The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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64 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER W ith NC State almost done with its 2017 class well before National Sign- ing Day, the coaching staff has the luxury of moving ahead in earnest to the 2018 collection of talent. The Pack already has three verbal commitments from juniors: cornerbacks DeVon Graves from Appomattox (Va.) County High and Nadir Thompson from Bailey (N.C.) Southern Nash High, and kicker Chris Reed from Lexington (N.C.) North Davidson High. However, Thomp- son has indicated he is considering an offer from Virginia Tech that he received in the summer. Here are 10 other juniors to watch this fall. QUARTERBACK HOLTON AHLERS Greenville (N.C.) D.H. Conley High The athletic 6-4, 225-pounder picked up an offer from NC State in June. Hometown East Carolina also offered that month. Ahlers, a lefty, completed 132 of 262 passes for 2,457 yards with 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year, while also rushing for 1,142 yards and 15 touchdowns on 168 carries. He cracked 100 rushing yards five times. He looks forward to checking out NCSU home games next year. "I've heard nothing but good things about their fans and their environment," Ahlers said. "I'm excited to get up there." Ahlers, who noted that among all coaches he has the best relationship with NC State offensive coordinator/quarter- backs coach Eli Drinkwitz, believes that Virginia Tech could be his next offer. QUARTERBACK TYLER DESUE Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes High Last season, DeSue (6-0, 200 pounds) had to share time at quarterback with Old Dominion freshman Kody Cunningham, and both of them had the primary assign- ment of handing off to Florida State run- ning back commit Khalon Laborn, now a senior. Laborn rushed for 2,228 yards and 32 touchdowns in 13 games. Ocean Lakes also did not have a need to press the offense for most of the year. Win- ners of their first 12 games before losing in the state playoffs to undefeated Oscar Smith, Ocean Lakes' closest margin of vic- tory was 17 points. DeSue attempted only 75 passes and completed 46 (61.3 percent) for an impres- sive 1,040 yards with 14 touchdowns with only one interception. He showed enough last fall and again in the spring to already have picked up offers from NC State, Miami, Virginia and Wake Forest. DeSue was on NC State's campus June 11 for a camp, an experience he ac- knowledged gave him a great impression of the program. "They came to my school and seemed very interested in me," DeSue noted. "They told me to come out to camp, and the cam- pus was beautiful. … It's a great school. "Camp was really good for me. I did really well." QUARTERBACK DAKEREON JOYNER North Charleston (S.C.) Fort Dorchester High Rivals.com rates Joyner as a four-star re- cruit. Some schools are recruiting the 6-1, 190-pounder as an athlete, but NC State likes him at quarterback. Joyner told Rivals.com that NC State was one of three schools recruiting him the hardest — along with South Carolina and North Carolina. All three have offered. So have Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Tennessee. The Pack signed sophomore defensive tackle Eurndraus Bryant from the same high school in the 2015 class. RUNNING BACK RICKY PERSON Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High This will be Person's first season at Her- itage, coached by former Wolfpack and NFL standout corner Dewayne Washing- ton. Person previously played at Franklin- ton (N.C.) High. The 6-2, 205-pounder could play safety or wide receiver, but most teams are re- cruiting him to play running back, includ- ing NCSU. Person has publicly admitted that NC State is his early leader. "My top two right now are NC State and Duke," Person said. "NC State is just a little bit ahead of Duke." South Carolina and Wake Forest have also offered him. Person is rated as a four- star prospect by Rivals.com, and he also competed in track and field (100- and 200-meter dashes, and long jump). ATHLETE K'VAUGHAN POPE Dinwiddie (Va.) High Pope could project at numerous po- sitions in college. Some prefer the 6-2, 210-pounder for linebacker or safety on defense, others like him as a wide receiver or even tight end on offense. His versatility is part of the reason Ri- vals.com has rated him a four-star talent. NC State was one of Pope's first offers, and he has told Rivals.com that the Pack is one of four schools he wants to check out this fall for games. The others are Clemson, Florida and West Virginia. LINEMAN RICK SANDIDGE Concord (N.C.) High The four-star Sandidge is one of the more physically imposing prospects ■ FOOTBALL RECRUITING Moving On To The 2018 Class Quarterback Holton Ahlers from Greenville (N.C.) D.H. Conley High has offers from ECU and NC State after throwing for 2,457 yards and rushing for 1,142 as a sophomore. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Ricky Person is rated as a four-star pros- pect by Rivals.com, and the versatile play- maker transferred from Franklinton (N.C.) High to Wake Forest (N.C.) Heritage High in the offseason. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM