The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/470359
28 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ 2015 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE at the Shrine Bowl," Friedman said. "On film, he is a big guy that is almost a finesse blocker. He's aggressive when he's run- blocking but a finesse guy in pass blocking. "There is a ton of room left in his frame, and he's not as strong as he is going to be. He plays with great technique." The unexpected transfers of two wide receivers — freshman Bo Hines and sopho- more Marquez Valdes-Scantling — could open the door for the three receivers that signed with the Pack. Winston-Salem (N.C.) Carver's Brian Sessoms rivals Hines (no relation to Bo) for fastest player in the class. Simmons and Charlotte Mallard Creek's Vernon Grier were the beneficiaries of the two transfers, and both verbally committed in mid-January. Meyers could be the quarterback of the future, and he also benefited from a change in plans. Fellow Georgia native Austin King of Alpharetta High decided to switch from NC State to Indiana on Dec. 15, and that opened the door for the Wolfpack to eventually recruit and sign Meyers away from Kent State. NC State made sure each position unit was taken care of except cornerback. Nich- olson and Smith-Williams will help fortify the Wolfpack's 4-2-5 scheme. Gibsonville (N.C.) Eastern Guilford safety Jarius More- head joins Phillips in competing for one of the three safety positions. Kicker Kyle Bambard of Walled Lake (Mich.) Western and punter A.J. Cole of College Park (Ga.) Woodward Academy were both part of NCSU's 2014 signing class, but grey shirted this past fall. They'll help boost next year's special teams and will have another integral member join them. Monroe (N.C.) Sun Valley long snapper Tyler Griffiths will be handling the du- ties in ensuring Bambard and Cole have smooth kicks. The Wolfpack special teams should also get a boost with both Hines and Sessoms possessing game-breaking abilities in the return game. Farrell senses that times are changing in the recruiting landscape for state of North Carolina prep prospects. Twenty-two of the top 40 players in Riv- lals.com state of North Carolina rankings elected to stay in-state, with NC State land- ing eight of them. Tennessee landed a pair of players in the top 20, but that was it for the SEC. "It is starting to change," Farrell said. "The best thing that could have happened to the ACC was Florida State winning a national championship in 2014. Then Ohio State won this year. The SEC has taken a little bit of a hit." ■ Greensboro (N.C.) Southern Guilford running back Reggie Gallaspy just missed the Rivals250, but the four-star prospect is ranked as the No. 28 running back in the country. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN