The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/790572
60 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Bryson Speas OFFENSIVE TACKLE Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High School • 6-4, 265 pounds Measurables: At NC State's summer camp, measured a 6-foot, 9¼-inch wing- span … Ran the 40-yard dash in 5.28 seconds and the shuttle in 4.86 seconds … At the Nike Camp in Charlotte, was 6-3½, 254 pounds and registered a 25.5- inch vertical leap … At a Shrine Bowl combine (where he checked in at 6-3, 256 pounds), did 18 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press. Stats: As a senior, had 47 pancake blocks while helping Dudley rush for 4,819 yards on the season. Ratings: Listed by Rivals.com as a three- star talent and the No. 38 player in the state … Regarded by Scout.com as a three- star prospect, the No. 3 offensive tackle in North Carolina, the No. 38 offensive tackle in the South and the No. 120 of - fensive tackle in the country … Ranked by 247Sports as a two-star recruit, the No. 70 recruit from the state and the No. 121 of- fensive guard in the nation … Rated as a three-star performer, the No. 36 player in North Carolina and the No. 107 offensive guard nationally by ESPN ... Ranked as the No. 35 senior in North Carolina by The Fayetteville Observer. Honors/accomplishments: Helped Dudley win the 4-A state title in his senior year … Picked for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game in Spartanburg, S.C., but did not play because the all-star event was held on the state champi - onship weekend … Named first-team All-State by the Associated Press and was top vote getter among offensive linemen … Chosen for The Greensboro News- Record All-Area Team … Was a two-time all-conference pick. Recruitment: Originally committed to Virginia in June … Made the switch from Virginia to NCSU Oct. 10 … Took a late official visit to Virginia Tech Jan. 20, but held firm on National Signing Day. Recruiter of record: Former safeties coach and co-special teams coordinator Clayton White. Quotable: "NC State just felt like the right fit for me, and after taking a couple of visits and getting around the coaching staff it really solidified itself." — Bryson Speas Dave Doeren on Speas: "We are really excited about his length, and Coach [Dwayne] Ledford loved his competitive spirit in our camp. To get a guy that plays left tackle with his agility was great for our class." Scouting report: Good athlete for the position and moves well for a lineman … Long arms help make up for lack of ideal height at the tackle position … Needs to add weight and strength. 2017 projection: Speas will need to get bigger and stronger before he is ready to compete in the ACC. Expect him to redshirt and spend a lot of time with strength and conditioning coach Dantonio Burnette. Antoine Thompson WIDE RECEIVER Plant City (Fla.) High • 6-1, 180 pounds Measurables: At a Nike Camp in Orlando, Fla., in February, checked in at 6-1, 168 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.80 seconds and the shuttle in 4.33 seconds, and registered a 31.0-inch vertical leap. Stats: Missed his senior season due to a torn ACL … As a junior, hauled in 30 catches for 692 yards and five touchdowns. Ratings: Rated as a four-star talent, the No. 54 player in the Sunshine State and the No. 39 wide receiver nationally by Rivals.com … Listed by Scout.com as a three-star prospect, the No. 18 wide receiver in Florida, the No. 46 wideout in the South and the No. 105 wide receiver in the country … Regarded by 247Sports as a three-star recruit, the No. 105 prospect in Florida and the No. 111 wide receiver in the country … Tabbed by ESPN as a three-star player, the No. 123 recruit in Florida and the No. 122 wide receiver in the nation … Ranked by The Orlando Sentinel as the No. 55 player in Florida … Rated by The Tampa Bay Tribune as the No. 28 senior in the region. Honors/accomplishments: Was first-team all-conference as a junior … Helped Plant City set a school record for wins with 11 in 2015 … Also ran track. Recruitment: Reported offers from Arizona, Iowa State, Louisville, Miami, Missis - sippi State, Missouri, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Wisconsin, among others … NCSU emerged as a leader after a trip to NC State in June, and he committed on a return visit for the Alpha Wolf Showcase July 22 … Enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach, assistant head coach for offense and recruiting coordinator Des Kitchings. Quotable: "Antoine Thompson is a super fast slot receiver. He plays a lot of outside receiver in high school. I think he's a catch-and-run player. By that I mean you can get him the ball maybe two or three yards off the line of scrimmage, even eight or nine yards off the line of scrimmage, and he can make people miss. "He's very, very quick with his feet. He changes direction, he's slippery, he's hard to tackle. He's got that top-end speed where you can't get an angle on him at times. He outruns the competition in Florida which is very impressive because there are a lot of fast people down there." — Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell Dave Doeren on Thompson: "Antoine is more of a slot receiver. … He has great run- after-the-catch ability. He's a real positive, high-energy young man. He enrolled early and is already going through all the recovery stuff, and he looks good. I know this will be a big offseason for him developmental-wise." Scouting report: Plays faster than his 40-yard dash time at Nike would indicate … Is a highlight machine and playmaker in the open field … Needs to get considerably stronger. 2017 projection: Coming off a torn ACL, Thompson has a first priority of making sure his knee is 100 percent healthy. Enrolling early at NC State should help with that rehab process. With the depth at receiver and his ongoing rehab, he will likely be held out of spring practices, which means that Thompson might be a safer bet to redshirt. Raven Saunders LINEBACKER Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Dwyer High School • 6-1, 215 pounds Stats: As a senior, notched 63 total stops, 22 tackles for loss and eight sacks … Compiled 22 tackles, one stop for loss, one sack and four forced fumbles in seven games during his junior campaign. Ratings: Listed by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect, the No. 89 player in the Sunshine State and the No. 26 inside linebacker nationally … Rated as a three-star talent, the No. 18 outside linebacker in Florida, the No. 50 outside linebacker in the South and the No. 122 outside linebacker in the country by Scout.com … Regarded by 247Sports as a three-star recruit, the No. 200 player in the state and the No. 90 outside linebacker in the country … Ranked by ESPN as a three-star prospect, the No. 156 player in Florida and the No. 28 inside linebacker nationally. Honors/accomplishments: Chosen first-team All-Area by The Palm Beach Post in 2016 … Selected first-team all-conference … Played three years at Oxbridge Academy before transferring to Dwyer for his senior season … Named honorable mention all- area for small schools as a junior … Is third Dwyer alum, joining former quarterback Jacoby Brissett and rising senior starting safety Shawn Boone, to join NC State under head coach Dave Doeren. Recruitment: Picked up early offers from Indiana, Kentucky, NC State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Temple … Was an early commitment to the Wolfpack, choosing NCSU April 2 … Flirted with enrolling early, but instead will arrive for first session of summer school. Recruiter of record: Former defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen. Quotable: "I liked the facilities and how they have the football team away from everything. I really liked what they are trying to do." — Raven Saunders Dave Doeren on Saunders: "He did a great job there as a senior and was a team captain on a very good football team." Scouting report: Runs well for a linebacker … During his senior season did a good job getting into the backfield off the edge from his outside linebacker spot … Although short for a linebacker, is physical and tackles well. 2017 projection: Saunders did not garner much attention because of his early commitment to NC State, but he comes from a well-regarded program and can run. The question is will he need to get a little stronger to make an early contribution, perhaps on special teams.