The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1525890
TRACKING THE PACK 12 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY ETHAN MCDOWELL NC State pulled off one of its biggest coups of the 2025 recruiting cycle on Aug. 19 when it received a commitment from three-star cornerback Gerritt Kemp. Hailing from Hebron Christian Academy in Dacula, Ga., Kemp had been committed to Duke since June but is now headed to Raleigh. For months, Kemp had been one of the Pack's top cornerback prospects. After picking up an offer from NC State on Jan. 23, he paid an unofficial visit to campus just a few days later. The Wolfpack staff envisions him playing cornerback at the next level. Some schools recruited the 6-foot-2, 180-pound athlete as a safety, while a few programs even offered him the chance to play wide receiver at the next level. Kemp held offers from Georgia, Ken- tucky, LSU and others. He committed to Duke after an official visit with the Blue Devils, and he also spent a weekend at Ole Miss. None of those schools were able to top the Wolfpack's pitch. "My mom, my dad, my little brother — they loved NC State," Kemp told The Wolfpacker. "They made us feel welcome." On3 considers Kemp the No. 32 ath- lete in the country and No. 77 prospect in Georgia. As a junior, he recorded 36 total tackles, defended 6 throws, picked off 3 passes and added 514 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Coach Dave Doeren and his staff have also landed a trio of interior offensive linemen since late June. Michael Gibbs of Wilmington, N.C.; Kage Payne of Kings Mills, Ohio; and Isaac Sowells Jr. of Louisville, Ky., all have received three stars from On3 and are headed to NC State as part of the 2025 class. Sowells is the highest-rated of those three linemen. He's the No. 49 interior offensive lineman in the country and the No. 7 player in Kentucky, per On3's scouts. In the On3 Industry Ranking, which incorporates the grades of the three other major recruiting websites, Sowells is listed 42nd at his position, fourth in his state and 496th overall nationally. NC State beat out South Carolina and Kentucky for Sowells' commitment. Offensive line coach Garett Tujague was a big part of his decision. "The amount of communication and how loving Coach Tujague, Coach [Dave] Doeren and the whole staff have been to me [has been important]," Sowells said. "Since they offered me in August, they always made it feel like home." In addition to bolstering its offensive line, the Pack added to its backfield and defensive front, landing running back Kentrell Rinehart of Columbus, Ohio, and defensive lineman Makhi Williams- Lee of Atlanta. Rinehart ran for 2,837 yards on 341 carries as a junior at Westland High last season, averaging 8.3 yards per attempt and scoring 42 touchdowns. Listed as the No. 67 running back nationally and No. 37 player in Ohio by On3, the 6-2, 200-pound Rinehart chose NC State over Minnesota. Williams-Lee stands 6-1, 290 pounds and is the No. 100 defensive lineman nationally and No. 102 prospect in Georgia, per On3. He picked the Wolf- pack over Oklahoma and Texas Tech. As of Aug. 26, NC State's 2025 class was rated 49th nationally and 11th in the ACC, per the On3 Industry Team Rankings. The Pack also landed its first 2026 commitment in August when three- star quarterback Jacob Smith of Pfaff- town, N.C., announced that he plans to sign with NC State. Smith, who threw for 2,051 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore, is listed by On3 as the No. 46 quarterback nationally and No. 27 prospect in North Carolina. ■ Cornerback Gerritt Kemp had been committed to Duke but experienced a change of heart and announced on Aug. 19 that he would be attending NC State. PHOTO COURTESY ON3 Summer Additions Boost Pack's 2025 Class 2025 Commitments Name Pos Ht Wt Rating* Home School Omarian Abraham DL 6-1 285 HHH Fort Lauderdale, Fla. American Heritage Jerel Bolder WR 5-11 200 HHHH Marshville, N.C. Forest Hills RJ Boyd RB 6-0 210 HHH Waycross, Ga. Ware County Jamar Browder WR 6-4 205 HHH Lake Worth, Fla. Santaluces Community Arrion Concepcion WR 5-10 170 HHH Charlotte, N.C. Julius L. Chambers Colby Cronk DE 6-3 245 HHH Palm Coast, Fla. Flagler Michael Gibbs IOL 6-3 280 HHH Wilmington, N.C. Hoggard Caden Gordon CB 6-1 170 HHH Lake Worth, Fla. Santaluces Community Gerritt Kemp Ath. 6-2 180 HHH Dacula, Ga. Hebron Christian Academy Kage Payne IOL 6-4 280 HHH Kings Mills, Ohio Kings Kentrell Rinehart RB 6-2 200 HHH Columbus, Ohio Westland Gus Ritchey TE 6-3 225 HHH Pittsboro, N.C. Northwood Isaac Sowells Jr. IOL 6-1 290 HHH Louisville, Ky. Louisville Male Cam Strong CB 6-1 170 HHH Anderson, S.C. T.L. Hanna Tristan Teasdell S 6-1 180 HHH Leesburg, Va. Tuscarora Makhi Williams-Lee DL 6-1 290 HHH Atlanta Lakeside Will Wilson QB 6-1 220 HHH Columbia, S.C. Richland Northeast 2026 Commitment Name Pos Ht Wt Rating* Home School Jacob Smith QB 6-3 200 HHH Pfafftown, N.C. Reagan * On3 rating as of Aug. 26