NC State recruiting board update: Cornerback
NC State football plans on signing at least two prep cornerbacks in the 2025 class, and the program is taking a broad approach to its recruiting board. Over the next month, the staff will host six cornerbacks who are strongly considering the Wolfpack.
After signing just one prospect at that position in the 2024 class, NC State is focused on bringing in multiple talented athletes, including a few who have the versatility to play safety or nickel as well. This could be a crowded secondary class at a result.
TheWolfpacker.com is in the process of breaking down the Pack’s recruiting board by position. Cornerback is up next. We will update these boards throughout the year, sorting prospects into one of five categories.
*** Commits
*** Projected to the Pack
*** Trending towards NC State
*** Wait and see
*** Longshots
Expect a detailed breakdown of each commit, plus recruiting updates on the key uncommitted prospects.
Projected to the Pack
Recruitment status: Official visits scheduled with NC State, West Virginia and Georgia Tech
Ranking: Unranked
Height/weight: 6-1, 170 pounds
School: Anderson (S.C.) T L Hanna High
Other notable offers: Duke, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
Future NC State visits: June 7-9 (official visit)
The scoop: Even though they have not offered, South Carolina and Clemson were always the other significant contenders for Strong behind the scenes. He thinks very highly of NC State, and the two in-state programs were the main programs he visited and kept a close eye on. Strong is not hearing much from either team at this point in the cycle. Per a source, he is the No. 1 corner on West Virginia’s board, so the Mountaineers are worth monitoring, but his connection with cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell puts the Pack in a good spot.
Trending towards NC State
Three-star athlete Gerritt Kemp
Recruitment status: Official visits set with NC State, Duke and Michigan State
Ranking: No. 32 athlete nationally, No. 67 prospect in Georgia (On3)
Height/weight: 6-3, 180 pounds
School: Dacula (Ga.) Hebron Christian Academy
Other notable offers: Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU
Future NC State visits: June 14 (Official visit)
The scoop: NC State has a great relationship with Kemp, but the momentum in his recruitment shifted when he announced a May commitment date. The versatile athlete, who holds offers at receiver and defensive back, has since postponed that decision. Earlier this year, Kemp expressed growing interest in playing offense at the next level. Based on the buzz behind the scenes, it sounds like he is interested in playing corner as well at this time, which is why the Wolfpack is back in contention. Communication between Kemp and the staff has remained very positive recently, and he is on track to visit next month. It will be interesting to see if he adds any of his SEC offers to his travel schedule.
Recruitment status: Official visits scheduled with NC State, Kansas, Kansas State and West Virginia
Ranking: Unranked
Height/weight: 6-1, 180 pounds
School: Tampa (Fla.) Gaither High
Other notable offers: Kentucky, Minnesota, USF
Future NC State visits: June 7-9 (official visit)
The scoop: Soon after picking up an NC State offer, Stinyard named the Pack his leader. The cornerback has locked in his official visit schedule and will make his first trip to Raleigh. after a weekend with West Virginia. He wants to attend college outside of Florida, and NC State’s location, paired with his early connection with Mitchell, has established the Wolfpack as the team to beat in his recruitment. Making a great impression on his official visit will be a critical step in continuing that momentum. He could play safety at NC State as well.
Wait and see
Four-star safety Jontae Gilbert
Recruitment status: Official visits scheduled with NC State, UCF, Louisville, and South Carolina
Ranking: No. 124 nationally, No. 14 safety in the country, No. 15 prospect in Georgia (On3 Industry)
Height/weight: 6-1, 180 pounds
School: Atlanta (Ga.) Douglass High
Other notable offers: Georgia, Clemson, USC
Future NC State visits: Sept. 27
The scoop: Gilbert strongly considered the Wolfpack last year before a change in the recruiting department caused him to re-evaluate NC State’s standing in his decision-making process. Communication between the four-star defensive back and the coaching staff ramped up quickly over the past couple of months, and he locked in a fall official visit. South Carolina is the school to monitor with him, but his recruitment has been fluid over the past couple of months. NC State remains optimistic that he holds high interest in the program.
Three-star cornerback Robert Jones III
Recruitment status: Official visits scheduled with NC State, UCF, Louisville and Illinois
Ranking: No. 46 cornerback nationally, No. 59 prospect in Florida (On3)
Height/weight: 6-1, 165 pounds
School: Tampa (Fla.) Vero Beach High
Other notable offers: Auburn, Florida, Miami
Future NC State visits: June 7-9 (official visit)
The scoop: Jones’ official will be his first trip to NC State, but he already forged a strong bond with Mitchell and safety commit Tristan Teasdell, who is visiting the same weekend and recruiting him to Raleigh as well. He originally planned on committing in May but pushed back that timeline to take officials. NC State needs to make a significant impression on this visit, but the Pack has established itself as a contender.
Three-star cornerback Caden Gordon
Recruitment status: Official visit scheduled with NC State
Ranking: No. 45 cornerback nationally, No. 58 prospect in Florida (On3)
Height/weight: 6-1, 170 pounds
School: Lake Worth (Fla.) Santaluces Community High
Other notable offers: Florida State, Louisville, Mississippi State
Future NC State visits: June 21-23 (Official visit)
The scoop: After originally eyeing a spring commitment, with Florida State as the trending team, Gordon’s recruitment appears set to extend into summertime. He is setting up an official visit with the Pack, per a source, while the rest of his recruitment remains unclear.
Longshots
Three-star cornerback Jayden Shipps
Recruitment status: Official visits set with Maryland and NC State
Ranking: No. 73 cornerback nationally, No. 21 prospect in Maryland
Height/weight: 6-1, 180 pounds
School: Severn (MD) Archbishop Spalding High
Other notable offers: South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee
Future NC State visits: June 7-9 (official visit)
The scoop: Mitchell visited Shipps during the spring evaluation period, and his spring trip to Raleigh went well. Earlier this week, the cornerback teased an upcoming commitment. He has an official visit scheduled with Maryland for May 30, and the Terrapins are the team to watch with him.
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