The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1513610
10 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN T he first letter of intent arrived at the NC State football offices before 7:15 a.m. on Dec. 20, kicking off the early signing period for the 2024 recruiting class. Coach Dave Doeren's team ended up with 24 newcomers — 22 high school prospects and a pair of junior college players who will be making the jump to the Power Five. Doeren and his staff brought in play- ers from near and far. There are eight North Carolina prospects in the class, and to supplement that homegrown talent, the staff also pulled in players from as far away as Hollywood, Fla., and Windsor, Ontario. "We found a lot of places to go in this class," Doeren said. "I feel like it's a balanced class. We met needs and got very explosive in some spots where we needed help, particularly at receiver." NC State scored one of its bigger recruiting coups of the 2024 cycle by landing an in-state wide receiver in dramatic fashion. Three-star prospect Keenan Jackson of Weddington High near Charlotte had been verbally com- mitted to rival North Carolina, but he ended up flipping to the Wolfpack in the final hours of the recruiting cycle. Jack- son is the No. 117 receiver in the country and No. 24 prospect in North Carolina, per the On3 Industry Ranking. "It got down to crunch time, [and] it was time to reevaluate," Jackson said. "I'm glad I made the right decision." At the conclusion of signing day, the Pack's class was rated 31st nationally and fifth in the ACC in the On3 Industry Team Rankings. With 18 of NC State's 24 newcomers slated to enroll in Janu- ary, Doeren won't have to wait long to see what kind of potential this group is bringing to Raleigh. "I'm excited to help these guys," he said. "I know what their goals are, I know what their dreams are, and I'm excited to see what they can do on our field. You've seen what we can do with freshmen. Some of these guys are com- ing here with that in mind. They want to contribute early and get to work." Here are a few superlatives from the Pack's 2024 early signing class: Biggest Recruiting Win: WR Terrell Anderson Georgia tried to flip NC State's top- rated signee, but the Wolfpack was able to hold off the two-time defending na- tional champions down the stretch. Anderson is a four-star prospect and the No. 79 overall recruit and No. 16 wide receiver nationally, per On3. He caught 64 passes for 1,114 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior at Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley High and logged more than 3,200 yards and 34 scores during his varsity career. Instant Impact (Offense): WR Jonathan Paylor Paylor is the Wolfpack's second-high- est-rated recruit, checking in at No. 154 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking. He's a dynamic athlete who can play in the slot but can also motion into the back- field for toss plays or direct snaps. Paylor thrived at Burlington (N.C.) Cummings High, rushing for 2,378 yards and 30 touchdowns this fall while adding 25 receptions for 381 yards and 3 scores. Instant Impact (Defense): LB Wyatt Wright The No. 3 junior college linebacker in the 2024 class, Wright is a physical player with the ability to step into the Wolfpack's starting defense. He logged 82 total tackles at Mississippi Gulf Coast T R A C K I N G THE THE PACK PACK Wolfpack's 2024 Recruiting Class Offers Playmaking Potential Three-star receiver Keenan Jackson decommitted from North Carolina on Dec. 19 and signed with NC State the following day. PHOTO COURTESY KEENAN JACKSON