The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532241
38 ■ THE WOLFPACKER about Will. … He's a young guy who can throw, can run, can lead. I'm excited for him to join the team and see what he can do." Wilson could be the Pack's quarter- back of the future if he continues his upward trajectory, while three-star offensive lineman Michael Gibbs of Wilmington (N.C.) Hoggard and three- star tight end Gus Ritchey of Pittsboro (N.C.) Cary bolstered the offensive con- tingent from the area. NC State went to South Carolina to land the class's top-rated cornerback in Cam Strong of Anderson T.L. Hanna. Strong is a consensus three-star pros- pect and is rated by On3 as the No. 25 overall player from the Palmetto State. Juco Signee Fills Need With standout defender Davin Vann exiting, NC State looked all over the country for a player who could bring experience to the defensive line room while still having multiple years of eligi- bility remaining. That need led the Pack to AJ Prim of Poplarville (Miss.) Pearl River Community College. The nation's No. 22 junior college re- cruit, per the On3 Industry Ranking, Prim was exactly what the Wolfpack was looking for. He posted 49 total tackles, with 9 for loss and 2.5 sacks, in only eight games last year, earning a second-team JUCO All-America nod. Listed by NC State as a redshirt soph- omore, the 6-2, 287-pound Prim was an exciting addition to the Pack's roster. "We expect him to come in and com- pete," Doeren said. "There's going to be a transition from junior college to the Power Four level that he's going to have to adjust to, but I'm excited to get him in our weight program and our nutri- tion program. He's got [the right] frame; we're going to be able to do some really good things with his body and get him more confident. "He loves football, so it'll be good to get him in that room. It's a good room. I really like the returning defensive line- men that we have — their attitudes and all that. It'll be fun to get him in there with them." NC State defensive line coach Char- ley Wiles recruited Prim hard and was thrilled to earn his commitment. The Wolfpack coaching staff felt that it got an extremely valuable piece to its 2025 defense. "I think AJ's going to be a really good player," Wiles said. "I can't wait to see him. … We have very high expectations for this kid. That's a good get. I think we kind of stole one." ■ Three-star defensive lineman AJ Prim was the No. 22 junior college prospect in the country for the 2025 recruiting cycle. PHOTO COURTESY AJ PRIM Caden Gordon CB 6-1 187 Fr. Lake Worth, Fla./Santaluces HHH Totaled 28 tackles and 3 interceptions his last two seasons after moving from wide receiver to corner- back as a junior. LaCorian Hodge LB 6-1 225 Fr. Arlington, Texas/Seguin — Joined NC State's class in January after totaling 80 tackles, including 15 for loss and 10.5 sacks, as a senior. Teddy Hoffman WR 6-1 172 Fr. Delray Beach, Fla./Atlantic HHH Caught 162 passes for 2,728 yards during his 35-game high school career. Gerritt Kemp CB 6-2 177 Fr. Grayson, Ga./Hebron Christian HHH Intercepted 7 passes and scored 11 touchdowns as a senior at Hebron Christian Academy. Kage Payne OL 6-3 290 Fr. Cincinnati/Kings HHH Was a three-star starter and two-time all-state performer at Kings High. AJ Prim DL 6-2 287 R-So. Foley, Ala./Pearl River CC HHH Finished with 49 tackles, including 9 for loss and 2.5 sacks, in eight games last season. Gus Ritchey TE 6-2 235 Fr. Pittsboro, N.C./Cary HHH Totaled 104 catches for 2,100 yards and 22 touchdowns in 28 career games at Cary High. Spike Sowells OL 6-2 300 Fr. Louisville, Ky./Male HHHH Was credited with 212 knockdown blocks in three seasons at Male High … Is the highest-rated player in NC State's class, with On3 listing him as the nation's No. 162 overall prospect. Cam Strong CB 6-0 170 Fr. Anderson, S.C./T.L. Hanna HHH Was a two-time all-region honoree and the Anderson Area TD Club Defensive Player of the Year. Tristan Teasdell S 6-0 180 Fr. Leesburg, Va./Tuscarora HHH Totaled 143 tackles, including 18 sacks, and 4 interceptions during his career at Tuscarora. Josiah Victor DL 6-2 320 Fr. Loganville, Ga./Grayson HHH Finished with 42 tackles, including 13 for loss and 3 sacks, during his senior year. Ta'Khyian "TK" Whitset OT 6-5 270 Fr. Antioch, Tenn./Antioch HHHH Allowed only 1 sack in his junior and senior seasons at Antioch High. Will Wilson QB 6-1 228 Fr. Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast HHH Four-year team captain who threw for 2,482 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior while adding 1,144 yards and 20 scores on the ground. * On3 player ratings as of Feb. 6 Wolfpack Football's 2025 High School/Junior College Class Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Elig. Home/School Rating*