Dave Doeren and his staff aren’t bringing in an elite class, but it represents significant improvement over the recruiting efforts of NC State’s previous coaching staff. The Wolfpack’s 30-member class is ranked 33rd nationally and seventh within the ACC, according to the 247Sports composite.
NC State recruiting 2014: Wolfpack taking another step with Signing Day class
Wednesday, the Wolfpack are expected to bring in a very big crop of decent players.
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Early enrollees
Nearly a quarter of NC State’s recruiting class enrolled early, led by consensus three-star safety/linebacker Germaine Pratt from High Point (N.C.) Central High School. Pratt is regarded as the No. 30 safety in the country and the No. 382 overall prospect, though a couple of the major services are considerably higher on him than the consensus. Pratt had scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia as well.
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A key need NC State had to address in this recruiting cycle was the offensive line, and the Pack managed to add a lot of talent up front. Three-star Decatur (Ga.) Columbia High School tackle Terronne Prescod could have an impact in Raleigh early in his career. Prescod ultimately chose NC State over Auburn; he also had offers from Ole Miss, Michigan State, Missouri, Louisville and Georgia Tech.
Three-star Charlotte (N.C.) Christian High School receiver Bo Hines was the first player committed in the Pack’s 2014 class. Hines is considered the No. 58 wide receiver in the class and a top-25 player in North Carolina. He had offers from Nebraska, East Carolina and Marshall.
Signing Day highlights
The headliner of the class is four-star defensive end Kentavius Street, who earned an invite to the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The Greenville (N.C.) J.H. Rose High School product is 6’2 and weighs 264 pounds. He is projected as a strongside DE, where he ranks fifth in the 2014 class. He is also the No. 101 overall prospect in the nation. Street opted for NCSU over Clemson, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida State, Georgia, Florida, Notre Dame and plenty more.
NC State is also adding four-star quarterback Jalan McClendon, who is the program’s lone signee at that position. McClendon is not expected to see the field immediately, since Florida transfer Jacoby Brissett is now eligible to play, but he could be the guy leading the offense a couple seasons from now. McClendon is considered the No. 15 pro-style quarterback and the No. 259 overall prospect. The 6’3, 188-pounder from West Mecklenburg High in Charlotte had offers from Florida State, Miami, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia.
Three-star cornerback Troy Vincent -- son of the former NFL player by the same name -- from Gilman High School in Baltimore was a late grab for NC State, flipping his commitment from Penn State to NCSU in mid-January. Vincent is the No. 26 cornerback in the nation and No. 344 overall. He held offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Arizona State, Maryland, Cal, Wisconsin, West Virginia, North Carolina and more.
NC State needed to add depth to the roster at just about every position, and to that end, it was a successful recruiting cycle for Doeren. There was particular emphasis on shoring up both lines, and more than a third of the class is made up of offensive and defensive linemen. This group might be short on obvious instant impact talent, but it should provide a solid foundation a few years down the road.
