The Wolfpacker 3-2-1: Recent NC State recruiting intel
NC State’s camp schedule kicks off Saturday, June 3. At least one talented group of recruits from an in-state school will be there, and a top-50 sophomore in the nation plans on stopping by for an unofficial visit.
Even though the Wolfpack will not host any official visitors this weekend, it is still poised to be an intriguing couple of days. This week’s 3-2-1 feature focuses mostly on Saturday but also touches on some recruiting intel from late last week and more over the weekend.
Three things we learned about NC State football recruiting last week
1) One of the nation’s elite sophomores will be on campus Saturday
Jontae Gilbert, a four-star safety and an Ohio State commit, has been interested in the Wolfpack for a long time— even after he joined the Buckeyes’ class last summer. He will return to Raleigh June 3 for a visit after camping with the program as a freshman.
NC State’s connections in Georgia have helped establish the Pack as a contender alongside Alabama, Tennessee and, of course, Ohio State. It is obviously early in his recruitment, but hosting recruits of his caliber is always good, and this shows that the Wolfpack is building a strong brand in the Atlanta area.
In addition to Gilbert, a talented group of athletes form Chambers High will be on campus for the camp. I will be watching to see if 6-3 class of 2026 wide receiver Tyran Evans leaves with an offer.
2) The Pack is picking up traction with Nnamdi Ogboko
Nnamdi Ogboko made a low key trip to NC State in the spring and will return for another unofficial visit June 7. The local nose tackle recruit is an extremely intriguing prospect at 6-5 and nearly 340 pounds. He could be a game-changer for the Wolfpack, and it appears he will consider staying close to home.
Michigan, Georgia and NC State are all in contention to receive Ogboko’s final official visit in June, but I expect that to come down to the Bulldogs and the Pack. Rutgers, South Carolina and Florida will host the prospect as well. Defensive line coach Charley Wiles did a good job establishing a solid bond here quickly, but the allure of the SEC could be tough to beat.
3) Jonathan Paylor made a change to his visit schedule
Jonathan Paylor originally planned on spending June 2-4 at Clemson, but he will now make the much shorter trip to UNC. NC State was previously the only in-state school slated to receive an official visit.
I still see his recruitment coming down to the Wolfpack or South Carolina.The Gamecocks lead right now, but NC State remains in a close second place. Official visits will be very important in Paylor’s recruitment, in my opinion.
His recruitment is tough to read, but everything I have heard indicates that his bond with NC State is as strong, if not stronger, than any other program.
Two questions for this week
1) Will Clemson cement itself as the leader in Alex Taylor’s recruitment this weekend?
Priority wide receiver prospect Alex Taylor will officially visit Clemson this weekend— the school trending towards the top of his recruitment for the past couple of months. He reaffirmed last week that UNC, NC State, Virginia Tech and the Tigers are all even heading into the summer, but I would still give Clemson the edge.
Taylor’s official visit will be alongside at least 15 other priority prospects and multiple commits. Considering the receiver told me he could commit during a June trip if it felt right, I am keeping a close eye on this visit. If he leaves uncommitted, NC State has a shot.
2) Will NC State offer Benjamin Black?
If Paylor ends up at South Carolina and Taylor joins Clemson’s class, another in-state wide receiver to monitor is Benjamin Black. NC State’s staff recently visited Mallard Creek High to evaluate the speedy pass catcher, and I would not be surprised to see him camp this summer. There is definitely some interest from the Pack here, and it will be interesting to see how that develops over the next few weeks.
One prediction: Terrell Anderson’s recruitment will come down to Tennessee or NC State
Terrell Anderson appears ready to wrap up his recruitment soon. He has locked in on official visits to NC State, Tennessee and Florida, and it did not sound like he planned on scheduling any more when I spoke with him last week. A source shared last week that there is some momentum around Tennessee right now.
His relationship with the Wolfpack remains very strong, and I believe the draw of early playing time will play a significant role here. Each of his three prior visits have gone extremely well, and his official trip should be the best of the bunch with his friends and NC State commits on campus with him. The Tennessee visit timing, June 22, is a bit concerning, so it will be interesting to see if the Wolfpack could secure a commitment before this.
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