The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/790572
38 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE "That is where we have gone as a program." The Wolfpack emphasized the front six with four defensive ends, two defensive tack- les and three linebackers. The defensive class also included cornerback Chris Ingram from Mooresville (N.C.) High, who was the first commit of the class on July 26, 2015. One player not expected to redshirt is the last commitment of the class. Defensive line- man Larrell Murchison was signed on Na- tional Signing Day out of Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College. The 6-4, 277-pounder is originally from Elizabethtown (N.C.) East Bladen High, and he was considering Ole Miss, Georgia and Texas, but the Wolfpack came in late and landed the defensive tackle. He had 41 tackles and 5.5 sacks last year for 9-0 Louisburg. Dante Johnson of Apopka (Fla.) Wekiva, who is 6-3 and 248 pounds, could one day join Gibson at defensive tackle. Johnson could also play defensive end. Acceus, Isaiah Moore of Chester (Va.) Bird and Raven Saunders of Riviera Beach (Fla.) Dwyer are an athletic group of line- backers. Saunders hails from the same high school as rising senior strong safety Shawn Boone and former Wolfpack quarterback Ja- coby Brissett. "You look at the three linebackers, Louis is a little shorter than Isaiah. They are built differently and move differently," Doeren said. "They and Raven are all different, but all three of them are good tacklers that can move and are physical. They have good instincts." McKay leads the offensive signees and is intriguing due to only being 17 years old. He's young for his grade and likely not done growing at 6-3, 193 pounds. He definitely will get groomed with juniors Ryan Finley and Jalan McClendon and redshirt freshman Dylan Parham in place, but McKay could be the dual-threat quarterback of the future. "His upside is incredible because of his age," Doeren said. "Since he committed to us, he's grown and has gotten bigger. He was 16 when he committed and just got his driver's license. We know he is going to get a lot bigger. "One thing that is hard to coach is that burst and speed that he has got. He can re- ally run." NC State also signed two players each on the offensive line, and at tight end and run- ning back. Fedd-Jackson and Greensboro (N.C.) Dud- ley left tackle Bryson Speas represent the offensive line signees. Darden and Adam Boselli of Jacksonville (Fla.) Episcopal give NC State two differ- ent looks at tight end. Darden is more of a blocker and possession receiver at 6-3 and 250 pounds, and Boselli — the son of former Jacksonville Jaguars star left tackle Tony Bo- selli — will need to add weight, but could be a vertical threat at 6-5 and 220 pounds. Thompson, Max Fisher of Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga and Emeka Emezie of Wax- haw (N.C.) Marvin Ridge bolster the NC State passing game. Thompson will likely end up in the slot, and Fisher and Emezie continue NCSU's trend of bringing in tall, rangy targets with both at 6-3. Running back Erin Collins has the poten- tial to be a well-rounded back out of Plant City (Fla.) Armwood High. Miami Jackson's Nakia Robinson has the ability to play run- ning back or slot receiver, and other colleges targeted him for cornerback. With NC State appearing to be fully caught up from a numbers standpoint, the class of 2018 will take on a similar path of recruit- ing for certain needs. Bringing in offensive linemen and defensive linemen is usually a yearly goal. "It is probably too early to say, but we will have a big class next year," Doeren said. "We'll have a lot of seniors, so we will be able to sign 25 in next year's class. "It will always be about having the right number of guys in each room [position group], so we have competitive depth." ■ Grant Gibson, Rivals' No. 8 prospect in North Carolina and No. 19 defensive tackle nationally, was a member of three state championship teams at Charlotte Mallard Creek. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM "These are players that the NC State staff knows will be major contributors for them down the road. They'll make them bigger and stronger." ■ Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic recruiting analyst Adam Friedman on NC State's 2017 class