The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/266935
32 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY JACEY ZEMBAL N C State landed play- ers at every position g r o u p , a n d a d d e d strength along the lines and some explosive play- makers in the class of 2014. Second-year head coach Dave Doeren put together a founda- tion class in his first full year on the job, signing 31 players, including two greyshirts and one blueshirt, and adding three walk-ons who could contribute. The Wolfpack will feature 34 newcomers when fall camp be- gins next August. Seven of the signees and two of the walk-ons are enrolled for NC State's spring semester, and will be able to par- ticipate in spring practice, which begins March 4. NC State signed one quarterback, one running back and one fullback for the backfield, plus three tight ends and three wide receivers. The offensive line was fortified with five signees. The defense welcomes six linemen, two signees and two walk-ons at line- backer, four potential safeties and three cornerbacks. The Wolfpack lined up replacements for its rising seniors on special teams — kicker Niklas Sade, punter Wil Baumann and long snapper Scott Thompson, who will all depart the program after the 2014 campaign — with greyshirts Kyle Bam- bard, a kicker from Walled Lake (Mich.) Western, and A.J. Cole, a punter from College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy, plus walk-on long snapper RC Brunstet- ter of Mocksville (N.C.) Davie County. The return game could also get a boost, particularly from Southern Durham wide receiver Maurice Trowell. Rivals.com ranked NC State's recruit- ing class No. 30 overall in the country and 36th in average stars per player (2.94). The Wolfpack ranked sixth in the ACC and ninth in average stars per player in the league (if you take out Maryland and include Louisville). "That No. 30 ranking is good for them based on what they did on the field [3-9 overall]," Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell said. "They did a good job by doing what [former head coach] Tom O'Brien wanted to do by tak- ing care of the in-state kids [16 signees] A Little Bit Of EVERYTHING NC State Reloads With 34 Newcomers In The Class Of 2014 In his first full year on the job, head coach Dave Doeren landed a group of signees that was ranked sixth in the ACC and No. 30 nationally by Rivals.com. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 32-33.Signing Day Overview.indd 32 2/25/14 3:41 PM