NC State lands top 30 recruiting class
It became fitting in what was dubbed the “year of the wide receiver” in the Carolinas that NC State came through with a big splash in landing Keenan Jackson on National Signing Day on Wednesday.
Jackson had just led Matthews (N.C.) Weddington High to a NCHSAA 4A state title at Carter-Finley Stadium on Dec. 9, and had been a North Carolina verbal commit since July 29, 2023. The addition of the Rivals.com four-star target helped the Wolfpack solidify being ranked No. 26 in the team rankings.
The team rankings will become finalized after the February signing period, but NCSU will have 18 early enrollees from the 24 signed players.
“We’ve had some guys transfer out, so there is some opportunity, numbers wise," NCSU coach Dave Doeren said. "He [offensive coordinator Robert Anae] gets the players the ball who know how to do something with it.
"Robert wants to have targets all over the field. We needed to get better there."
Besides the fact the group was absolutely needed on the field for NC State, it also showed its recruiting strength, thanks to wide receivers coach Joker Phillips.
Eleven wide receivers in the North Carolina prep ranks ended up in the Rivals.com top 40 rankings for the state of North Carolina, and all picked P4 colleges. South Carolina had at least four high major receivers.
To land five of them was crucial for the Wolfpack. Jackson, Jonathan Paylor of Burlington (N.C.) Cummings, Terrell Anderson of Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley, Jimmar Boston of Anderson (S.C.) Westside and Christian Zachary of St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County, could arguably be the best class of receivers in the Rivals.com era (starting in 2002). Paylor and Anderson are also impressive in the return game.
“We really got very explosive in spots where we needed some help, particularly you can see it at receiver,” Doeren said.
Add in Wake Forest sophomore transfer Wesley Grimes and it is nearly a complete makeover at the position, with freshman Kevin Concepcion the centerpiece of the offense.
Doeren has proven he’ll play freshman and junior college transfers if they deserve playing time. For instance, tight end Dante Daniels of Butler C.C. in El Dorado, Kan., has a prime opportunity for early playing time.
“Age doesn’t mean they’ll be better all the time,” Doeren said. “But you can’t make someone more experienced.”
The receivers will have quarterback of the future Cedrick Bailey to throw them ball. The four-star Bailey led Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna to the state title. NCSU enters the spring with three scholarship quarterbacks.
“We have a starting coming in here [Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall], who I’m not going to talk about him today, but we have the benefit of spring ball coming up,” Doeren said. “We start in February and March and then there is another window [for the transfer portal]. If we come out of that time frame and feel like we need to, then there is another opportunity. We might not feel that way.”
NC State also replenished the linebacker spot with four prep signees — including flipping Elijah Groves from Kentucky — plus junior college signee Wyatt Wright of Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.
Groves, local product Zane Williams of Wake Forest (N.C.) High, Joshua Ofor of Jonesboro (Ga.) Mundy’s Mill and the first commit of the class, Cannon Lewis of Ona (W.Va.) Cabell Midland, will be the next wave at the position down the road.
“Groves is a versatile athlete,” Doeren said. “He’ll develop. He has a nice long frame. He can jump and run. He reminds me of [former NCSU linebacker] Levi Jones.”
NC State also needed to land running backs Jayden “Duke” Scott and Isiah Jones. Scott, who helped lead Stockbridge (Ga.) High to the state 4A title game, could be a part of the rotation next fall.
“What a great player and a heck of a season,” Doeren said. “He has an edge to him and is intelligent. He would have played this year. He’s talented.”
Jones attended Rolesville (N.C.) High and had an injury-marred senior year, but is the cousin of returning running back Demarcus Jones, and another relative, Marcus Jones, who is on the NCSU strength & conditioning staff. Jones and Zane Williams are Wolfpack legacies.
NC State should be dynamic at safety in the future after landing four-star prospects Daemon Fagan and Zack Myers in the class of 2023, and then four-star Ronnie Royal of Gulf Shores (Ala.) High and three-star Brody Barnhardt of Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day in the class of 2024. Royal and Barnhardt both won state titles this season, and Barnhardt has been part of a three-time NCISAA champion. They are also dynamic on special teams.
“Ronnie Royal is one of the best football players in the country,” Doeren said. “As a running back, as a returner, as a DB.
"Barnhardt is a tough kid and a three-time champion at PD. Gritty, fast, physical and plays the game a little off center, like Tanner Ingle. I like that about him."
The Wolfpack landed a trio of offensive linemen and three defensive linemen to build for the future. Most lineman redshirt, though a few have proven to be exceptions.
Doeren said the Wolfpack aren’t done recruiting offensive lineman.
“With the defensive line here, every year you try to get three or four guys, the big guys that can run and do things,” Doeren said. “I’m excited to get them on campus and have coach Thunder [strength and conditioning coach Dantonio Burnette] get to work with them and see where they can go physically.
“What they are now, not even close what they are in a few years with him.”
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