The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/266935
MARCH 2014 ■ 49 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE KALEN MCCAIN ■ DB Durham (N.C.) Hillside High 6-1 • 175 pounds Stats: As a senior, posted nine interceptions … As a junior, registered 36 tackles, four interceptions, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Returned one pick for a touchdown. Ratings: Ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 30 player in the state by Rivals.com … Rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 30 player in the state and the No. 75 safety in the country by Scout.com … Listed as a three-star prospect, the No. 23 player in the state and the No. 58 safety in the country by 247Sports … Tabbed a three-star prospect, the No. 20 player in the state and the No. 27 safety in the country by ESPN … Evaluated as the No. 24 player in the state by Athlete Vault … Deemed the No. 17 player in the state by National Underclassmen … Ranked the No. 29 player in the state by the Fayetteville Observer … Rated the No. 19 player in the state by the Charlotte Observer. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to participate in the International Bowl in Arlington, Texs, Feb. 7 for the Under-19 National Team but bypassed the game to enroll early at NC State … Named conference's defensive back of the year as a senior and all-conference as a junior. Recruitment: Originally committed to Virginia Tech over offers from NC State, Georgia Tech and Louisville in April … Decommitted from Virginia Tech on June 11 … The next day participated in a 7-on-7 event with Hillside at NCSU's summer camp and committed to the Wolfpack in front of all his teammates when the event was over … Enrolled early at NC State. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Des Kitchings. Quotable: "He knows what he's doing back there. It took him a little while to get acclimated to the new places, playing safety from playing corner. He had a few more things to pay attention to, but he put it together real fast. Instincts carried him a lot. He has great instincts and football IQ." — Hillside head coach Antonio King. Dave Doeren on McCain: "He's versatile — a safety that has great coverage ability. Some safeties you watch, they're just big-hit guys, other guys are just cover - age. He does both." Scouting report: Ball-hawking defensive back … Versatile enough to play corner or safety. Size-wise is a better fit for corner, but athleticism could be better match for safety … Must get stronger and become a better tackler. 2014 projection: Based on how the recruiting class developed, it appears that McCain will start out at safety for NC State. He has the advantage of going through spring drills to get a head start on the defense. He'll need to add more strength though to avoid redshirting in the fall. JALAN MCCLENDON ■ QB Charlotte (N.C.) West Mecklenburg High 6-5 • 195 pounds Measurables: At the Shrine Bowl combine in Charlotte, ran the 40- yard dash in 5.16 seconds and the shuttle in 4.65 seconds … Registered a 30.6-inch vertical leap … Did 13 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press. Stats: As a senior, threw for around 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions … As a junior, posted 1,400 yards passing and 200 yards rushing, and tossed 11 scoring throws with seven picks … As a sophomore, threw for around 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Ratings: Ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 15 player in the state and the No. 18 pro-style quarterback in the country by Rivals.com … Rated as a four-star prospect, the No. 9 player in the state and the No. 15 quarterback in the country by Scout.com … Listed as a four-star prospect, the No. 8 player in the state, the No. 170 recruit in the nation and the No. 12 pro-style quarterback in the country by 247Sports … Tabbed a four-star prospect, the No. 16 player in the state and the No. 20 pocket passer in the country by ESPN. Honors/accomplishments: Started at quarterback for Team North Carolina at the Shrine Bowl of the Caro - linas All-Star Game and completed 16 of 26 passes for 164 yards … Labeled the "Strongest Arm" at the Shrine Bowl by Rivals.com … Led West Mecklenburg to back-to-back nine-win seasons the past two years, their most victories in a single campaign since 1989, and also helped West Meck win a state playoff game in 2012 for the first time since 1989. Recruitment: Also had offers from Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia and Wake Forest when he com- mitted to NC State on May 16 … Tennessee made a heavy push for McClendon in the fall … McClendon held firm with the Pack, solidifying his status even stronger after an official visit to NCSU Dec. 6. Recruiter of record: Tight ends/fullbacks coach and special teams coordinator Eddie Faulkner. Quotable: "He's just so smooth. Everything from handing off to play fakes to pocket presence to checking the ball down when he needs to check it down, he doesn't get impatient. He's got a cannon — he can throw the ball 70 yards on the run — and he manages the game so well." — Head coach Joe Evans of rival Charlotte Independence High. Dave Doeren on McClendon: "He's a big guy and can really sling it. An interesting part of Jalan's background is Jalan was 5-9 his freshman year in high school, then became a 6-5 guy. He started out as a running quarterback, they ran the triple option and were a veer team, then turned into a spread offense. He has two skills sets that he's had to do in two different offenses, and he was very good at it." Scouting report: Physically gifted with great size and superior arm strength … Has improved his touch and accuracy … Not a great athlete, but moves around well enough to avoid being a statue in the pocket. 2014 projection: With the transfer of backup quarterback Pete Thomas, McClendon may have to play if starter Jacoby Brissett goes down for an extended period of time. DESHAYWN MIDDLETON ■ DT Winston-Salem (N.C.) Parkland High • 6-2 • 295 pounds Measurables: At the Shrine Bowl combine in Mebane, N.C., ran the 40-yard dash in 5.21 seconds and the shuttle in 5.16 seconds … Registered a 23.0-inch vertical leap. Stats: As a senior, played in only four games due to knee injury … As a junior, tallied 54 tackles, including 15 for loss and six sacks. Ratings: Ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 22 player in the state and the No. 39 defensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com … Rated as a three-star prospect, the No. 38 player in the state and the No. 85 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com … Listed as a three-star prospect, the No. 38 player in the state and the No. 72 defensive tackle in the country by 247Sports … Tabbed a three-star prospect, the No. 48 player in the state and the No. 91 defensive tackle in the country by ESPN … Evaluated as the No. 35 player in the state by Athlete Vault … Rated as the No. 14 player in the state by the Fayetteville Observer. Honors/accomplishments: Named first-team All-Northwest North Carolina by the Winston-Salem Journal in 2012 … All-conference as a junior … Selected honorable mention U.S. Army All-Combine team in 2013 … Listed as the No. 6 defensive player at the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour stop in Charlotte in April and the No. 33 defensive lineman overall in the 15-stop tour … Rated the No. 5 "big man" at the Rivals/VTO Camp in Charlotte in 2012 … Older brother Douglas Middleton is a starting defensive back at Appalachian State. Recruitment: Accumulated offers from Duke, East Carolina and Wake Forest in the FBS ranks … Narrowed his choices to ECU and NC State, visiting both schools multiple times in the summer … Verbally committed to NC State, who was long thought to be Middleton's favorite, on July 1. Recruiter of record: Safeties coach and co-special teams coordinator Clayton White. Quotable: "He's very physical, and he doesn't stop until the whistle blows. He also knows how to keep good leverage and then overpower with his strength." — Rivals.com. Dave Doeren on Middleton: "He had a great junior year and was injured early on in his senior year. He only got to play four and a half games, but is healthy now and plays basketball. He's a big guy, 300-pound defensive tackle. He's also an Eagle Scout, has tremendous character and leadership, a presence about him." Scouting report: Intriguing prospect because he gets by on natural abilities and athleticism … Upside is high if he blossoms as expected in a college strength and conditioning program … Must get stronger for his size and, although he moves well, needs to increase his lateral quickness. 2014 projection: Unexpected attrition at the defensive tackle position leaves NC State with just four scholar - ship defensive tackles returning, and redshirt freshman Kenton Gibbs will be recovering from an Achilles injury. Thus Middleton is a good bet to play next fall since he is the most advanced defensive tackle size-wise that was signed. 44-53.Recruiting Bios.indd 49 2/25/14 2:58 PM