The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536961
TRACKING THE PACK 14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN N C State's 2026 football recruiting class more than doubled in size in June, with eight players committing to the Wolfpack. The latest additions have bolstered the Pack's offensive and defen- sive lines, backfield and secondary, as well as the linebacker and wide receiver corps. NC State landed running back Dylan McCoy of Buford, Ga.; defensive backs Markel Aguirre of Fayetteville, Ga., and Jordan Jackson of Winter Park, Fla.; de- fensive tackle Carmelo McKenzie of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.; linebacker Zykir Moore of Pittsburgh; offensive line- man Landry Brede of Mentor, Ohio; and wide receivers Tyreek Copper of Kinston, N.C., and Jaire Richburg of Kernersville, N.C. Moore and Copper are unrated by any of the major recruiting websites, but the other six have received three-star grades from On3's scouts. McCoy had been leaning toward NC State even before his official visit on May 30. During the trip to Raleigh, he saw ev- erything he needed to see. He gave the staff a commitment while still in town and made his decision public on June 7. "It was a great time and a good vibe," McCoy said. "They showed me a lot of love down there. It felt like a family. It felt like home." The No. 74 running back in the 2026 cy- cle and No. 119 player in Georgia, per On3, McCoy had previously visited the Wolf- pack in February for a junior day event and returned to watch a spring practice session before eventually making it official. NC State running backs coach Todd Goebbel played a key role in McCoy's recruitment, helping the Wolfpack beat out the likes of Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and Texas for his services. During his junior season at Buford High, the 5-foot-11, 187-pound prospect fin- ished with 91 attempts for 428 yards and 4 touchdowns. McCoy wasn't the only prospect to commit following the first wave of official visits. McKenzie was on campus that same weekend and came away convinced that NC State was where he belonged. Listed by On3 as the No. 128 defensive lineman in the 2026 cycle, he committed on June 1. McKenzie, who attends IMG Academy but is from York, Pa., committed to NC State over Boston College, Delaware and Kansas State. In addition to those three schools, the 6-2, 290-pound prospect also held offers from Auburn, Penn State and Syracuse, among others. As a junior at IMG, McKenzie posted 37 tackles, including 11 for loss and 8.5 sacks. He was a standout as a freshman at York High with 21 tackles and 3.5 sacks before he transferred. Elsewhere on defense, NC State bol- stered its secondary with the addition of Jackson and Aguirre. Jackson had been trending toward the Pack heading into his official visit. He had canceled official visits to Mississippi State and Pitt even before arriving in Raleigh, and his trip to campus sealed the deal. "The second I stepped foot in the facil- ity, I knew this was the right place," said Jackson after announcing his decision on June 14. "I believe in Coach Doeren and Coach [Brian] Mitchell. They're going to shape me up to be the man I am. I know they're going to develop me on the field and off the field." Listed by On3 as the nation's No. 72 cornerback and No. 96 overall prospect in Florida, the 6-1, 168-pound Jackson is a physical player for his size. He's not afraid to use his body to run through players, es- pecially on special teams. But what really sets him apart is his speed. Jackson holds career-best marks of 10.62 seconds in the 100-meter sprint and 21.8 seconds in the 200. He was a part of Head coach Dave Doeren scored a recruiting win when the Pack landed three-star defensive back Jordan Jackson of Winter Park, Fla. Jackson is listed by On3 as the nation's No. 72 cornerback and No. 96 overall prospect in his home state. PHOTO COURTESY JORDAN JACKSON 2026 Wolfpack Football Commitments Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Rating* Home School Markel Aguirre S 6-0 185 HHH Fayetteville, Ga. Whitewater Landry Brede OT 6-5 275 HHH Mentor, Ohio Mentor Tyreek Copper WR 6-2 189 — Kinston, N.C. Kinston Jordan Jackson CB 6-1 168 HHH Winter Park, Fla. Winter Park Dylan McCoy RB 5-11 187 HHH Buford, Ga. Buford Carmelo McKenzie DL 6-2 290 HHH York, Pa. IMG Academy (Fla.) Zykir Moore LB 6-2 215 — Pittsburgh Woodland Hills Jordan Moreta LB 6-0 215 HHH Paramus, N.J. Paramus Catholic Jaire Richburg WR 6-3 180 HHH Kernersville, N.C. East Forsyth Brady Sakowitz OT 6-7 285 HHH Richmond, Va. Trinity Episcopal Koby Sarkodie S 6-2 200 HHH Baltimore Milford Mill Academy Jacob Smith QB 6-3 200 HHH Pfafftown, N.C. Reagan * On3 rating as of June 26 June Commitments Bolster 2026 Recruiting Class