Connect with us

Football Recruiting

NC State’s Football Recruiting Momentum is Unprecedented

Published

on

With the commitment of 4-star Defensive Tackle CJ Clark yesterday, NC State’s 2019 football recruiting class is ranked 15th nationally by 247Sports, & 18th by Rivals. Last year 247Sports ranked the Wolfpack’s 2018 class as the #23 class overall. The two-year stint of recruiting at this high of a level is unprecedented in the history of NC State Football (or at least as far back as the existence of recruiting databases).

Dating back to 2001 (the first year of 247Sports recruiting database. Rivals dates back to 2002), NC State has never recorded back-to-back Top-25 recruting classes in football.

In fact, since 2001, according to 247Sports’ recruiting rankings, NC State only has had 3 Top-25 recruiting classes in total. According to Rivals rankings, the Wolfpack has only had 1 Top-25 recruiting class since 2002.

NC State’s Final 247Sports Football Recruting Ranking

2018: 23rd
2017: 43rd
2016: 59th
2015: 30th
2014: 37th
2013: 62nd
2012: 50th
2011: 71st
2010: 31st
2009: 48th
2008: 23rd
2007: 46th
2006: 48th
2005: 29th
2004: 40th
2003: 17th
2002: 46th
2001: 43rd

NC State’s Final Rivals Football Recruiting Ranking

2018: 34th
2017: 53rd
2016: 43rd
2015: 35th
2014: 30th
2013: 47th
2012: 54th
2011: 86th
2010: 34th
2009: 52nd
2008: 31st
2007: 50th
2006: 51st
2005: 27th
2004: 28th
2003: 7th
2002: 34th

I often see NC State fans on message boards or social media make the same canned response every time the Wolfpack gets a solid recruiting commitment: “We all know recruiting doesn’t matter. Only wins and losses.”

This trope reeks of ignorance.

Yes, of course highly talented players don’t guarantee victories. They still have to go out and play the game. Yes, the coach has to know how to coach the talent he brings in.

But if you don’t think there is a correlation between victories on the field and victories on the recruiting trail, you’re fooling yourself.

Dabo Swinney has reeled in 9 straight Top-25 recruiting classes at Clemson according to 247Sports. Consistent high-level recruiting has been foundational to Clemson’s yearly dominance.

What Dave Doeren and his staff have done for two years in a row now deserves a ton of credit.

Obviously the 2019 recruiting class is far from done, and there obviously is a chance they could slip out of the Top-25, but I don’t see that happening. In fact, I think they could move up. NC State leads for 4-star defensive tackle Joshua Harris. They lead for 4-star Athlete J.R. Walker. They lead for 4-star cornerback Shyheim Battle. NC State has put themselves in a good position with 4-star defensive end Traveon Freshwater, 4-star running back Zonovan Knight and 4-star cornerback Tyus Fields. The Wolfpack is even in the mix for 5-star running back/Linebacker Quavaris Crouch.

Doeren has never worked with this level of talent before. If you look at his early recruiting class rankings, you will realize he has done a great job developing players to become greater than their recruiting ranking.

Now he gets to do the same thing with higher ranked talent.

The future is looking bright for NC State football.

Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Football Recruiting

3-Star OT Brady Sakowitz Visited NC State Yesterday

Published

on

2026 3-Star Offensive Tackle Brady Sakowitz (6’7″/315) took an unofficial visit to NC State yesterday.

Sakowitz plays for Trinity Episcopal in Richmond, Virginia. He is teammates with 4-Star Wide Receiver Davion Brown, who also visited yesterday.

Sakowitz has also taken visits to Virginia Tech and UNC in the past week.

While NC State hasn’t offered Sakowitz yet, he does hold offers from Maryland, Duke, Virginia Tech, Miami, West Virginia, Pitt and Marshall.

Continue Reading

Football Recruiting

4-Star WR Davion Brown Took an Unofficial Visit to NC State Today

Published

on

4-Star 2026 Wide Receiver Davion Brown (6’1″/200) took an unofficial visit to NC State today.

ON3, 247Sports and Rivals all rank Brown as a Top-250 prospect. ON3 and 247Sports both rank him in the Top-100, with 247Sports ranking him as the #16 overall player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, the #3 Wide Receiver and the #1 player in the state of Virginia.

NC State offered Brown on January 18th, and he also holds offers from Penn St., Virginia Tech, UVA, Duke, South Carolina, Boston College, Maryland, Pitt, UNC, FSU, Miami, Tennessee, Louisville, Michigan, SMU and others.

This past season, Brown had 34 receptions for 578 yards and 5 touchdowns for Trinity Episcopal in Richmond, Virginia. He also rushed the ball for 366 yards and 3 touchdowns. Those stats are already impressive for a Sophomore, but they would have been even better if he didn’t miss 4 games due to injury.

Continue Reading

Football Recruiting

4-Star Safety Jordan Young Visited NC State Today

Published

on

4-Star 2025 Safety Jordan Young (6’0″/170) took an unofficial visit to NC State today.

All 4 recruiting databases rank Young as a Top-200 prospect nationally in the 2025 recruiting class, with ESPN, 247Sports and ON3 ranking him in the Top-35. ON3 ranks him as the #29 overall player nationally, the #1 Safety and the #1 player in the state of North Carolina.

Back in December, Young shared his Top-13, which included NC State, Clemson, Tennessee, Florida St., South Carolina, Notre Dame, Miami, Penn St., Alabama, USC, LSU, Texas and UNC.

Image

Young already has Official Visit’s scheduled to Clemson, Florida St., and Tennessee.

This past season, Young had 66 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and 3 pass breakups for Monroe High School. On the offensive side of the ball, he had 34 receptions for 812 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Continue Reading

Football Recruiting

4-Star EDGE Zavion Griffin-Hayes Visited NC State Yesterday

Published

on

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

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.

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

Continue Reading