The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/85079
2012 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ROBERT CALDWELL Twentynine Palms, Calif./College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif. • 6-3 • 245 pounds Linebacker 325-pound bench press. Honors/accomplishments: Rated by Rivals.com as a three-star Measurables: Runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds … Has a player … Listed by SuperPrep as the No. 42 junior college prospect in the country … Ranked by 247Sports as a three-star recruit and the No. 67 junior college player nationally … Considered a two-star prospect by Scout.com and ESPN … Was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection in 2011 … Two-time all-conference selection in high school. Stats: Led his team with 93 tackles, 19.5 hits for loss, 5.5 sacks and seven years in Okinawa, Japan … Also played basketball at Twentynine Palms High and was an all-conference performer on the hardwood. Quotable: "He's a really explosive athlete, especially off the edge. We moved him around quite a bit on defense, but he primarily played middle linebacker. five quarterback hurries in 2011 … Also had two pass breakups, a forced fumble and blocked kick while helping College of the Desert go 6-5 … Made 41 tackles in 2010, including 21 solo hits, 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, and he broke up a pass, forced a fumble and blocked a kick … As a senior in high school had 124 tackles, two sacks, six forced fumbles, two interceptions, a pass breakup and two fumble recoveries … During his junior season he posted 138 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup. Off the field: Born in Spartanburg, S.C., and has family on the East Coast … Lived for NILES CLARK Rivals.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 65 cornerback in the country … Listed by Tom Lemming as a four-star recruit … Regarded by Scout.com as the No. 120 corner in the nation and a three- star recruit … Ranked by 247Sports as a three-star prospect, the No. 79 corner nationally and the No. 92 player from Georgia … Considered by ESPN as a two-star recruit, the No. 96 CB in the country and the No. 130 player from the state … Selected to play in the Cobb All-Star Senior Bowl and the Georgia North-South All-Star Game … Named honorable mention All-State by the Georgia Sports Writers Association … Selected as Lassiter's Defensive Player of the Week twice and Special Teams Player of the Week two more times in 2011 … Named all-county in 2010. Stats: Had 45 tackles as a senior, 23 of them solo, and posted 1.5 tackles for loss, Measurables: Bench presses 235 pounds and has a 39-inch vertical leap. Honors/accomplishments: Rated by Marietta, Ga./Lassiter High • 5-11 • 170 pounds Cornerback nine pass breakups, four interceptions and a fumble recovery … Helped team go 10-4 and reach Class AAAAA state semifinals for the first time in school history … Had 65 tackles and four picks as a junior. Off the field: Also plays basketball and runs track … Uncle Sean O'Leary played college football. Quotable: "When you have a kid like [Clark], it frees you up to do so much more with your safeties. You can focus on different schemes knowing he is over there." — Lassiter coach Jep Irwin. Recruitment: Clark took an unofficial visit to NC State during his junior season coverage cornerback, and that should fit NC State well since the Pack implements a lot of zone coverages. He does not have great speed, but he compensates for it with above-average quickness, good instincts and strong ball skills. 2012 projection: Given State's depth at cornerback, Clark is most likely to redshirt. and knew then that he wanted to play for the Wolfpack. When NC State stepped forward with an early offer, Clark jumped on it Jan. 30, becoming State's second commitment in the 2012 class. Kentucky made a run at Clark over the summer, but he remained loyal to the Wolfpack throughout the recruiting process. Recruiter of record: Linebackers coach Jon Tenuta. Scouting report: Clark developed a reputation for being an excellent zone junior college. Given his size and speed, he is best suited to play the middle at NC State. 2012 projection: Caldwell has an excellent opportunity to make a quick impact at NC nator Mike Archer and linebackers coach Jon Tenuta. Caldwell is an aggressive, hard-hitting linebacker who was effective as a blitzer in State following the surprising decision of linebacker Terrell Manning to enter the NFL Draft. Caldwell was believed to be favoring an earlier offer from Iowa, but the Hawkeyes also wanted him at defensive end. When Iowa filled up there, NC State landed Caldwell Jan. 29, making him the last member of the 2012 class. Caldwell has three years to play two at NC State. Recruiter of record: Special teams coordinator Jerry Petercuskie. Scouting report: Caldwell fits the schemes of defensive coordi- Littles. Recruitment: Caldwell emerged as a late recruiting target for NC " — College of the Desert assistant coach D.A. State. With Manning and Audie Cole gone, State needs to replace both of its in-the-box linebackers, and there is not a lot of experience coming back. If Caldwell can make a quick transition and learn the defense over the summer, he may be one of the favorites to start. MARCHEZ COATES vals.com as a three-star player and the No. 16 recruit from Maryland … Listed by Scout.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 73 corner nationally … Ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 51 corner in the country and the No. 19 recruit in Maryland by 247Sports … Regarded by ESPN as a two-star prospect, the No. 34 player in Maryland and the No. 101 CB in the country … Named a three-star plus recruit by Tom Lemming … Listed as the No. 19 player in the Maryland/D.C. region by ACC Area Sports Journal … Rated by SuperPrep as the No. 26 recruit from the Mid-Atlantic region … Picked as the No. 29 prospect in the state by MDHigh.com … Named second-team East Region All-American by NationalUnderclassmen.com … Selected as the defensive back MVP at both the Rivals.com/VTO Elite 100 Showcase in Richmond, Va., and the State Col- lege (Pa.) Nike Football Training Camp last spring … Listed by MDHigh.com as the top performer from the state of Maryland regardless of position at the Nike Camp. Stats: Credited with 78 tackles, 35 of them solo, and added nine pass breakups 100 Showcase in Richmond, Va. … Also had a 28.5-inch vertical leap … Bench presses 275 pounds and squats 350 pounds. Honors/accomplishments: Rated by Ri- Measurables: Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds at the Rivals.com/VTO Elite Pomfret, Md./McDonough High • 5-11 • 175 pounds Cornerback and two interceptions as a senior … Also played offense and had 12 catches for 269 yards and a score … Team went 7-3 in 2011 … As a junior, made 33 tackles, 21 of them solo, and had an interception at North Point High in Pomfret. Off the field: Also runs track, competing the 55-, 110- and 300-meter hurdles. Quotable: "Coates is an impressive-looking prospect with his ripping forearms, sinewy frame and long arms. He's not the tallest cornerback in the area, but he makes up for it with his keen football IQ, route anticipation and ball skills. in June, but before State could make a call on offering him, Coates decided to verbally commit to Pittsburgh in July. The Pack never backed off, eventually offering him in late August, and he made the switch to NC State on Halloween. Recruiter of record: Defensive line coach Keith Willis. Scouting report: Coates is a physically impressive looking corner who has good, Recruitment: Coates was one of the top performers at NC State's summer camp but not great, speed. He also plays with a lot of swagger and does not shy away from competition. He routinely called out the top receiver for one-on-ones at camps and combines. 2012 projection: Like fellow cornerback commitment Niles Clark, given NC State's depth at cornerback, Coates is a good bet to redshirt. MARCH 2012 ■ 29 " — MDHigh.com.