According to a source, 2025 3-Star Edge Nik Alston (6’3″/260) has locked in an Official Visit to NC State for June 7-9.

Alston plays for Thompson High School in Birmingham, Alabama, and is ranked as the #40 overall player in the state in the 2025 class according to 247Sports.

Back on April 6th, Alston was in attendance for NC State’s 2024 Spring Game, and he walked away with an offer. He also holds offers from Minnesota, Washington, Liberty, Georgia Tech and Tulane.

He also has Official Visits scheduled for Washington, Minnesota, Liberty and Tulane. Honestly, some of the dates that I have found overlap at this point, but these were all reported at one time.

This past season, Alston had 37 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.

When I spoke with Alston in the past, he said NC State would be at the top of his list.

2025 3-Star Cornerback Robert Jones III (6’2″/170) recently revealed his Top-10 schools, and NC State made the cut along with Auburn, Kentucky, Miami, Louisville, Illinois, South Florida, UCF, Missouri and Florida.

Where is HOME 🏡???? @VBFootball @Hayesfawcett3 @On3sports @TheCribSouthFLA @Rivals @CalebJ_Rivals @247Sports @TheUCReport @305Sportss @UCF_Recruiting @AuburnFootball @USFFootball @MiamiHurricanes @MizzouFootball @IlliniFootball @GatorsFB @PackFootball @Mike_Fabian13 pic.twitter.com/3MVkbNaaes

— Robert “Rj” Jones III‼️🙏🏾 (@Robertjones_3) April 16, 2024

ON3 ranks Jones III as the #59 overall player in the state of Florida in the 2025 recruiting class.

You can watch his highlights from the 2023 season here. He only played 7 games due to injury. Jones III had 9 pass breakups and 2 interceptions as a Junior.

Jones III has a commitment date set for May 28th, with an Official Visit to Illinois scheduled in June.

Here’s a rundown of some of the happenings in the world of NC State Football Recruiting recently.

Thursday Visitor

4-Star 2026 EDGE Zavion Griffin-Hayes (6’6″/225) took an unofficial visit to NC State Thursday.

Great morning with NC State 🐺 ! @CoachSplintaQ @coachwiles @StateCoachD @CoachGoebbel @CoachTonyGibson @CoachAlexFaulk @RRACKLEY9 pic.twitter.com/HfxTIdDX81

— Zavion Griffin-Haynes (@ZavionGH) April 18, 2024

ON3 ranks Griffin-Hayes as the #78 overall player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, the #9 EDGE, and the #7 player in the state of North Carolina.

Griffin-Hayes plays right down the road from NC State at Rolesville, where NC State’s Isiah Jones, Tamarcus Cooley & Noah Rogers played. The Wolfpack have yet to offer Griffin-Hayes yet, but he does hold offers from South Carolina, App St., Auburn, UCLA and others.

Griffin-Hayes has been a frequent visitor to NC State.

This past season as a Sophomore at Rolesville, Griffin-Hayes had 50+ tackles, 20+ tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

4-Star RB Kentrell Rinehart is taking an Official Visit

4-Star 2025 Running Back Kentrell Rinehart (6’2”/205) is taking an Official Visit to NC State on June 21-23. He also has Official Visits scheduled to Minnesota and Syracuse.

🐺 and onto the elite 8🫣 pic.twitter.com/3dbndWALIz

— Kentrell Rinehart (@k_rinehart1) March 30, 2024

Back on February 10th, Rinehart revealed his Top-5 schools, and he included NC State, along with Syracuse, Indiana, Kentucky and Minnesota.

His Junior stats this past season (at Bishop Ready) were video game numbers, rushing for 2,837 yards (8.3 yards per carry) and 42 touchdowns.

Yesterday’s Visitors

3-Star 2026 Wide Receiver Nyqir Helton (5’11″/180) was on an unofficial visit to NC State.

I will be at NC State today !!🐺 @chillbelton @winslowtwpfb @CoachSplintaQ @CoachLewis_shec pic.twitter.com/j5DPbBI1uf

— Nyqir “boomer” Helton (@nyqir26) April 19, 2024

Rivals ranks Helton as the #7 overall player in the state of New Jersey in the 2026 recruiting class. He holds offers from Penn St., Rutgers, UCONN, Maryland, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

As a Sophomore, Helton had 33 receptions for 606 yards and 7 touchdowns for Winslow Township (Atco, New Jersey).

4-Star 2026 Running Back Jaylen McGill (5’10″/185) was on an unofficial visit to NC State.

Had A Great Visit @PackFootball Thanks For The Hospitality! 🐺 @CoachSplintaQ @CoachGoebbel pic.twitter.com/gqGGgQkYnj

— Jaylen McGill “2” (@mcgilljaylen2) April 19, 2024

Rivals ranks McGill as the #238 overall player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, the #17 Running Back, and the #2 player in the state of South Carolina.

McGill holds offers from Tennessee, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Indiana.

As a Sophomore last year, McGill 1,602 yards rushing (9.1 yards per carry) and 24 touchdowns for Broome (Spartanburg, SC). He also had 88 yards receiving and 2 touchdown receptions.

3-Star 2026 Interior Offensive Lineman Steven Pickard Jr. (6’5″/300) was in Raleigh for an unofficial visit.

WOLFPACK‼️ Thank you @PackFootball for a great visit! @StateCoachD @Coach2J @CoachThunder_45 @CoachAlexFaulk @CoachSplintaQ @PSIronHorseFB @coachbendig @Velocity_FB pic.twitter.com/UsMnfU07MV

— Steven Pickard Jr (@StevenPickard_2) April 19, 2024

ON3 ranks him as the #10 overall player in the state of South Carolina in the 2026 recruiting class.

Pickard Jr. plays for Phillip Simmons in Charleston, SC.

4-Star 2025 Wide Receiver Braswell Thomas (6’2″/185) was also on campus.

Very much Thankful and Excited to be able to go on an upcoming visit today at @PackFootball !!@CoachSplintaQ@GoGreyhoundFB @CoachChiVille @CoachLewis_shec pic.twitter.com/goI7RPZxqL

— Braswell Thomas (@Braswell1Thomas) April 19, 2024

Rivals ranks Thomas as the #8 player in the state of New Jersey in the 2025 recruiting class.

Thomas holds offers from Penn St., Rutgers, Tennessee, Georgia, and Nebraska.

I confirmed with 3-Star 2025 Cornerback Jayden Shipps (6’1″/180) that he will be taking an Official Visit to NC State on June 7-9.

Shipps also took an unofficial visit to Raleigh on March 22nd.

The Wolfpack offered a scholarship to Shipps on October 4th, and he also holds offers from Wisconsin, Tennessee, Michigan St., Syracuse, Duke, Pitt, South Carolina, West Virginia, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Maryland, Wake Forest and others

ON3 ranks Shipps as the #21 overall player in the state of Maryland in the 2025 recruiting class. Shipps had 24 tackles and 1 interception for Archbishop Spalding (Servern, MD) this past season.