The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/947448
40 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Kishawn Miller CORNERBACK Milledgeville (Ga.) Georgia Military College 5-9, 168 pounds Measurables: At a satellite camp at Mercer, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds. Stats: As a sophomore at Georgia Military College, notched 17 tackles, one stop for loss, a team-best three interceptions (one pick-six) and four passes bro - ken up … Recorded 21 tackles, an interception, eight passes broken up and one forced fumble during his freshman campaign. Ratings: Listed by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit … Rated by 247Sports as a three-star prospect, and the No. 18 junior college cornerback and No. 161 junior college player nationally … Regarded by ESPN as a three-star talent and the No. 7 junior college cornerback in the country. Honors/accomplishments: Is a product of Mill Creek High in Hoschton, Ga. … Had five interceptions as a senior there and returned three of them for touch - downs, plus added 49 tackles and 16 passes broken up … Named first-team All-State for Class 6A by the Georgia Sports Writers Association … Was picked for the 2015 Georgia Coaches Association North/South Game that was cancelled due to weather. Recruitment: Enrolled at Georgia Military College to improve grades … First offer was Georgia State, and then NCSU offered after seeing him at the Mercer satellite camp … Verbally committed to the Wolfpack June 29 and enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Cornerbacks coach George Barlow. Quotable: "They offered me a great opportunity there. It seemed like a great place, a great family. Everything felt like a great vibe. Right when I walked in I felt it." — Miller Scouting report: Speedy corner with good ball- hawking abilities … Is a playmaker when he intercepts a pass … Will be an undersized corner at the ACC level. 2018 projection: Miller impressed NC State's coaches with his speed, quickness and toughness when they evaluated him in the spring, leading to an offer despite the fact he does not have the typical size the Pack seeks at skill positions. With a wide-open competition at corner, he will have a chance to make an immediate impact. Taiyon Palmer CORNERBACK Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer High • 5-11, 175 pounds Measurables: At a Nike Camp in Charlotte, checked in at 5-11, 176 pounds and was laser-timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.62 seconds … Also posted a 4.07-second shuttle time, a 38.5-foot power ball throw and 37.3-inch vertical leap for an overall Nike rating of 114.03 — the 73rd best score from all of the Nike Camps. Stats: Registered 30 tackles, five interceptions and six passes broken up during his senior season … Also caught 14 passes for 282 yards and four scores … As a junior, made 30 tackles and intercepted three passes. Ratings: Listed by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect, the No. 45 player in Georgia and the No. 54 cornerback in the country … Rated by 247Sports as a four-star talent, the No. 22 player in the Peach State, and the No. 19 cornerback and No. 200 overall recruit in the nation … Ranked by ESPN as a four-star prospect, the No. 33 player in the state and the No. 34 cornerback nationally. Honors/accomplishments: As a senior was named first-team All-State for the 7A classification (the largest in the state) by the Georgia Sport Writers Association … Earned first-team All-Region honors from the area's coaches … Selected as a first-team All-County performer by The Gwinnett Daily Post … Played in the Rising Stars' Georgia Junior Bowl in 2016. Recruitment: Originally was verbally committed to Duke … Decommitted in the fall and officially visited Vanderbilt Dec. 15, Nebraska Jan. 12, NC State Jan. 19 and Tennessee Jan. 26, after also adding reported offers from Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Notre Dame and others following the early signing period in December … Inked a letter of intent with the Wolfpack on National Signing Day, Feb. 7. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach Des Kitchings. Quotable: "Their football program is on the rise. They were 8-5, then 9-4, and they have been close to beating Clemson the last two seasons. Things are going in the right direction there." — Palmer Scouting report: An athletic, playmaking corner … Shows good natural instincts in coverage and has plus ball skills … Could also help on special teams. 2018 projection: There will be a wide-open competition at cornerback next fall after the losses of Johnathan Alston and Mike Stevens to graduation. While rising junior Nick McCloud is a strong favorite for one spot, the other starter and depth need to be figured out. Palmer has the potential to get into the mix. Trent Pennix ATHLETE Raleigh Sanderson High • 6-2, 200 pounds Measurables: At NC State's summer camp prior to his junior season, was 6-2, 207 pounds and ran a hand-timed 40-yard dash in 4.62 seconds … Had a 4.46-second shuttle time … Registered a 9-foot-3.5 standing broad jump and 32.4-inch vertical leap. Stats: As a senior, rushed 201 times for 1,247 yards and 16 touchdowns, caught 34 passes for 397 yards and three scores, and contributed 15 tackles, two interceptions and three passes broken up from the safety position … Ran 167 times for 1,215 yards and 12 scores, caught 11 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and had an interception on defense during his junior season … As a sophomore, played option quarterback and completed 35 of 60 passes for 357 yards with two touchdowns, rushed 132 times for 577 yards and seven scores, and chipped in 15 tackles on defense … Played on defense as a freshman, and compiled 21 tackles, two interceptions and three passes broken up. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a three-star talent, the No. 25 player in North Carolina and the No. 37 run - ning back in the country … Listed by 247Sports as a three-star prospect, the No. 30 player in the state and the No. 54 running back nationally … Tabbed by ESPN as a three-star recruit, the No. 46 player in the state and the No. 92 running back in the country … Listed by The Fayetteville Observer as the No. 25 player in North Carolina. Honors/accomplishments: Two-time all-conference player … Four-year varsity player … Also ran track. Recruitment: Collected offers from Power Five programs Boston College, Louisville, Maryland, Minnesota, NC State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and West Virginia … Was favoring the Hokies until the Pack offered in the spring … Lifelong NCSU fan verbally committed to the Wolfpack June 9. Recruiter of record: Running backs coach Des Kitchings. Quotable: "I think he could play defense, I think he could play receiver, I think he could play running back. I think he's a no-miss in terms of he can do lots of things, including special teams." — Sanderson head coach Ben Kolstad Scouting report: Good-sized skill player … Versatile prospect that could project to play multiple positions in col - lege, but will start out at running back … Has natural football instincts on the field. 2018 projection: Much of next fall will be figuring out what might be the best role for Pennix. He will start out at running back, but he could also theoretically play at H-back similar to Jaylen Samuels or even get a look on defense.