Junior safety Josh Sessoms wanted to be the first verbal commit for NC State in the class of 2012, and he followed through with his pledge.

Sessoms committed to NC State fulfilling his life-long dream of playing for the Pack. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder also had an offer from Virginia Tech.

Sessoms attended half a dozen NC State games this past season and grew up in a household of Wolfpack fans, with two relatives that attended the school.

"I've been a Wolfpack fan since I was born," said Sessoms, 17, in a previous interview with The Wolfpacker.

Sessoms, who was recruited by NCSU defensive line coach Keith Willis, recently visited Raleigh for a mini-junior day Dec. 19, attending a Pack bowl practice and watched the men's basketball team host Arizona at the RBC Center. He knew after that experience that it was only a matter of time before he'd commit to NC State.

Duke, ECU and Notre Dame also showed interest, and many other schools probably would have, but his mind has been made up for quite some time.

Sessoms also plays on the basketball team and participates in the 1,600-meter relay, 3,200 relay, 400 dash, high jump and triple jump in track and field during the spring. He said he can bench press 225 pounds, squad 315 and runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.