PHOTO COURTESY KELVON MCBRIDE NC State Football Flips Two Commits NC State's 2023 Football Commitments Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Rating* HOMETOWN SCHOOL Brandon Cisse CB 5-11 162 HHH Sumter, S.C. Lakewood Kevin Concepcion WR 6-0 170 HHH Charlotte, N.C. Chambers Tamarcus Cooley DB 6-1 185 HHH Rolesville, N.C. Rolesville Daemon Fagan S 6-3 175 HHHH Fort Lauderdale, Fla. American Heritage Kyron Jones RB 6-1 193 HHH Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte Christian Kelvon McBride LB 6-3 210 HHH Mobile, Ala. Cottage Hill Christian Academy Zack Myers S 6-1 185 HHH Arden, N.C. Christ School Obadiah Obasuyi OT 6-6 290 HHH Rabun Gap, Ga. Alpharetta Kendrick Raphael RB 5-11 180 HHH Naples, Fla. Naples Darion Rivers OT 6-6 255 HHH Charlotte, N.C. West Charlotte Isaiah Shirley DL 6-4 235 HHH Boone, N.C. Watauga Kamen Smith OL 6-4 275 HHH Wilkesboro, N.C. Wilkes Central Charlie Symonds OT 6-7 265 HHH South Kent, Conn. The Taft School Lex Thomas QB 5-11 176 HHH Wake Forest, N.C. Heritage Javonte Vereen TE 6-3 210 HHHH Havelock, N.C. Havelock * per On3 Consensus