The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/470359
MARCH 2015 ■ 39 2015 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ■ Emanuel McGirt OFFENSIVE TACKLE Durham (N.C.) Hillside High 6-5 • 285 pounds Measurables: At a Nike Combine, ran the shuttle in 4.94 seconds, registered a 22.9-inch vertical leap and had a 29.5-foot weight throw. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a four-star pros- pect, the No. 196 overall player nationally, the No. 14 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 7 recruit in North Carolina … Listed by Scout.com as a four- star talent, the No. 282 overall recruit nationally, the No. 28 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 7 player in his home state … Regarded by 247Sports as a four-star recruit, the No. 164 overall player nationally, the No. 15 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 7 prospect in North Carolina … Tabbed by ESPN as a four-star player, the No. 35 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 12 player in North Carolina … Listed by National Underclassmen as the No. 3 prospect in the state … Athlete Vault rated him as the No. 7 player in North Carolina … Ranked No. 12 in the state by The Fayetteville Observer … Listed as the No. 8 player in North Carolina by The Charlotte Observer. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Caro - linas All-Star Game, where he started at left tackle … Listed by Rivals.com as the best player for Team North Carolina during Shrine Bowl week, the second-best per- former for the squad in the game and the most physical player for either team … Picked first-team all-state by the Associated Press, Carolina Gridiron and NCPreps. com in 2014 … Named to The Raleigh News and Observer All-Metro Team … Rated as the third-best offensive player at the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour stop in Charlotte in 2014 … Picked as his conference's offensive lineman of the year as a senior … Played basketball as a freshman and sophomore … Member of Honor Roll all four years of high school. Recruitment: Verbally committed to North Carolina last June … Decommitted in August and officially visited Georgia, NC State and Virginia Tech … Committed to NC State Nov. 19. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Des Kitchings. Dave Doeren on McGirt: "He's a guy that committed early to a school down the road, and we stayed on him. He never felt like that was the right fit for him, and we got him to come to his senses. We're really happy that he did because I think he's a tremendous player at a position of high need for us." Scouting report: Above average athlete for his size, noted for his good foot speed and aggressiveness … Great frame for an offensive tackle … Will need to get stronger and continue to fill out. 2015 projection: Offensive tackle is clearly the most uncertain position on the offensive side of the football for NC State. Typically, it is difficult for a true fresh - man to find himself on the field at that position, but McGirt, if he can get physically strong enough, has a chance to pull it off given the open competition there. Jakobi Meyers QUARTERBACK Lithonia (Ga.) Arabia Mountain High 6-2 • 175 pounds Measurables: At a Nike combine, ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.58 seconds, registered a 29.6-inch vertical leap and had a 29.5-foot power throw. Stats: As a senior, completed 105 of 192 passes (54.7 percent) for 1,562 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and rushed 69 times for 481 yards and two scores in eight games … During his junior season, was 68-of-126 passing (54.0 percent) for 1,147 yards with 13 touch - downs and four interceptions, and ran 50 times for 120 yards and three scores. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com and Scout.com as a two-star prospect … Listed by 247Sports as a three-star recruit, the No. 51 dual-threat quarterback in the country and the No. 183 player in Georgia … Rated by ESPN as a three-star tal- ent, the No. 53 dual-threat quarterback in the country and the No. 164 prospect in the Peach State. Honors/accomplishments: Stars in baseball at shortstop and pitcher, finish- ing second in the county with a .500 batting average in 50 at-bats as a junior while stealing 13 bases … Played for quarterbacks coach and former NCSU signal-caller Jatavis Sanders … Also played basketball for three years … Carries a 3.7 grade point average and is member of the National Honor Society, the National Society of High School Scholars and the National Beta Club … Earned the National Academy of Future Physician's and Medical Scientist's Award of Excellence. Recruitment: Made a verbal commitment to Kent State in June … Picked up of- fers from NC State and Wake Forest in January, and committed to the Pack Jan. 18 while on an official visit … Added a late offer from Florida, but declined to take a trip there the weekend before National Signing Day. Recruiter of record: Quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Matt Canada. Quotable: "I think Jakobi fits great. The offense is multiple, and I think it will allow Jakobi to show off his arm, as well as his mobility. There are some good, young players at State that are up and coming, and I think he will fit in well with them." — Sanders. Dave Doeren on Meyers: "He has a strong arm and is very athletic. I think he's one of the biggest steals in the country. He just didn't play a lot of football — he jumped in from baseball his junior year. He has two younger brothers that are really good football players." Scouting report: Newcomer to football who did not start playing until during his sophomore season and did not become a full-time starter until his senior year … Good athlete capable of making plays with his legs … Has a smaller frame for a quarterback, but still possesses a strong arm. 2015 projection: Meyers becomes the third scholarship quarterback on the roster, so he will have to be ready just in case, but more likely he will redshirt. T.J. McCoy OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Groveland (Fla.) South Grove High • 6-2 • 305 pounds Measurables: At a Nike combine, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.93 seconds and 20-yard shuttle in 4.93 seconds, registered a 21.7-inch vertical leap and had a 37-foot power throw for an overall SPARQ (a measure of overall athletic ability) rating of 67.26. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a two-star recruit … Listed by Scout.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 103 offensive guard in the country … Rated by 247Sports as a two-star talent, the No. 32 center in the country and the No. 305 player in Florida … Regarded by ESPN as a three-star recruit, the No. 76 offensive guard in country and the No. 175 talent in the Sunshine State … Rated by National Underclassmen as the No. 67 player in the state … Listed by The Orlando Sentinel as the No. 43 prospect in Central Florida. Honors/accomplishments: Played in the Central Florida All-Star Game in De - cember … Named the District 8 Player of the Year by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association … Selected to the 6-A Associated Press All-State first team … Picked to The Orlando Sentinel All-Central Florida region squad … Won offensive line MVP at the National Underclassmen Florida 5-Star Showcase in March … Son of former Florida All-SEC defensive lineman and eight-year NFL veteran Tony McCoy. Recruitment: Earned an offer from NC State after a strong showing at its summer camp in June … Also picked up tenders from Rutgers, South Florida and Navy, among others, and visited USF in August … Verbally com- mitted to the Pack Sept. 13 and enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Linebackers coach and defen- sive coordinator Dave Huxtable. Dave Doeren on McCoy: "T.J. is an interesting guy who was at our camp and really impressed me, not just with his ability, but he had great leadership. He jumped right into the lines with Coach [Mike Uremovich]. He said [to the other guys at camp], 'Get a one-foot split,' or, 'a two-foot split,' he was pointing that out in line." Scouting report: Versatile lineman who played both sides of the ball and all across the offensive line, including center as a senior … Because of his size, projects as a center or perhaps guard in college … Reputed to be a physical, strong run blocker who has quick enough feet to be a good pass blocker as well. 2015 projection: The Pack returns the core from its 2014 offensive line at guard and center and should have good depth, which would allow McCoy to redshirt and improve his strength and conditioning.