The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1493632
MARCH/APRIL 2023 ■ 39 West Virginia Linebacker Is First To Join 2024 Class Cannon Lewis of Huntington (W.Va.) Ca- bell Midland High committed to NC State in October, shutting down his recruitment four months after the Wolfpack became the first Power Five program to extend an offer. He knew he wanted to join the Pack, so why wait? NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson was a significant reason why the linebacker committed, and that relationship has contin- ued to grow in recent months. Lewis is still 100 percent committed to the Pack, he con- firmed to The Wolfpacker. Gibson signed a contract extension that made him the highest-paid defensive coordi- nator in the ACC. Lewis said he was happy to hear the Wolfpack assistant would be sticking around in Raleigh. "You don't find any better than Tony Gib- son," Lewis noted. "To know for sure that he would be staying there and signed that extension was relieving. "It's excitement with a sense of relief knowing that I'll most definitely have him there while I'm there." Even though the linebacker has already committed to the Pack's 2024 class, Gibson has continued to make Lewis a priority, staying in frequent contact and also traveling up to West Virginia for a visit. "He reaches out pretty consistently," Lewis said. "He came up and visited me not too long ago, and we just discussed things and how everything was going and his expectations. We touch base pretty often. "I love talking to Coach Gibson because that's somebody that I'm going to spend three, four years learning from." Lewis picked up an offer from NC State in June after a camp. He returned for the Alpha Wolf Showcase the following month, and now he is looking to visit again in the spring. "Coach Gibson told me that when they start their spring practice on my spring break, I should come up and watch him for a few days, spend a little bit of time down there, just getting a feel for how they do things and seeing how it works. I think that that would be awesome," Lewis said. "I definitely plan on getting up there and staying for a little while longer than just an overnight thing and going to a camp. I'd like to really see what it's all about, and be able to watch how they work and what they do." When he camped with the Wolfpack, Lewis officially measured in at 6-1, 207 pounds. The line- backer hopes to maintain a playing weight of around 225 pounds. Lewis, who is not yet rated in the On3 Consensus, is coming off a 2022 season at Cabell Mid- land High in which the team went 6-4 and reached the playoffs. He holds himself and his high school program to a very high standard and is determined to improve before his final season. "Six-and-four is usually not what we're about here, and I'm definitely not a fan of losing at all," Lewis said. "I felt like I could have played better, and I'm aiming much higher for my senior season." He received all-conference honors in 2022 and was also named honorable mention all-state while moving from middle linebacker to the strong-side position, which meant he played more in coverage. Lewis believes he could play any of NC State's three linebacker spots. — Ethan McDowell Cannon Lewis received an offer from NC State after a camp last summer. He's hoping to return to Raleigh this spring to watch the team practice. PHOTO BY MATT CARTER 9 of the 18 prep and junior college signees for NC State were picked as four-star prospects by at least one of the recruiting services (On3, 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN). That list includes: • Safety Daemon Fagan of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage: On3, 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN • Tight end Javonte Vereen of Havelock (N.C.) High: On3 and ESPN • Safety Zack Myers of Arden (N.C.) Christ School: 247Sports and Rivals • Running back Kendrick Raphael of Naples (Fla.) High: ESPN and Rivals • Cornerback Brandon Cisse of Sumter (S.C.) Lake- wood High: On3 • Offensive lineman DARION RIVERS of West Char- lotte High: On3 • Safety Bishop Fitzgerald of Coffeyville (Kan.) Com- munity College: On3 • Defensive end Jykeveous "Red" Hibbler of North- west Mississippi Community College: ESPN • Wide receiver Kevin Concepcion of Charlotte (N.C.) Chambers High: Rivals 7 Players who announced after the season that they were transferring from NC State. At this time a year ago, six had left the Wolfpack for the transfer portal. This year's departures: • Receiver Devin Carter (to West Virginia) • Defensive back Jalen Frazier (to UNLV) • Defensive tackle Joshua Harris (to Ole Miss) • Defensive lineman Claude Larkins Jr. (to Florida In- ternational) • Quarterback Devin Leary (to Kentucky) • Defensive back Joshua Pierre-Louis (no destination announced yet) • Receiver Jasiah Provillon (to Campbell) PHOTO BY MATT CARTER