The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543694
MARCH/APRIL 2026 ■ 37 to close the deal with a player who wasn't on most FBS programs' radar. Copper went on to enjoy one of the best senior seasons in North Carolina football history. He set single-season state records for receiving yards (2,242) and receiving touchdowns (33), break- ing marks that had stood for nine and 21 years, respectively. In turn, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound route runner went from a mid-three- star recruit to a four-star prospect, per Rivals' scouts. He finished as the Wolf- pack's second-highest-rated pledge in the 2026 class. And it likely wouldn't have been possible without his camp appearance last June. "It's become one of the more chal- lenging months on the calendar, and a lot of schools have reduced their camps because of that," Doeren said. "He's a great reason why you shouldn't do that. You can still find players that other peo- ple haven't found." Growing The Footprint Before defensive coordinator DJ El- iot's arrival last January, NC State hadn't signed a high school recruit from Mary- land, Pennsylvania or New Jersey in the previous four cycles. But in Eliot's first recruiting class, the Pack landed four, matching its highest total since 2014. The haul included pledges from a trio of linebackers in Koby Sarkodie of Mil- ford Mill Academy in Baltimore, Jor- dan Moreta of Paramus (N.J.) Catholic and Ziggy Moore of Woodland Hills in Pittsburgh, along with edge rusher Eli- jah Satchell of Camden (N.J.) Eastside. All four received three-star grades from Rivals. Doeren had recruited those states during his tenure as Wisconsin's defen- sive coordinator, and NC State signed at least one player from the region over an eight-year stretch from 2014-21, with George McDonald as the primary re- cruiter. While it had been a few years since NC State prioritized the states north of the Mason-Dixon line, Eliot gave the Wolfpack an opportunity to re-enter the fertile recruiting ground, having previously worked for the Philadelphia Eagles and at Temple. Doeren said Eliot "had a lot to do" with the Pack's success in that region. "It was a productive area for us for a while," Doeren explained, "When DJ started getting interest from guys up there and getting them on campus, it was easy for me as well to get back in there." NC State previously had success with such prospects as future NFL wideout Kelvin Harmon, eventual starting quar- terback Devin Leary and five-year long- snapping standout Joe Shimko, to name a few. Doeren said he likes the tenacity that players from the Mid-Atlantic tend to have. "They're tough kids," he said. "The way they're brought up, maybe the communities they're in, their fan bases with the Giants and Eagles. If you look at the fan bases up there, they're pretty intense. These kids are used to compet- ing and being around tough, hard-nosed people." Dual-Sport QB NC State's quarterback signee in the class, Jacob Smith of Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan, isn't the typical incoming freshman signal-caller. Not only is the three-star prospect looking to provide depth behind junior CJ Bailey and soph- omore Will Wilson, but Smith is the rare two-sport athlete who committed to play baseball in Raleigh, too. The standout right-handed pitcher is splitting his time this spring with both programs. It's an uncommon combina- tion for a freshman quarterback, but Doeren said he believes Smith is cut out to do both. "He's athletic, tough and really com- petitive," Doeren said. "There aren't many kids who are good enough to pitch in the ACC and play quarterback, and he's got the pedigree to do both." Smith, who is a natural-born leader, finished his prep career with 4,384 passing yards and 39 touchdown passes, while he rushed 405 yards and 8 scores on 81 attempts. He did miss most of his junior year due to a season-ending knee injury, but NC State sees plenty of po- tential. "We're excited for the chance to de- velop him," Doeren said. "There are some developmental things that we're going to have to help him with as a passer, the speed of the game in college and all those things that go with it. But we love his makeup." ■ Three-star quarterback Jacob Smith threw for 4,384 yards and 39 touchdowns during his career at Pfafftown (N.C.) Reagan High. A dual-sport athlete, he is playing baseball and football for the Pack this spring. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS