Josh Alexander-Felton commitment to NC State analysis

NC State football recruiting made its 15th addition to the 2024 class. On3 Industry three-star defensive lineman Josh Alexander-Felton from Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater High announced his pledge Friday evening.

Here is an analysis of Alexander-Felton’s commitment.

1. Josh Alexander-Felton is a product of powerhouse program

Edgewater High won its first 12 games of the season in 2022 before losing to city-rival Jones High in the quarterfinals of the 3M state playoffs. Josh Alexander-Felton was active in that loss, assisting on eight tackles in addition to a solo hit. He was credited with a pair of tackles for loss, including Edgewater’s lone sack from the contest.

That was part of a season in which Alexander-Felton had 59 tackles (17 solo), including 12.5 for loss and four sacks. He also broke up a pair of passes. Those numbers represent a significant uptick from his sophomore numbers in which Alexander-Felton had 43 tackles (12 solo), including six for loss, in 11 contests. Edgewater went 10-3 that year and was a top seed in the 7A state playoffs.

2. A well-recruited prospect

The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Alexander-Felton boasted a dozen scholarship offers from Power Five programs. The list included Central Florida, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and West Virginia.

Ultimately, Alexander-Felton’s lone official visit was to NC State in June. The expectation was that he was going to also consider trips in the fall to UCF and Pitt, and he also had Maryland and Georgia Tech in his final five. However, the visit to Raleigh was all Alexander-Felton needed to see. He returned for the Alpha Wolf Showcase in July before announcing his choice Friday.

3. Done on defensive line?

The conventional wisdom had been that NC State was targeting three defensive line prospects in this class. Alexander-Felton becomes the third to commit. The On3 Industry Ranking has Alexander-Felton the No. 79 defensive line prospect in the nation.

On3 Industry three-star Justin Terrell (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) is a one-time Wake Forest commitment who picked NC State over North Carolina after visiting both Tobacco Road programs in June, in addition to Virginia. Terrell also had offers from Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Wake Forest and Wisconsin.

Terrell had 54 tackles, including 4.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss for a team that reached the state playoffs semifinals in the AAAAAA classification. He was named to first-team all-region. Terrell was also selected to play in the annual Georgia Junior All-Star Game, and he is rated the No. 99 defensive lineman in the country.

The Pack was the first and lone Power Five team to give On3 Industry three-star Chase Bond from Massillion (Ohio) Washington High a scholarship. He had a healthy list of mid-major offers, including all the major ones in his region, like Ohio, Miami of Ohio, Marshall, Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan, plus some outside of the area, including Temple and Connecticut.

4. Revisiting June 16 Visit Weekend

In what was a significant weekend of official visits for NC State, Alexander-Felton joins On3 Industy four-star receiver Jonathan Paylor from Burlington (N.C.) Cummings High, On3 Industry three-star interior offensive lineman Robby Martin from Huntington (W.Va.) High, On3 Industry three-star safety Ronnie Royal III from Alexandria (Ala.) Gulf Shores School and On3 Industry three-star offensive tackle Trent Mitchell from Gastonia (N.C.) Ashbrook High in committing after the trip.

The others who were uncommitted at the time of the trip:
• On3 Industry three-star receiver Terrell Anderson from Greensboro (N.C.) Grimsley is believed to be favoring NC State. He is announcing Aug. 12.
• Anderson’s teammate and fellow receiver, On3 Industry four-star Alex Taylor, picked North Carolina over Clemson and NC State.
• On3 Industry three-star offensive lineman Marcus Mascoll from Atlanta’s South Gwinnett picked Florida over the Pack and LSU.

NC State thus far is batting 5 for 8 on what was the most-anticipated official visit weekend in June, and favored to land a sixth (Anderson).

5. Second pick-up from Florida

Alexander-Felton joins On3 Industry three-star quarterback Cedrick Bailey Jr. from Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood as Florida natives in the NC State football recruiting class. The other states will multiple natives committed to the Pack this cycle are North Carolina, Georgia and West Virginia.

If both Bailey and Alexander-Felton sign, that would give Florida 32 signees under head coach Dave Doeren, two more than Georgia for the second most-represented state after North Carolina.

6. Dave Doeren’s other Orlando natives

NC State has spent a fair amount of time in the Orlando region under Doeren. Here is a list:

• Class of 2022 defensive lineman Nick Campbell from Orlando suburb of Minneola and Lake Minneola High
• Class of 2018 safety Tanner Ingle from Orlando’s Dr. Phillips
• Class of 2017 defensive lineman Dante Johnson from the Orlando suburb of Apopka High
• Class of 2017 defensive lineman Kevince Brown from the Orlando suburb of Winter Park High
• Class of 2015 offensive lineman T.J. McCoy from the Orlando suburb of Groveland and South Park High
• Class of 2015 linebacker Riley Nicholson from the Orlando suburn of Kissimmee and Osceola High

Ingle, a mutliyear starter and all-conference performer, broke a streak of tough luck. Injuries derailed Nicholson and Johnson’s chances of making an impact, while McCoy left soon after arriving for personal family reasons. McCoy transferred to Florida, where he received starting experience, before concluding his career at Louisville. Brown was dismissed from the team before ever playing.

7. Josh Alexander-Felton Junior Year Highlights

8. Class of 2024 Commitment Timeline

Oct. 24, 2022 – On3 Industry three-star linebacker Cannon Lewis, Ona (W.Va.) Cabell Midland
March 13, 2023 – On3 Industry three-star quarterback Cedrick Bailey Jr., Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna
March 22, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star defensive back Asaad Brown II, Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith High
April 5, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star safety Brody Barnhardt, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day
April 19, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star running back Jayden Scott, Stockbridge (Ga.) High
June 9, 2023 – On3 Industry three-star linebacker Zane Williams, Wake Forest (N.C.) High
June 11, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star defensive lineman Chase Bond, Massillon (Ohio) Washington High
June 16, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star running back Isiah Jones, Rolesville (N.C.) High
June 23, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star athlete Ronnie Royal III, Alexandria (Ala.) Gulf Shores School
June 25, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star cornerback Jivan Baly, Norcross (Ga.) Meadowcreek High
July 5, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star offensive tackle Trent Mitchell, Gastonia (N.C.) Ashbrook High
July 12, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star defensive lineman Justin Terrell, Rome (Ga.) High
July 31, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star interior offensive lineman Robby Martin, Huntington (W.Va.) High
Aug. 4, 2023 — On3 Industry four-star receiver Jonathan Paylor, Burlington (N.C.) Cummings High
Aug. 4, 2023 — On3 Industry three-star defensive lineman Josh Alexander-Felton, Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater High

9. Commits By Position

Quarterback — 1
Running back — 2
Wide receiver — 1
Tight end — 0
Offensive line — 2
Defensive line — 3
Linebacker — 2
Nickel — 1
Safety — 2
Cornerback — 1
Specialist — 0

10. Commits By State

North Carolina — 5
Georgia — 3
Florida — 2
West Virginia — 2
Alabama — 1
Ohio — 1
Virginia — 1

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