The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/644580
38 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Bryce Dixon TIGHT END Angier (N.C.) Green Hope High • 6-3, 210 pounds Measurables: At the Nike Opening in Charlotte, was laser timed at 4.76 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Also had a 4.52-second 20-yard pro agility shuttle mark, 37-inch power ball throw and 29.1-inch vertical leap for a Nike Football Rating (an overall measure of athletic ability) score of 83.31 … At NCSU's summer camp, timed 4.68 seconds in the 40 and had an eight-foot, 11-inch standing broad jump. Stats: As a senior, caught 45 passes for 704 yards and nine scores on offense, and added 67 tackles, 5.5 sacks and an interception on defense … As a junior, hauled in 62 receptions for 870 yards and 10 touchdowns … During his sopho - more season, posted 41 catches for 525 yards and three scores. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a three-star talent and the No. 33 recruit in North Carolina … Listed by Scout.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 71 tight end in the country … Rated by 247Sports as a three-star recruit, the No. 61 player in North Carolina and the No. 212 wide receiver in the nation … Regarded by ESPN as a three-star prospect, the No. 27 senior in North Carolina and the No. 102 wide receiver in the country. Honors/accomplishments: Selected to The Raleigh News and Observer All-Metro squad as a senior … Picked first- team all-conference on both sides of the ball as a senior and was first-team selection on offense as a junior … Was named the top underclassman at the Charlotte stop of the Rivals Camp Series presented by Under Armour in 2014 … His father, Kwame Dixon, is Green Hope's head coach and a former assistant coach in the college ranks … Ran for the track and field team early in his high school career. Recruitment: Originally committed to Old Dominion in May … Earned an offer from NC State on June 6 after working out at State's camp … Switched his pledge to the Wolfpack on June 26 and enrolled early despite late offers from Boise State, Miami, Tennessee and Virginia. Recruiter of record: Former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Canada. Dave Doeren on Dixon: "He's a productive guy that can play a similar role to what [junior tight end Jaylen Samuels] plays in our offense. We can move him around — you can see on the film that he lines up at receiver, lines up in the backfield and has versatility." Scouting report: Primary a wide receiver in high school … Gained 20 pounds between the end of his junior season and summer camp at NCSU to earn an offer as an H-back-type tight end, similar to what rising junior Jaylen Samuels plays … Will need to learn the blocking aspect of the position, but will be a good athlete for a tight end. 2016 projection: Enrolling for the spring semester should allow Dixon to get a head start on the two areas that will help get him on the field quickly: adding strength and learning the new playbook. He has a chance to play as Samuels' reserve if he can accomplish those. Ben "Shug" Frazier DEFENSIVE TACKLE Buford (Ga.) High • 6-2, 321 pounds Stats: As a senior, recorded 38 total stops, 19 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Ratings: Rivals.com rated him a three-star prospect, the No. 45 player in Georgia and the No. 33 defensive tackle in the country … Listed by Scout.com as a three-star recruit and the No. 31 defensive tackle nationally … Ranked by 247Sports as a three-star player, the No. 52 recruit in the Peach State and the No. 43 defensive tackle in the country … Tabbed by ESPN a three-star prospect, the No. 46 prospect in Georgia and the No. 41 defensive tackle in the country. Honors/accomplishments: Picked to play in the Offense-Defense Senior All- American Bowl … Selected the class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year by the state's high school sportswriters his senior year … Named first-team all-region in 2015 by area coaches … Helped team to state titles as a sophomore and junior, and the title game last fall. Recruitment: Possessed a lengthy of - fer list that included nearly every team in the SEC … Narrowed his focus to Florida and NC State in the end … Officially visited Raleigh on Sept. 11 and verbally committed on Oct. 30. Recruiter of record: Defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. Dave Doeren on Frazier: "Shug's a guy that we've had on campus multiple times here. He's been to camp here. He was a highly recruited young man with a great relationship with Coach Nielsen. He committed to us relatively early and had a ton of SEC schools trying to get him to talk and change his mind, but he never waivered there. He was loyal all the way through, and it means a lot." Scouting report: Well put together, stout defensive tackle … Might be better suited to play nose tackle … Comes from one of the top high school programs in the state of Georgia (Buford has won seven state titles since 2007). 2016 projection: Frazier is the lone de - fensive tackle in the class for a reason. The Pack has accumulated a good roster at the position. That said, Frazier is talented enough to get into the rotation as a true freshman. Bryce Folsom OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Alpharetta (Ga.) Chattahoochee High • 6-4, 263 pounds Measurables: At the Nike Opening Regional in Atlanta, ran the shuttle in 5.58 seconds, threw the power ball 33 feet and had a 24.2- inch vertical leap … Has a wingspan of more than six feet, eight inches. Stats: As a junior, had 33 tackles, four stops for loss and a sack as a defensive tackle. Ratings: Listed as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com … Rated as a three-star recruit and the No. 82 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com … Ranked by 247Sports as a two-star talent, the No. 158 recruit in the Peach State and the No. 87 strongside defensive end in the country … Regarded by ESPN as a three-star prospect, the No. 137 recruit in Georgia and the No. 111 offensive guard in the country. Honors/accomplishments: Was named honorable mention all- region on defense by area coaches as a junior … Two-year starter … Strong student in classroom who is interested in potentially going to medical school after college. Recruitment: Picked up ACC offers from NC State and Syracuse in May to go with earlier tenders from mid-majors like Connecticut, Middle Tennessee, Navy and Troy, among others … Pack was the lone school to recruit Folsom for of - fense, while the others preferred him at defensive tackle … Verbally committed on June 25 and enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Former offensive line coach Mike Uremovic. Dave Doeren on Folsom: "He has the ability — he has long arms and over a 6-8 wingspan — to grow up in the weight room for us, develop and be an athletic lineman, whether he stays at tackle or moves inside. He's a bender that you can see playing multiple positions on both sides of the ball in high school." Scouting report: Shows a high motor and aggressiveness on film … Has limited experience as an offensive lineman and thus will need to learn the techniques and fundamentals of position … Will need to fill out and get stronger. 2016 projection: Folsom is a likely redshirt. In addition to needing to gain strength, he is new to the offensive line position, having taken up the position on a full-time basis as a senior in high school.