The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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10 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY ETHAN MCDOWELL C olby Cronk knew there was a pos- sibility he might find his colle- giate home when he visited NC State in March, but he didn't think it was a strong possibility. He and his family headed north from their home in Palm Coast, Fla., ex- pecting that it would turn out to be a fact-finding trip and that the recruit- ing process would continue after they returned. Instead, Cronk left campus with his recruitment wrapped up. The class of 2025 defensive lineman from Flagler High picked the Wolfpack over Duke, Iowa State, Wake Forest and others on March 22. Cronk announced his deci- sion on social media after informing the staff toward the end of his two-day visit. After the first day, which included a chance to watch practice, speak with current players and talk to the staff, he felt good about the Wolfpack. Academ- ics are important to Cronk, and when he met with an engineering professor, that sealed his decision. "It feels awesome," he said. "I really loved what I saw, and I thought it was a good place for me with the coaches and everything. I'm really excited." Cronk has received a three-star grade and is the No. 68 edge rusher nationally and No. 99 prospect in Florida, per the On3 Industry Ranking. He became the third prospect to commit to NC State in the 2025 cycle, joining two other three- star players — quarterback Will Wilson of Columbia, S.C., and tight end Gus Ritchey of Pittsboro, N.C. The Wolfpack's approach to practice and film study appealed to Cronk. And when he spoke with some of his fu- ture teammates, they only had positive things to say about the program. "They just said that it's a great school and they loved it," Cronk said. "It works for them, and they hope it works for me." He toured campus, and everything from the restaurants to the people he met around Raleigh stood out. Cronk had built a strong connec- tion with defensive line coach Charley Wiles during the months leading up to his commitment. The visit helped him strengthen his relationship with the football program as a whole, and watch- ing Wiles work with the team made him even more confident in his decision. "I love Coach Wiles. Seeing him coach was another thing I liked about him," Cronk said. This trip to Raleigh was his second time on campus after stopping by for a Jan. 21 unofficial visit. Cronk spent that Sunday at the Murphy Center with the full attention of the coaching and re- cruiting staffs. He continued to feel like a priority in the weeks that followed, lead- ing to his decision to schedule a second visit. The lineman's parents and his uncle made the trip as well. When he decided to join the Pack, he told them first before meeting with Wiles. Then, he also told graduate assistant Elisha Shaw and met with head coach Dave Doeren. The lineman said he believes the Wolf- pack's defensive scheme fits his skill set. He recorded 27 tackles for loss and 46 quarterback hurries as a junior. N C S t a te s e e s t h e 6 - f o o t -3, 245-pound rising senior as a defensive end at the college level. Cronk is working on his footwork and his hands, and he is trying to put on more weight as well. His tenacity on the field pops on film, and he brings constant, unrelenting effort to the field. "A lot of people say I have a high mo- tor," Cronk said. "I don't stop." Cronk scheduled a June 7-9 official visit, but that could change. Enrolling early is a possibility, but he does not have definite plans yet. He intends to recruit for the Pack now, confident that his own recruitment is over. "It's 100 percent shut down," Cronk said. "I think that NC State is the place for me, and I'm totally enthralled to be a part of the program. I'm looking forward to it." One of Cronk's classmates was also on campus in recent weeks, with Wil- son spending three days in Raleigh to watch practice, study film and attend the spring game. During his visit, the Richland North- east prospect, listed as the No. 43 sig- nal-caller nationally in the On3 Industry Ranking, got to know the three scholar- ship quarterbacks on the current team — graduate transfer Grayson McCall, true freshman CJ Bailey and redshirt fresh- man Lex Thomas. "They took me in as one of the guys, T R A C K I N G THE THE PACK PACK Florida Defensive Lineman Bolsters Wolfpack's 2025 Recruiting Class Colby Cronk, a three-star defensive lineman from Palm Coast, Fla., chose NC State in March over offers from Duke, Iowa State, Wake Forest and others. PHOTO COURTESY COLBY CRONK