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Football Recruiting

Recruiting Stars Aren’t Everything

Published

6 years ago

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Ed Reed, a future lock for the NFL Hall of Fame, reminded the world today that the amount of stars by your name as a high school recruit don’t determine your destiny.

Reed was a 2-star prospect.

When you look at NC State’s most recent All-Americans (since recruiting databases began keeping data around the turn of the century), two of them were highly touted recruits: Cornerback David Amerson (4-star – #206 overall) and Defensive End Mario Williams (4-star – #78 overall).

The other three weren’t.

Defensive End Bradley Chubb was a 3-star prospect that was ranked as the #734 overall player in the 2014 class. He went on to be a consensus 1st Team All-American, and the #5 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Rivals ranked linebacker Nate Irving as a 2-star prospect, and 247Sports ranked him as the #1,093 overall player in the 2006 class. He went on to be a 1st Team All-American, and played 5 seasons in the NFL.

Offensive Guard Joe Thuney was a 2-star prospect according to 247Sports, and the #1,498 overall player in the 2011 class. He went on to be a 1st Team All-American, and has been a starter for the New England Patriots since day 1 as a rookie. In fact, he has started ever single game since arriving in the NFL.

If you look at NC State’s 1st Team All-ACC players since the turn of the century, 4 of them were highly touted: Running Back Nyheim Hines (4-star – #94 overall), Cornerback David Amerson (4-star – #206 overall), Specialist Darrell Blackman (4-star – #46 overall), Defensive End Mario Williams (4-star – #78 overall)

The other 10 weren’t.

Swiss Army Knife Jaylen Samuels (2-star – #2,680 overall)
Earl Wolff (3-star – #980 overall)
TJ Graham (2-star – #834 overall)
George Bryan (3-star – #434 overall)
Nate Irving (2-star – #1,093 overall)
Russell Wilson (2-star – #1,102 overall)
Bradley Chubb (3-star – #734 overall)
Joe Thuney (2-star – #1,498 overall)
Tank Tyler (3-star – #547 overall)
Stephen Tulloch (3-star)

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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.

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Football Recruiting

3-Star LB Jaiden Braker Locks In Official Visit to NC State

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5 hours ago

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April 18, 2024

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3-Star 2025 Linebacker Jaiden Braker (6’4″/210) has locked in his Official Visit to NC State for June 19-21.

The Wolfpack offered Braker on April 2nd, and he also holds offers from Utah, South Carolina, SMU, Georgia Tech, Rutgers, Cal, Cincinnati, Indiana, BYU, Liberty and others.

Last year, Braker had 48 tackles and 4 tackles for loss for South Gwinnett (Snellville, GA)

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Football Recruiting

Top-30 Prospect WR Aaron Gregory Visited NC State Today

Published

2 days ago

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April 16, 2024

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2026 4-Star Wide Receiver Aaron Gregory (6’2″/170) took an unofficial visit to NC State today.

He was visiting with his Douglas County teammate Jordan Carter.

Gregory is a Top-30 overall prospect nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, with Rivals ranking him 20th. ON3 and 247Sports both rank him as the #2 Wide Receiver in the class, and 247Sports ranks him as the #2 player in the state of Georgia.

He holds offers from NC State, Georgia, Alabama, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, UNC, Auburn, FSU, Duke, Tennessee, Ohio St., LSU, Miami, USC, Kentucky, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Mississippi St., Florida, Texas, Texas A&M, Colorado, Arkansas, Boston College, Penn St., Ole Miss, West Virginia, SMU, Oregon, Oklahoma, Indiana, Pitt, Cal, Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame and others.

This past season, Gregory had 41 receptions for 795 yards and 8 touchdowns for Douglas County.

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Football Recruiting

Top-10 2026 Prospect DE Jordan Carter Visited NC State Today

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2 days ago

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April 16, 2024

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4-Star 2026 Defensive End Jordan Carter (6’3″/235) took an unofficial visit to NC State today.

Carter holds offers from NC State, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, West Virginia, SMU, UCF, Georgia Tech, USC, Tennessee, South Carolina, LSU, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and others.

Rivals ranks him as the #10 overall player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, and the #2 Defensive End. ON3 ranks him as the #1 player in the state of Georgia.

This past season at Douglas County, Carter had 84 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks.

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Football Recruiting

4-Star 2025 S Jordan Young Locks in Official Visit to NC State

Published

2 days ago

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April 16, 2024

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4-Star 2025 Safety Jordan Young (6’0″/170) has locked in his Official Visit to NC State for June 19-21.

Young also has Official Visits scheduled to Clemson (May 31), FSU (June 14), and Tennessee (June 21).

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. 247Sports ranks him as the #29 overall player nationally, the #2 Safety and the #2 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.

While Michigan isn’t in the Top-13, they offered him most recently, and he took an unofficial visit there yesterday.

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.

Young is planning to announce his commitment on October 12th.

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