The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542201
TRACKING THE PACK JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 ■ 11 a late flip from Liberty. Listed by Ri- vals as the No. 105 wideout nationally and No. 12 prospect in South Carolina, Acker caught 55 passes for 1,277 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior at Cres- cent High. Despite the presence of those play- ers, only four conference teams — Cal, Boston College, Duke and Virginia — trailed the Pack in Rivals' rankings. This is NC State's lowest-rated class since it placed 51st (seventh in the con- ference) in 2022. Still, Doeren doesn't attach much significance to the views of the recruiting commentariat. "They're probably people that didn't play football or don't donate to our program. I don't put a lot of stock in their opinion," Doeren said. "I think you've got to go to the product. Since 2020, it's either the second or third number of wins in our league. What we're doing is pretty good. "Can you always be better? Abso- lutely. That's what we're trying to do. But it's not about what makes people happy on Rivals or On3. It's about what wins games and finding what your team needs, finding guys who are the right fit and will represent the univer- sity, guys who I know will play well." Since 2020, NC State has amassed 47 victories and won eight or more games in four of six seasons. The Wolfpack has done that by using its developmen- tal approach to transform three-star prospects into NFL-caliber talents, including a first-rounder in offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu, the No. 6 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2022. While the Pack prides itself on help- ing players reach their full potential, Doeren also pointed to upcoming in- vestments in the program, an effort being led by athletics director Boo Corrigan. Those investments include a state-of-the-art dining room that will be installed this offseason. "This is a developmental program that knows how to identify talent. It always has been since I got here, and it will continue to be that way," Doeren said. "The thing I love about Boo is that he wants us to get better, and he's do- ing everything he can to provide re- sources so we can be more competitive. Not just from a rev-share standpoint, but from a facilities standpoint." Recruiting rankings don't guarantee wins. Doeren knows that best. All he had to do to prove it was to take a subtle shot at UNC, a team he's beaten eight of the past 10 years. "I think from a fan standpoint, you should care more about the results than you should where we're ranked," Do- eren said. "As far as I know, UNC is ranked ahead of us in recruiting every year I've been here — compare the re- cords." ■ ■ THE CLASS OF 2026 Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Rating* Home School Amiri Acker WR 6-1 185 HHH Iva, S.C. Crescent Markel Aguirre S 6-0 185 HHH Fayetteville, Ga. Luella Tre Aiken IOL 6-4 285 HHH Clinton, S.C. Clinton Jordyn Best CB 5-11 180 HHH Columbia, S.C. Ridge View Lawrence Brown Jr. DE 6-2 202 HHH Loganville, Ga. Grayson Stephen Brown Ath. 6-7 205 HHH Chicago Marist Tyreek Copper WR 6-2 189 HHH Kinston, N.C. Kinston Jacquey Ferguson Jr. DE 6-4 235 HHH St. Petersburg, Fla. Northside Christian Caleb Gordon LB 6-0 215 HHH Dallas, N.C. Ashbrook Tristen Hill S 5-11 190 HHH Suwanee, Ga. Peachtree Ridge Jordan Jackson CB 6-1 168 HHH Winter Park, Fla. Winter Park Dylan McCoy RB 5-11 187 HHH Buford, Ga. Buford Carmelo McKenzie DT 6-2 290 HHH York, Pa. IMG Academy (Fla.) Jordan Moreta LB 6-0 215 HHH Paramus, N.J. Paramus Catholic Zykir Moore-Young LB 6-2 215 HHH Pittsburgh Woodland Hills Noah Moss RB 6-1 205 HHH Fairhope, Ala. St. Michael Catholic Jaire Richburg WR 6-3 180 HHH Kernersville, N.C. East Forsyth Brady Sakowitz OT 6-7 330 HHH Richmond, Va. Cosby Koby Sarkodie S 6-2 200 HHH Baltimore Milford Mill Academy Elijah Satchell DE 6-1 220 HHH Camden, N.J. Eastside Aiden Smalls Ath. 6-1 170 HHH Raleigh Clayton Brody Smith OT 6-6 255 HHH Maryville, Tenn. Maryville Jacob Smith QB 6-3 200 HHH Pfafftown, N.C. Reagan D'Various Surratt S 5-11 185 HHH Shelby, N.C. Crest Kaneal Sweetwyne QB 6-3 170 HHH Lehi, Utah Skyridge William Vaughn TE 6-4 230 HHH Kings Mountain, N.C. Kings Mountain Josh Warren Jr. DE 6-3 230 HHH Tampa, Fla. Wharton * Rivals rating as of Dec. 13 NC State Eager To Welcome RJ Boyd When He's Ready When NC State's 2026 recruits filed their paperwork on signing day, one player stood out from the rest: run- ning back RJ Boyd of Waycross (Ga.) Ware County High. Boyd had originally been a three-star prospect in the 2025 class but did not sign his financial aid papers because he had been diagnosed with lymphoma. The illness paused his football career. Instead of attending college, he's spent the past year battling cancer. Boyd continues to undergo treatment and is not listed by Rivals as a member of the 2026 recruiting class. How- ever, head coach Dave Doeren wanted to ensure that he knew he had a place in the Wolfpack program whenever he's ready to resume his playing career. "We're hopeful he can be a member of our football team," Doeren said. "We totally believe in that young man and know that he's been through hell and back with his treatment schedule." Boyd returned to working out at his high school in Sep- tember and has his sights set on once again playing the sport he fell in love with. "Prayers go out to him as he continues to battle and get healthy to get back to who he was as a high school athlete," Doeren said. — Noah Fleischman Boyd, a three-star running back, was diagnosed with lymphoma and is still undergoing treatments. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS