Letter of intent No. 14: DT KHadree Hooker
Defensive tackle
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Deep Run, N.C./South Lenoir High
6-foot-1, 290 pounds
Measurables: At the Rivals.com/VTO Showcase Camp in Charlotte ran the 40-yard dash in 5.02 seconds and the shuttle in 4.90 seconds ... Had a 26-inch vertical leap and did 26 reps at 185 pounds on the bench press.
Honors/accomplishments: Rated by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect, the No. 33 defensive tackle in the country and No. 19 player in North Carolina ... Honored as a SuperPrep All-American, which pegged him the fifth-best player in the state and 29th best defensive lineman in the country ... Named a four-star recruit and third best defensive lineman in the state by Tom Lemming ... Ranked by 247Sports as the No. 27 defensive tackle in the nation and No. 14 player from the state ... Rated a three-star player and No. 29 DT in the country by Scout.com ... Picked as the No. 19 player in the state by the Charlotte Observer ... Listed as three stars, the No. 33 recruit from North Carolina and No. 67 defensive tackle nationally by ESPN ... Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star game, where he had three tackles ... Named to NCPreps.com's 2-A all-state team as a junior and senior ... Selected as his region's defensive player of the year in 2010 ... Three-time all-conference and all-region selection ... Picked as a top performer at the Rivals.com/VTO Showcase Camp in Charlotte by Rivals.com.
Stats: Credited with 18 tackles for losses and seven blocked kicks as a senior for a team that went 3-8 ... Had 79 tackles, including 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, a safety, and five blocked kicks as a junior.
Off the field: Credits former Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp for being his biggest football inspiration.
Quotable:"What the recruiters and the coaches talk about is his first-step quickness off the ball, and every year that has improved, his strength, his academics in school, the way he has handled everything." - South Lenoir head coach Kevin Wilson.
Recruitment: Hooker quickly became one of NC State's top targets in the 2012 class, and Hooker reciprocated the interest. NC State seemed to be Hooker's leader from the get-go, and ultimately beat out Georgia Tech for his services. Hooker committed Aug. 5.
Recruiter of record: Special teams coordinator Jerry Petercuskie
2012 projection: The defensive tackle position has some solid depth, but Hooker is talented enough that he may be able to crack the rotation anyway.