The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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72 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ FOOTBALL RECRUITING ceptions and three passes broken up last season. There is a chance that Gilbert and Stall- ings could end up at the same college. "We've talked about it," Stallings said. "If it happens, it happens, but it's not like a make-or-break deal." Rivals.com rates Stallings as a three- star talent, the No. 19 player in the state of North Carolina and the No. 29 safety nationally. DEFENSIVE END JIMMIE TAYLOR Jacksonville (N.C.) Southwest Onslow The 6-3, 230-pound Taylor has been one of the best pass rushers in the state of North Carolina for the past two years. As a junior, Taylor piled up 71 tackles, 15.5 sacks and an addi- tional 11 tackles for losses. Ta y l o r, w h o v i s i t e d NC State for its spring game, is rated as the No. 23 rising senior in the state and the nation's No. 25 weak- side defensive end in the junior class by Rivals.com. He also has offers from Duke, East Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Wake Forest. A projected early graduate from high school, Taylor expects to make a decision by the end of May. TIGHT END GARRETT WALSTON Wilmington (N.C.) New Hanover In 2007, NC State signed tight end George Bryan from New Hanover High. Bryan would go on to be- come a three-time All-ACC performer and set new ca- reer standards for tight ends at NCSU with 123 recep- tions for 1,294 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Pack is hoping that Walston can establish a New Hanover tight end tra- dition at NCSU. The Pack, Boston Col- lege, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Northwestern, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have offered Walston. He hopes to make a decision before summer begins, with NC State and UNC leading the way. During his junior campaign, Walston caught 44 passes for 847 yards and 10 touchdowns. Rivals.com ranks Walston as a three-star talent, the No. 27 player in the state's 2016 class and the No. 23 tight end among rising seniors. ■ For regular reports on NC State football recruiting plus videos of Wolfpack commitments and targets, visit TheWolfpacker.com.