The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/157974
■ FOOTBALL recruiting Still Work To Do By Matt Carter lthough NC State has 22 verbal commitments, it remains active on the recruiting trail. Here is a breakdown by position of some of the top known targets remaining on the board: A Running Back The conventional wisdom on four-star running back Derrell Scott of Havelock (N.C.) High had been that he was headed out of state for college, with South Carolina or Florida State being his most likely destination. That went out the window, though, when Scott took an unofficial visit to NC State in July. The 5-10, 180-pounder raved about the trip, and now NCSU is firmly in the mix for Rivals.com's fifth-ranked allpurpose back in the nation. "They said it's a big difference if you stay home and do everything," Scott said. "The whole state will embrace you a lot more than if you were an out-of-state player elsewhere. "It just feels different when you are in your own state doing it." Scott will announce his collegiate decision Oct. 25 and is expected to officially visit NC State before then. He rushed 181 times for 1,742 yards and 34 touchdowns last year, helping Havelock win a 3-AA state title. He is also ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 5 player in the state and No. 162 overall player in the country. Wide Receiver Four-star wideout Trevion Thompson of Durham (N.C.) Hillside has NC State among his final six schools, and according to reports he may try to unofficially visit for the Pack's Thursday night home game against Clemson Sept. 19. The Tigers are also on Thompson's short list, along with Florida State, North Carolina, Ohio State and West Virginia. The 6-2, 180-pound pass catcher is listed by Rivals.com as the No. 194 overall prospect in the country and No. 9 player in the state. His teammate, safety Kalen McCain, is verbally committed to NC State. Thompson caught 42 passes for 735 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. The Pack may also host a pair of receivers from West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer High on official visits the weekend of Sept. 6. Clint Stephens and Ezra Saffold are two- NC State is firmly in the mix for Havelock (N.C.) High star Derrell Scott, who is listed by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit, the No. 5 player in North Carolina, the nation's No. 5 allpurpose back and the No. 162 overall prospect in the land. photo courtesy rivals.com star prospects according to Rivals.com, but both also have solid offer lists. Stephens (5-9, 170 pounds) said that his top three is Florida State, Miami and West Virginia, and he noted he is approaching 20 offers overall. Saffold (5-7, 160 pounds) also claimed offers from Arkansas and FSU, among others. Saffold is expected to visit Arkansas in September. McNeil has also picked up a recent offer from Oklahoma to go with earlier tenders from Louisville, Purdue and Virginia Tech, among others. There is a decent chance that NC State will also host tackle Brock Ruble of Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha on an official visit at some point. Ruble, who is rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 13 player in the state of Maryland by Rivals.com, revealed a top five of Florida State, Maryland, NC State, Ohio State and Tennessee in August. "I had a great vibe around the whole football program, and I really feel they are a program that is really on the rise," he said of NCSU. "I really enjoyed my visit and established a great relationship with Coach [Richard] McNutt, Coach [Matt] Canada and Coach [Mike] Uremovich. We also talked about a chance to play early on my visit." Ruble hinted he wanted to use his official visits and then make a decision following his senior season. His teammate, defensive end Deonte Holden, is verbally committed to NC State. Defensive Line The defensive front has always been one of NC State's top priorities in the 2014 class. The Pack remains aggressive at the position, and the top target is five- Offensive Line Most of the focus has been on adding an offensive tackle in the class. From the junior college ranks, Luke Hayes of powerhouse Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan., took an official visit to NCSU July 26. At the request of his coach, Hayes has declined to do interviews, but the 6‑6, 290-pounder is reported to also have offers from Arizona, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan State and West Virginia. He is a former teammate of NCSU sophomore center Quinton Schooley, who left Butler after the spring to join the Pack. Rivals.com ranks Hayes as a three-star recruit. Two-star tackle Lukayus McNeil of Indianapolis Decatur Central was expected to see a rankings bump from Rivals.com after a strong summer improved his stock. He has scheduled an official visit to NC State for Sept. 6, but the Pack trail Michigan State and Indiana for his services. Greenville (N.C.) Rose High end Kentavius Street, a five-star prospect and the No. 16 overall player in the country according to Rivals.com, is the Wolfpack's top target on the defensive line. photo courtesy rivals.com 78 ■ the wolfpacker 78-81.FB Recruiting.indd 78 8/23/13 12:57 PM