The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/644580
MARCH 2016 ■ 37 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Kendall Brown OFFENSIVE TACKLE Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian High 6-4, 265 pounds Measurables: Reportedly has a seven-foot, one- inch wingspan. Stats: As a senior, compiled 13 stops, three tack- les for loss, two sacks, an interception that was returned for a touchdown and three passes broken up in seven games on defense … As a junior, re- corded 15 tackles, a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage, 0.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. Ratings: Regarded as a two-star talent by Rivals. com and Scout.com … Listed by 247Sports as a two-star prospect, the No. 292 player in Florida and the No. 111 strongside defensive end in the country. Honors/accomplishments: Picked second- team all-state for Class 3-A … Selected third-team All-First Coast on offense by The Florida Times- Union in 2015 … Helped Trinity Christian win three straight 3-A state titles from 2013-15. Recruitment: Originally verbally committed to Appalachian State, and also had offers from Georgia Southern, Old Dominion, Troy and Tulane, among others … Picked up an offer from NCSU Jan. 28, a day before beginning his official visit to Raleigh … Switched his commitment to the Pack on Jan. 30. Recruiter of record: Run game coordinator and offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. Dave Doeren on Brown: "He's very long, 6-5 or 6-4½; he's only about 265 right now, but looks a lot bigger than that and has a 7-1 wingspan. That was the thing for us, getting an offensive tackle that has that length and athletic ability to protect our left or right side, whichever side he ends up on at tackle." Scouting report: Good athlete with a huge wingspan … Tough and physical with a background mainly on defense … Raw on offensive line due to limited experience. 2016 projection: Brown is more about potential than instant impact. He has only played offensive line during his senior season, and will need to get stronger and more seasoned. He is a strong redshirt candidate. Kollin Byers OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Shelby (N.C.) Crest High • 6-4, 250 pounds Measurables: At NC State's summer camp, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.03 seconds and the 20-yard pro agility shuttle in 4.81 seconds … Had an eight-foot, 11-inch standing broad jump and a 29.0-inch vertical leap … His wingspan was measured at six feet, seven inches … At a Shrine Bowl Combine, bench pressed 185 pounds 16 times. Stats: As a senior, played both center and tackle while opening running lanes for Virginia-bound running back Tre Harbison, who fin- ished with 2,078 yards and averaged 6.6 yards per tote … As a junior, helped Harbison rush for 1,663 yards and average 7.8 yards per carry. Ratings: Rated by Rivals.com as a two-star recruit … Listed by Scout.com as a three-star talent and the No. 76 offensive tackle in the country … Regarded by 247Sports as a two-star prospect, the No. 71 prospect in North Carolina and the No. 178 offensive tackle in the country … Ranked by ESPN as a two-star player, the No. 65 recruit in North Carolina and the No. 136 offensive tackle in the country. Honors/accomplishments: Played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game in Spartanburg, S.C. … Selected second- team All-USA North Carolina by USA Today in 2015 … Hhonorable mention all-county pick by the Shelby Star as a senior … Was named a top-five offensive lineman at the VTO Sports Elite 100 in April … Helped Crest win the 3-A state title as a junior and 3-AA championship as a senior … Also competed in the shot put as a member of Crest's track and field team. Recruitment: Originally verbally committed to Charlotte over Appalachian State in June … His individual camp performance at NC State led to an offer from the Pack, which he accepted on July 24 … Officially visited Raleigh on Jan. 22. Recruiter of record: Former offensive line coach Mike Uremovich. Dave Doeren on Byers: "He's definitely a guy that's going to develop and get bigger, but we liked his athleticism, versatility and the fact that he came from a winning program." Scouting report: Solid athlete with good fundamentals and toughness … Versatile prospect who could slide in anywhere on the line (played center for Crest in the state playoffs) and is a good long snapper … Will need to add considerable weight and strength. 2016 projection: Byers was upfront when he committed that he knows he will redshirt this year so that he can continue to add strength to his frame. Justin Chase OFFENSIVE TACKLE Chesapeake (Va.) Great Bridge High • 6-6, 285 pounds Measurables: Has a six-foot, 10-inch wingspan. Ratings: Listed by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 40 player in Virginia … Rated as a two-star talent by Scout.com … Ranked by 247Sports as a two-star recruit, the No. 67 player in Virginia and the No. 164 offensive tackle in the country … Regarded by ESPN as a three-star prospect, the No. 40 senior in Virginia and the No. 85 of- fensive tackle in the country … Tabbed by The Roanoke Times as the No. 41 senior in Virginia … Listed as the No. 15 prospect in the Tidewater region by The Virginian Pilot … Ranked No. 13 in the Fab 30 of 757 (the zip code for the Norfolk area, which is famous for the prep football talent it produces) by Recruit757.com. Honors/accomplishments: Selected second-team All-USA Vir- ginia by USA Today in 2015 … Earned first-team all-conference honors as a senior and second-team accolades as a junior … Also competes in shot put for Great Bridge's track and field squad … Elected Student Council Secretary at Great Bridge. Recruitment: Originally verbally committed to East Carolina over offers from NC State, Appalachian State, Old Dominion and Temple, among others … After Ruffin McNeill was fired at ECU, opened up his recruitment to consider NCSU, Temple and Wake Forest, which was on the verge of offering … Switched his commitment to NC State on Dec. 8. Recruiter of record: Cornerbacks coach George Barlow. Dave Doeren on Chase: "Justin's got tremendous upside. We're excited to get him here and develop him. He's a guy that's just going to blossom here in our program." Scouting report: Late bloomer who was a 6-1, 225-pounder playing junior varsity as a sophomore in his first year of football … Raw but physically promising prospect … Moves well for his size. 2016 projection: Chase has exciting physical potential and is a high-ceiling prospect, but he is still relatively new to football and will need a redshirt season to gain more seasoning under the tutelage of new offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford.