The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/644580
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 1 In-state program was able to keep one of North Carolina's top 10 prospects home — NC State, when it inked Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek tight end Thaddeus Moss, who was ranked seventh in the state. 1 First-team All-America selection by MaxPreps.com among NC State's signees — Moss. 2 Of South Carolina's top 15 recruits were signed by NC State — defensive backs Nick McCloud (No. 9) and James Valdez (No. 14) — making the Wolfpack the only out-of-state program to ink two of the state's top prospects. 3 Straight years that NCSU has added at least two four-star recruits (Moss and wide receiver Kelvin Harmon), which is a first for the program since 2003-05. The Wolfpack inked two in 2016, five in 2015 and three in 2014 after signing zero in 2012 and 2013, and one in 2011. 3 Signees' fathers that played major college football — tight end Bryce Dixon (Kwame at Pittsburgh), offensive lineman Harrison Gee (Mike was an All-ACC guard at NC State) and Moss (Randy was an All-American and first-round draft pick out of Marshall before becoming one of the NFL's best wide receivers ever). 4 Players in the class that posted 1,000 receiving yards as seniors — Dixon, Harmon, cornerback JJ Givens and wide receiver C.J. Riley. Wideout Daeshawn Stephens came very close in each of his last two years, posting 968 yards as a junior and 989 yards as a senior. 7 Scholarship freshmen (tight end Dylan Auten- rieth, cornerback Bryce Banks, tight end Bryce Dixon, offensive lineman Bryce Folsom, line- backer Garrett Hooker, quarterback Dylan Parham and offensive lineman Justin Witt), one transfer (kicker Connor Haskins, a graduate from UNC Pembroke) and two preferred walk-ons (linebackers David Pierson and Matt Stevens) enrolled early at NC State. 7 Scholarship offensive linemen were included in the class. The next biggest group was cornerback (four), followed by three tight ends and three wide receivers. 8 Rivals250 signees have been inked by NC State in Dave Doeren's three full years on the recruiting trail (an average of 2.7 per year) after the addition of Moss, the nation's No. 123 overall prospect. In the nine recruiting cycles from 2005-13, the Pack signed eight such recruits (an average of 0.9 per year) — and they had zero from 2011-13. 8 States were represented in the class — North Carolina (13, including four walk- ons), Florida (3), Georgia (3), Virginia (3), South Carolina (2), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1) and Illinois (1). 10 Four-star recruits Doeren and his staff have secured National Signing Day signatures from in the last three years (an average of 3.3 per year). In the eight cycles from 2006-13, the school added 15 four-star prospects (an average of 1.9 per year). 10 Football state championships were won by five players — offensive tackle Kendall Brown (as a sophomore, junior and senior), offensive lineman Kollin Byers (junior and senior), defensive tackle Ben Frazier (sophomore and junior), cornerback Nick McCloud (junior and senior) and tight end Thaddeus Moss (senior). Frazier's team was the state runner-up as a senior, as were those of wide receiver Kelvin Harmon and offensive lineman Justin Witt, while safety Isaiah Stallings won a state title in basketball as a junior. 17 Interceptions for Stallings in his prep career, a school record at Fayetteville (N.C.) Terry Sanford. 22 Tackles per game by linebacker Garrett Hooker in his senior year at Ledford High in Thomasville, N.C., before he went down with a broken foot towards the end of the season. 123 Moss' overall national ranking in the 2016 class, making him the 15th-highest ranked signee for the Pack in the Rivals.com era, which dates back to the 2002 class. He is the fourth-highest ranked recruit to ink with NCSU since the 2011 class. ■ By The Numbers 65 Tackles for loss recorded as a senior by linebacker BROCK MILLER at Port St. Lucie (Fla.) John Car- roll High, which reportedly ranked second nationally. He also notched 25 sacks in his final prep campaign. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM