The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/470359
MARCH 2015 ■ 41 2015 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ■ Freddie Phillips SAFETY Pelion (S.C.) High • 6-1 • 194 pounds Measurables: At the VTO Combine last January in Greenville, S.C., ran the 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds and the shuttle in 4.31 seconds, had a 31- inch vertical leap and did 10 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press … His 40 time tied for the fastest among the 47 campers there. Stats: As a junior, made 54 tackles and two in - terceptions on defense … Also had more than 500 receiving yards on offense. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a three- star recruit and the No. 16 player in South Carolina … Regarded by Scout.com as a three-star talent, the No. 72 safety in the country and the No. 16 recruit in the state … Rated by 247Sports as a three-star prospect, the No. 104 safety in the country and the No. 18 player in the Palmetto State … Listed by ESPN as a three- star talent, the No. 126 safety in the country and the No. 19 player in South Carolina … Tabbed as the No. 17 prospect in the state by National Under - classmen … Ranked by Athlete Vault as the No. 16 player in South Carolina … Rated by The Charlotte Observer as the No. 19 recruit in the state. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game, but did not participate in either … Named All-Midlands by The State as a senior … Also picked by The State as one of the Elite 11 senior players to watch in the region … Won the Overall Athlete MVP at the VTO Elite 100 camp in March at Columbia, S.C. … Ranked by Rivals.com as the second-best un - derclassman performer at the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour stop in Charlotte in 2013 … Also runs track, finishing fourth in the AA state finals of the 400 meters last year with a time of 50.35 seconds, and played basketball. Recruitment: Picked up offers from NC State, UNC and Wake Forest … Verbally committed to the Wolfpack May 20 … Enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Des Kitchings. Dave Doeren on Phillips: "He's a versatile DB that can play any of the three spots in our defense, as far as free safety, strong safety and nickel. You'll see him on offense and defense. He just does a lot of things. He can cover people, he can play the third, play the half and he can get down. … He just has good ball skills, good awareness." Scouting report: Good athlete who also passes the eye test … Was primarily a receiver before beginning to switch his focus to safety during his junior season … Has an outgoing personality and is well regarded for his leadership abilities. 2015 projection: Enrolling early gives Phillips a chance to crack the depth chart at safety, but it is worth noting that the Pack returns a deep core at that position as well so Phillips will have to excel to play next fall. Tyrone Riley DEFENSIVE END Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Baptist High • 6-6 • 240 pounds Stats: As a senior, compiled 74 tackles, eight sacks, 25 quarterback hurries and six passes defended … Made 85 tackles as a junior. Ratings: Listed by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect, the No. 27 weakside de- fensive end in the country and the No. 60 player in Georgia … Rated by Scout.com as a three-star talent and the No. 124 defensive end in the country … Ranked by 247Sports as a three-star recruit, the No. 41 weakside defensive end in the country and the No. 92 prospect in the Peach State … Regarded by ESPN as a three-star tal- ent, the No. 51 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 88 player in Georgia … Tabbed as the No. 75 recruit in the Peach State by National Underclassmen. Honors/accomplishments: Named first-team all-state for Class A by the Georgia Sportswriters Association as a senior … Selected to the all-region 3-A team … Picked for the All-Greater Savannah squad by The Savannah Morning News … Also plays basketball. Recruitment: Picked up offers from Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Purdue, Utah, Wake Forest and Wisconsin, among others, in addition to NCSU … Originally verbally committed to Kentucky Nov. 18 … Of- ficially visited NCSU Jan. 17 and made the switch to the Pack Jan. 30. Recruiter of record: Defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. Dave Doeren on Riley: "He was 6-6 and a little more than 250 on his visit, and had a 6-10.5 wingspan. He looks almost identical to Pharoah [McKever] when they stand next to each other. It's great to have another long guy. The guy played safety his sophomore year, and linebacker and some defensive end his junior year. He's a really long athlete." Scouting report: Good length and frame for a defensive end … Noted for being a good athlete who has also played some linebacker in high school … Has reportedly gained about 30 pounds since his junior season. 2015 projection: Defensive end is a position that was somewhat hit by attrition. That has left the door even more open for incoming freshmen to step in and play. Thus Riley will be in the mix for playing time in the fall. Darian Roseboro DEFENSIVE END Lincolnton (N.C.) High • 6-4 • 283 pounds Measurables: At the Shrine Bowl combine held at Asheville (N.C.) A.C. Reynolds High, ran the 20-yard dash in 2.77 seconds and the shuttle in 4.90 seconds, had an 8-6 standing broad jump and did a combine-best 40 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press. Stats: As a senior, piled up 122 stops, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on defense … Rushed 237 times for 1,400 yards and 35 touchdowns as a fullback … During junior season, picked up 125 tackles, 21 stops for loss and 10 sacks … As a sophomore, notched 119 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and nine sacks … Tallied 107 stops, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a freshman. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a four-star talent, the No. 100 overall prospect in the nation, the No. 4 defen - sive tackle in the country and the No. 4 player in North Carolina … Listed by Scout.com as a four-star prospect, the No. 124 overall player in the nation, the No. 49 recruit in the Southeast region, the No. 15 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 5 talent in his home state … Rated by 247Sports as a four-star recruit, the No. 116 overall recruit in the nation, the No. 10 strongside defensive end in the country and the No. 5 player in North Carolina … Regarded by ESPN as a four-star prospect, the No. 184 overall player in the nation, the No. 22 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 7 recruit in his home state. Honors/accomplishments: Was named an honorable mention Parade All-American … Selected to play in both the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game in Spartanburg, S.C., in December and the Semper Fidelis All-American Game Jan. 4 in Carson, Calif. … Accumulated five tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in the Shrine Bowl and was named the top performer in the game for North Carolina by Rivals.com … Picked by Rivals.com as the fifth- best player for the Shrine Bowl week for N.C., and the ninth-best player for the East in the Semper Fidelis week … Listed by Rivals.com as the top overall performer at the Shrine Bowl Invite-Only Camp in June … Selected as the Defensive Line MVP at the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour stop in Charlotte and listed as the No. 3 overall defensive player there … Named first-team all-state by the Associated Press, NCPreps.com and Caro - lina Gridiron … Finished his senior season two touchdowns shy of county record for most rushing scores in a year. Recruitment: Narrowed his finalists to offers from Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, NC State, North Carolina and Tennessee before verbally committing to the Wolverines in August … Officially visited NC State Sept. 26 and backed out of his Michigan pledge after that trip … Made the switch to NCSU Oct. 11 and enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Offensive line coach Mike Uremovich and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. Dave Doeren on Roseboro: "He's just a guy that has so much pride about playing in state and having his family around him. I'm excited for Darian. He's a versatile guy. He can play our field end, our boundary end. Now that he's in a college workout program, it will be interesting to see the changes to his body." Scouting report: One of the premier defensive line recruits in the country … Versatile line prospect who could play off the edge or on the interior … Considered a good athlete for his size with excellent strength. 2015 projection: It is difficult to imagine a scenario where Roseboro is not on the field next fall.