The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/644580
44 ■ THE WOLFPACKER FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Daeshawn Stephens WIDE RECEIVER Durham (N.C.) Hillside High • 6-2, 205 pounds Measurables: At NC State's summer camp, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds and the 20-yard pro agility shuttle in 4.53 seconds … Had a nine-foot, three-inch standing broad jump and a 32.6-inch vertical leap … His wingspan was measured at six feet, seven inches. Stats: As a senior, was credited with 71 catches for 989 yards and 17 scores … As a junior, caught 75 passes for 968 yards and seven touchdowns. Ratings: Regarded as a two-star prospect and the No. 49 senior in North Carolina by Rivals.com … Tabbed as a two-star recruit by Scout.com … Rated by 247Sports as a two-star player and the No. 67 prospect in North Carolina … Ranked by ESPN as a three-star talent, the No. 59 senior in North Carolina and the No. 192 wide receiver nationally. Honors/accomplishments: Named to The Durham Herald-Sun all-area first team as a senior … Selected as an all-conference performer as a junior and senior … Starter since his freshman season for Hillside … Becomes third former Hornet to sign with Pack under Dave Doeren. Recruitment: Picked up offers from Miami (Ohio), Appalachian State, Old Do - minion and James Madison before NCSU tendered, and one from East Carolina in January after his high school coach, Antonio King, was hired as an assistant by the Pirates … Individual camp performance at NC State followed by a productive seven-on- seven tournament for Hillside at NCSU led to the Wolfpack offer … Committed on the spot after Pack tendered on July 24. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Des Kitch- ings. Dave Doeren on Stephens: "He has big hands and really catches the ball with ease. He's not as tall as the other two guys, but has extremely long arms and is a very sure- handed guy. He made a bunch of catches with bodies around him throughout the season." Scouting report: Good sized, long-armed receiver … Productive and plays for a win- ning program that traditionally plays tough schedules … Speed-wise projects more as a possession receiver in college. 2016 projection: NCSU will be looking for some dramatic improvement in production from its receiving corps this upcoming season, but the Pack also returns every significant piece of the group off last year's team. That means Stephens will have to excel to get on the field. James Valdez CORNERBACK Orangeburg (S.C.) Orangeburg-Wilkinson High • 6-0, 189 pounds Measurables: Has been clocked at 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Stats: Played at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High as a senior, and the school did not keep stats … As a junior, recorded 25 tackles, seven interceptions and 14 passes broken up … Also pulled in 18 receptions for 405 yards and four scores … As a sophomore, collected 51 tackles and seven pass deflections … Also caught 32 passes for 625 yards and eight touchdowns, and rushed for 310 yards and four scores … As a freshman, notched 42 tackles and two interceptions. Ratings: Listed as a three-star prospect and the No. 14 player in South Carolina by Rivals.com … Rated by Scout.com as a three-star recruit and the No. 62 cornerback in the country … Listed by 247Sports as a three-star player, the No. 21 prospect in the Palmetto State and the No. 98 cornerback nationally … Ranked by ESPN as a three-star recruit, the No. 18 senior in South Carolina and the No. 55 cornerback nationally. Honors/accomplishments: Selected for the North-South All-Star Game in South Carolina in 2015 … Named second-team All-USA South Carolina by USA Today as a senior … Picked first-team all-area by The Orangeburg Times and Democrat … Played his first three years at Lake Marion High in Santee, S.C. … Started all four years of high school. Recruitment: Picked up early offers from Michigan, North Carolina, South Caro - lina, Tennessee and Wake Forest, in addition to NC State … Committed to NCSU over South Carolina on Jan. 25 … Held firm throughout the process and of- ficially visited Dec. 4. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Des Kitchings. Dave Doeren on Valdez: "A guy that has good instincts and gets his hands on a lot of footballs. He's ma- ture physically — when he walks in he doesn't look like a high school guy. He's got a good body on him already. Obvi- ously, the mental part of the game is the biggest part, but when he comes in, he'll have a chance early because of his physical attributes." Scouting report: Proven playmaker on both sides of the ball for four years … Polished corner with good coverage and ball skills … Not as tall and lengthy as the other corner recruits. 2016 projection: Valdez may be the most college-ready and proven of NCSU's incoming cornerbacks, and he has experience covering the slot receiver in high school and could potentially play some nickel if needed. Given the uncertain depth at corner - back, Valdez could find his way on the field next fall. Justin Witt OFFENSIVE LINEMAN New Lenox (Ill.) Lincoln-Way West High • 6-6, 290 pounds Measurables: At the Nike Opening Regional in Chicago, ran the 40-yard dash in 5.47 seconds and the 20-yard pro agility shuttle in 5.18 seconds, threw the power ball 36 feet and had a 24.3-inch vertical leap. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 28 senior in Illinois …Listed by Scout.com as a three-star recruit and the No. 48 offensive tackle in the country … Regarded by 247Sports as a three-star talent, the No. 7 prospect in Illinois and the No. 32 offensive tackle nationally … Regarded as a three-star player, the No. 15 senior in Illinois and the No. 60 offensive tackle in the country by ESPN … Tabbed by EdgyTim.com as the No. 28 prospect in Illinois. Honors/accomplishments: Named to both The Chicago Sun-Times' and The Mor - ris Herald-News' all-area teams … Honored as a first-team all-state selection for Class 5A by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association … Picked second-team All-USA Illinois by USA Today … Selected special mention all-state by The News-Gazette … Helped Lincoln-Way West to the 5-A state title game as a senior … Played on an offensive line that also featured a signee for Nebraska. Recruitment: Had offers from California, Iowa State, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse, in addition to NCSU … Committed to the Pack on May 18, just days after returning from an unofficial visit … Enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Former offensive line coach Mike Uremovic. Dave Doeren on Witt: "He's a long, long kid, had a really good senior year and has played tackle throughout his career." Scouting report: Solid athlete who moves well for an offensive lineman … Has steadily added weight and filled out lean frame over the past two years, gaining about 40 pounds … Will need to continue to fill out and get stronger. 2016 projection: Witt may be the combination of the most polished and college- ready size-wise of the offensive linemen that signed with NCSU. Enrolling early also helps him get a head start on the offense and college life. That said; it's rare that of - fensive linemen play as true freshmen, and Witt is a better bet to redshirt.