The Wolfpacker NC State football recruiting mailbag: Sept. 20
NC State football picked up another commitment this week and continued its rankings climb up to No. 35 in the nation— nearly reaching the same spot it finished at during the 2023 recruiting cycle. With 19 senior prospects committed, the Pack is not done yet.
The program continues to recruit one more prep prospect in the 2024 class and continues to establish its junior college board as well.
Subscribers to TheWolfpacker.com sent in their questions about the most underrated prospects in the class, the recruits who could see the field in 2024 and more for this week’s mailbag.
The Wolfpacker NC State football recruiting mailbag
It seems like we are recruiting at a higher level, but the results are the same, or maybe a little better, in terms of wins and losses. Your take on why this is true?
Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren’s recruiting classes in the mid-2010’s mostly sat in the 40’s and 50’s nationally, with the exception of a No. 35 class in 2014. Then, the staff took a step forward and signed a pair of top-30 classes in 2018 and 2019, which led to the run of success the Pack experienced over the past few years.
While the program has not quite reached the same heights on the trail— the 2020 and 2021 classes both fell to the high 30s and low 40s— it is consistently recruiting at a higher level than it was before. The past couple of cycles brought in talented players who could contribute early, and the previous classes are starting to develop as well. Take a look at how many redshirt sophomores are in the two-deep this year.
The results, in my opinion, will really start to show once the 2022 and 2023 classes have a couple of years on campus. NC State’s staff has consistently developed its athletes, and now it is working with more talent than ever before during Doeren’s tenure. That should lead to more success on the field over the next couple of years, especially with the Pack using the transfer portal to help address immediate roster needs.
Who are the most likely recruits in this year’s class to see the field next season?
Four-star wide receivers Jonathan Paylor and Terrell Anderson could make instant impacts next year. An opportunity for early playing time was a significant part of their respective recruiting pitches, so they will get the chance to earn a spot in the two deep. Paylor in particular is someone to keep an eye on as a returner.
Watch out for Cannon Lewis as well. At the Alpha Wolf Showcase, he looked like a college linebacker already and should be able to compete physically from day one. I could also see Asaad Brown II working his way into the nickel rotation in his first season. Once Robert Kennedy III departs after this year, there will be a lot of playing time available there.
Anything new on the 4-star potential flip candidate or has that ship sailed?
NC State tried to get a four-star recruit committed elsewhere on campus for the Notre Dame game, but that visit did not materialize. For now, I do not see that recruitment going anywhere.
I know some fans get tired of hearing about some guys being described as “under rated”, as do I at times. But this cycle, I do feel like we have landed some guys who truly are undervalued in terms of how recruiting services are grading them. I feel like these guys have a high probability of ourperforming their current rankings. In particular I am talking about Justin Terrell, Joshua Alexander-Felton and Joshua Ofor. I also think, should we land Christian Zachary, he joins that list as well. Would love your thoughts.
I am 100 percent in agreement with three-star defensive lineman Josh Alexander-Felton. First, he fits the scheme perfectly and already plays in a three-man front at the high school level. The lineman shows a ton of explosiveness on tape, and I am really looking forward to seeing him with the Pack.
Three-star defensive lineman Justin Terrell’s recruitment started to heat up in the spring, and now I completely understand why. He is putting up impressive stats through 4 games— 21 total tackles, 5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 1 pass deflection— at an extremely high level of prep football with Rome (Ga.) High.
Recruiting services continue to underrate three-star quarterback Cedrick Bailey Jr. in my opinion. He is more than just a game manager for a nationally ranked Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep squad. When I watched him earlier this season, he regularly made plays off script and impressed as an improvisor. Sure, he needs to improve in some areas, but he is a low-four star recruit to me.
Three-star linebacker Joshua Ofor flew a bit under the radar during his recruitment, but I agree that his film jumps off of the screen. He hits hard and should fit Tony Gibson’s defense really will.
With three-star wide receiver Christian Zachary, I do not really understand how he is not ranked higher. He is 6-3 with great hands and solid speed. I have not seen any official testing times for him, so maybe he did not participate much in the camp circuit, but he is a really solid prospect and would be a great addition to the class.
Who will be our next 2025 commit and when?
Three-star wide receiver Arrion Concepcion is the pick here. He is a sibling legacy recruit, and NC State is making him a clear priority. Concepcion told TheWolfpacker.com that Doeren is taking a personal role in his recruitment, and I thought that said a lot. He plans on taking official visits before making a decision, but I could see him joining the Pack earlier.
Any insight yet on expected visitors next week for Lousiville? I know this is during a time when most recruits will be playing.
NC State’s first primetime home game of the year is on a Friday, which is really unfortunate. Zachary will be there on his official visit, but I have not heard anything about other potential visitors yet.
What positions will we look at for portal/JUCO help?
The Pack is clearly looked for offensive tackle help at the junior college level, and the line could be a focus in the transfer portal as well. Linebacker, nickel and cornerback are also potential spots to watch. I would be surprised if the Pack does not sign an experienced corner for next year.
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