The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/947448
MARCH 2018 ■ 43 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ■ Jalynn Strickland OFFENSIVE TACKLE Waycross (Ga.) Ware County High • 6-6, 318 pounds Measurables: On an unofficial visit to NC State, measured a nearly 7-foot wingspan. Ratings: Listed by Rivals.com as a three-star talent … Regarded by 247Sports as three-star prospect, the No. 91 player in Georgia and the No. 78 offensive tackle in the country … Rated by ESPN as a three-star prospect, the No. 80 player in the Peach State and the No. 66 offensive tackle in the nation. Honors/accomplishments: Selected first-team All-State for Class 5A as a junior and senior by the Georgia Sports Writers Association … Was a two- time first-team all-region selection … Also competed in track and field, and played basketball. Recruitment: Had Power Five offers from Arkansas, Maryland, Minnesota and NC State … Was believed to be favoring Arkansas until taking a visit to NC State in June … Verbally committed to the Wolfpack on the Fourth of July and enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. Quotable: "I cannot stress how physically impressive this young man looks on the hoof. Though Ware County remains committed to their new spread offense, Strickland excels in the run game. He does a great job using his long arms to seal off the edge and can be devastating at times on the down blocks. … Strickland still needs to work on getting into his pass set quicker while not attacking defensive ends. He must sit in his chair while forcing them outside of their rushing lanes. That being said, he has all the physical tools to develop into a high-end offensive tackle for North Carolina State." — Georgia football scout Barry Every Scouting report: Massive offensive tackle with a huge wingspan … Prototype size and frame for an elite offensive tackle … Will need to prove he is quick and agile enough to handle speed rushers. 2018 projection: It's difficult for true freshman offensive linemen to make an immediate impact at the college level, and Strickland will more than likely redshirt. Payton Wilson LINEBACKER Hillsborough (N.C.) Orange High • 6-4, 236 pounds Measurables: At the Nike Camp in Charlotte, checked in at 6-5, 226 pounds and recorded a laser-timed 4.82 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Also had a 4.31-second shuttle mark, a 27.3-inch vertical leap and a 32.5-foot power ball throw for an overall Nike rating of 81.84. Stats: As a senior, racked up 103 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one interception that he returned for a touchdown, two passes broken up and one fumble recovery on defense in eight games played … Also caught 15 passes for 263 yards and four scores, and rushed 67 times for 222 yards and five touchdowns … Compiled 127 stops, 39 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, one interception (that was a pick-six), four passes broken up and a blocked field goal on defense during his junior year … Also rushed 84 times for 756 yards and six touchdowns, caught 13 passes for 305 yards and four scores, and returned five punts for scores … In five games as a sophomore, tallied 36 tackles, 10 stops for loss and one sack. Ratings: Ranked by Rivals.com as a four-star talent, the No. 13 player in North Carolina, and the No. 8 outside linebacker and No. 166 overall recruit in the nation … Listed by 247Sports as a four-star prospect, the No. 4 recruit in the state, and the No. 4 outside linebacker and No. 39 overall player in the country … Tabbed by ESPN as a four- star recruit, the No. 3 player in the state, and the No. 3 outside linebacker and No. 105 overall prospect nationally … Regarded by both The Fayetteville Observer and The Charlotte Observer as the No. 4 player in North Carolina. Honors/accomplishments: Selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but couldn't play after tearing his ACL during the season … Also picked for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Game … Participated in the invite- only Nike Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore. … One of four players in the state (and 16 nationally) nominated for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award … Earned All-State accolades from NCPreps.com … Also wrestled and was undefeated (43-0) as a junior en route to winning the North Carolina 3A title at 220 pounds … In addition, plays la - crosse and was the county player of the year in 2016 … 2016-17 Raleigh News & Observer Male Athlete of the Year. Recruitment: Originally made a verbal commitment to UNC over Clemson and Virginia Tech … Took official visits in November to NC State and Notre Dame, and decommitted from UNC the day before Thanksgiving … Committed to NC State Dec. 1 and enrolled early. Recruiter of record: Linebackers coach and defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable. Quotable: "The home feeling they gave me and the way that I fit in with everybody, including the students and the fans, are what tipped the scales in favor of NC State. I feel like the atmosphere compares to some of the best out there." — Wilson Scouting report: Rangy, athletic linebacker who can play sideline to sideline … Has natural instincts and playmak- ing abilities … Could easily project as a tight end if it does not work out on defense. 2018 projection: Much depends on how quickly Wilson can recover from ACL surgery. He was well ahead of schedule early in the rehab process, and if he is a full-go by preseason camp in August he could contend for early playing time.