Behind first-year head coach Dave Doeren, the North Carolina State Wolfpack is gaining momentum on the recruiting trail. Doeren has always been a defensive-minded coach, and it’s showing up in his recruiting.
N.C. State football recruiting: Wolfpack loading up on defense
North Carolina State is knocking on the door of having a top-30 recruiting class.
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Looking at the composite team rankings from 24/7 Sports, the Wolfpack’s current recruiting class of 21 players is ranked 31st nationally. And 19 of those 21 players are regarded as three-star recruits, with two others being two-star prospects.
A look around the rest of the ACC shows North Carolina State's class is near the middle of the pack. The Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles continue to be relentless on the recruiting circuit, ranking fifth and sixth, respectively, on the national level. The Clemson Tigers are ranked No. 14 by 24/7, while in-state rival North Carolina is 17th and Virginia Tech comes in at No. 20.
Recently
After several recruits committed in the month on June, things have slowed down a bit for the coaching staff. The last player to commit was Deshaywn Middleton, a three-star defensive tackle out of North Carolina. Middleton is rated by 24/7 Sports as the 72nd best tackle in the 2014 class. Terreonne Prescod, a three-star offensive tackle out of Georgia who checks in at 6’4 and 340 pounds, committed on June 29 and is a fringe top-100 offensive tackle for his class.
Best commitments
The top-rated recruit from North Carolina State’s class is Cole Cook, a three-star tight end out of Georgia. Rated as a fringe top-500 prospect nationally, Cook, who is 6’5 and 225 pounds, could play early in his college career.
Bradley Chubb, a three-star outside linebacker, is the top-rated defensive player in the class. Chubb is another Georgia prospect and is rated as a top-50 linebacker.
Eric Shute should provide some depth early in his career on the offensive line. A three-star guard out of Illinois, 24/7 has Shute as the 29th-best guard in 2014. Justin Jones, a top-500 defensive end out of Georgia, appears to be a bit of a late-bloomer and has as high of an upside as anyone in the class. He is already 6’3 and 260 pounds.
Top target
The most-wanted recruit for the Wolfpack is clearly Kentavius Street. An extremely strong defensive end recruit at 6’3 and 265 pounds, Street is a local product out of Greenville (N.C.) J.H. Rose. He is also considering Georgia, Virginia Tech and Florida State, but most believe N.C. State has an excellent shot.
