The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516111
38 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY ETHAN MCDOWELL C State is navigating the new landscape of college football recruiting, and it's making program history in the process. After reorganizing the recruiting staff to resemble a pro sports scouting department, the Wolfpack enjoyed near-unprecedented success during the 2024 cycle. The pro- gram signed the No. 29 high school re- cruiting class in the country and also secured the No. 7 transfer portal class nationally, as rated in the On3 Industry Team Ranking. With an 88.41 On3 class score, this is the highest-rated class in coach Dave Doeren's 11 seasons with NC State. Over the past few months, the staff se- cured commitments from a strong group of transfers who will make an immediate impact, including former Coastal Caro- lina quarterback Grayson McCall. The Pack also signed 11 freshmen who have received a four-star grade from at least one of the four major recruiting services. "The last three years, recruiting has changed a lot, probably more so than it has in the last 30," Doeren said during his signing day press conference in De- cember. "It still comes down to making a choice to where you can go develop as a player, as a person, as a student- athlete, where you feel like your best interests are there and you can compete, succeed and grow." Doeren said he felt the program was unprepared for last year's transfer por- tal cycle, so he reshuffled and expanded his recruiting department, hiring Andy Vaughn as general manager and con- structing separate recruiting and player personnel departments. In one year with the Pack's new sys- tem, NC State built one of the nation's best transfer classes that includes a three-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year at quarterback, a running back with proven ACC production and two former top-50 recruits at receiver. PITCH AND CATCH Eager To Bolster Its Passing Game, NC State Finds A Receptive Audience Among High School Recruits And Transfers Alike Quarterback Grayson McCall knew NC State's coaching staff from his time as a recruit coming out of Porter Ridge (N.C.) High. He ended up at Coastal Carolina, but after a record-setting career with the Chanticleers, he opted to spend his final college season playing for the Pack. PHOTO COURTESY COASTAL CAROLINA ATHLETICS N