Coult Culler pulls the trigger

Up until about a couple of weeks ago, Wilmington (N.C.) Laney High linebacker Coult Culler thought he had a pretty good idea which school he would pick.

He had offers from UNC, NC State and East Carolina, and a trip to NCSU's spring game April 20 may have started a turning point that led Culler to ultimately commit to NC State on Friday afternoon, as first reported by The Wolfpacker.

"It kind of just hit me," Culler acknowledged. "I was planning on going one place and started realizing some stuff and getting some more information and it kind of popped up on me about two weeks ago. I just knew a decision needed to be made and wanted to be done with it.

"I feel like it's the place that I need to be at, and it's close to home. It's in-state, it's near my family and it's just a place where people like me go to school and enjoy the game of football."

Culler, who relied on guidance from his parents, grandparents and high school coaches throughout the process, said that the effort led by Wolfpack running backs coach Des Kitchings helped sway him towards NC State.

"We really bonded and had a relationship the first time we spoke," Culler said. "I just love the atmosphere, and how it's a sold out stadium every game, and the major I want go in is at NC State."

The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Culler is the definition of a tackling machine. He started his junior season with a 22-tackle performance against Jacksonville High and did not let up. Culler had double-digit tackles in all of Laney's contests last fall, finishing the season with 139 hits on the year, 103 of them solo. He also had 14 tackles for losses and a sack.

Now with his decision behind him, Culler is excited to turn his focus towards his senior season.

"It feels amazing," Culler concluded. "It feels like I can now just do what I have to do to get better and prepare myself for the next level, which is D-1 football."

Culler is NCSU's third verbal commitment from the state of North Carolina and fourth overall. He is the Pack's first defensive recruit in the 2014 class.