NC State Football Recruiting Update – April 3, 2019

Recent Commits

3* CB Joseph Johnson – Life Christian Academy – Chester, VA – Rated the #16 overall prospect in Virginia (3*) by Rivals, the #45 Cornerback in the Country and #13 overall prospect in Virginia (3*) by 24/7 sports and Scout, and a NR (3*) by ESPN. Johnson had offers from Florida, FSU, Indiana, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, WVU, VT, and Virginia.

Highlights

3* ATH Aydan White – Christ School – Asheville, NC – NR on Rivals, the #73 Cornerback in the Country and #26 overall prospect in North Carolina (3*) by 24/7 sports and Scout, and NR (3*) on ESPN.

Highlights

3* WR Nate McCollum – Dutchtown HS – Hampton, GA – NR (3*) Cornerback on Rivals, the #179 Wide Receiver in the Country (3*) by 24/7 sports and Scout, NR on ESPN. An elite baseball prospect as well as being a dynamic slot receiver. McCollum had offers from Michigan State, Syracuse, Tennessee, Kansas, and Western Kentucky.

Highlights

Here’s Perfect Game’s baseball review of McCollum:
“Nate McCollum is a 2020 OF/2B with a 5-10 185 lb. frame from McDonough, GA who attends Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy. Medium, athletic frame with broad shoulders and present physical strength proportioned nicely throughout frame. Elite runner, posted a 6.39 60-yard dash and can impact a game on the bases and defensively out in centerfield. Tracks down fly balls with a quick first step and can cover ground; didn’t work out defensively in this look but performed well in games. Righthanded hitter, begins with an even stance and a high hand set and back elbow in the box. Upper body dominant swing and utilizes a short stride step moving into swing. Stays short to the ball and shows fast hands with plenty of present bat speed. Shows a feel for the barrel and found it well in live action, works the middle and pull side parts of the field and generates nice jump off the barrel when squared. Good student. Named to Junior National Top Prospect List. ” To put his 60 yard dash in comparison, Trea Turner, who is considered to be one of the fastest players in MLB, ran a 6.3 60 yard dash during his junior year in college.

Wide Receiver Recruiting

Looks like with the commitment of McCollum, who will play slot receiver, we might be filling up at Wide Receiver very soon in this class. Known targets still available at Wide Receiver: 4* Mushin Muhammad, 3* Antonio Barber, 3* Jhari Patterson, 3* Justin Shorter, and 3* Chris Long. Conventional wisdom and analysts only think that we will take one more receiver in the 2020 cycle. Look for Barber, Patterson, and Muhammad to be our top go after targets because they are all from North Carolina. We have made the top 5 cut lists for all of these prospects already. I would think our coaches would really like to get the attention of Mike Wyman, a tall 4* prospect from Dudley HS in Greensboro also. Muhammad, Barber, Patterson, Shorter, and Long are all in the 6′ tall area, so it would be a matter of who our coaches think would supply the best impact, all have a current offer from our coaches.

Defensive Back Recruiting

The additions of Joseph Johnson and Aydan White at Defensive Back also make it so our recruiting in this area will be stopped very shortly. Known targets still on the board: 3* CB Zay Peterson (Clayton HS – NC), 3* CB Devan Boykin (Ragsdale HS – NC), 3* CB Andru Phillips (Mauldin HS – SC), 4* S Malcolm Greense (Highland Springs HS – VA), and 4* S Ja’Qurious Conley (Northside HS – NC). I think we take one more safety and one more cornerback in this year’s class.

Transferring

Target 4* DE Myles Murphy has decided to transfer from Southwest Guilford to Dudley High School for his senior season.

New Recruiting Graphics

New commitment graphic for Nate McCollum:

New commitment graphic for Aydan White:

Top Target List

5* DE Desmond Evans, 4* LB Trenton Simpson, 4* WR Mushin Muhammad, 3* WR Antonio Barber, 4* LB Mohamed Kaba, 3*ATH Justin Shorter, 3* OG RJ Adams, 4* DE Myles Murphy, 4*ATH Ja’Qurious Conley, 4*S Malcolm Greene, 3*OG Anthony Carter Jr., 3*CB Andru Phillips, 3*OT Jordan Williams, 3*CB Devan Boykin, 3*S Zay Peterson, 3* RB Ahmani Marshall, 3*RB Elijah Green, 4*RB Jaylon Knighten, 4*DE Kendrick Bingley-Jones, 4*DE Jacolbe Cowan, 3*WR Jhari Patterson, 3*LB Jamari Stewart, 3*TE John Copenhaver, 3*DT Henry Bryant, 3*OL Jonathan Adorno, 4*LB Jayland Parker.

Remaining Spots

We tentatively have 7 remaining scholarships for the 2020 cycle. Given the usual attrition, I think it is very plausible for us to take 10-12 more prospects. Our current 2020 class has 2 Cornerbacks, 2 Wide Receivers, 1 Quarterback, and 1 Defensive Tackle (6 total commitments). With the 10-12 remaining spots, I think we will take 3-4 more Defensive Linemen (3 Ends and 1 Tackle), 1 Wide Receiver, 1 Running Back, 1 Tight End, 1-2 Linebackers, 1-2 Safeties, 1-2 Offensive Linemen.

Upcoming Camps at State

Camp season will be upon us before you know it. High School Camps will be June 6,7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 for One Day Camps, June 8th for the Specialist Camp, and June 14th and 21st for 7 on 7 Competitions.

Shrine Bowl Combines

Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Combine Events are on March 23rd, April 6th, May 4th, May 25th, and one in Charlotte has not been announced yet for North Carolina. South Carolina Combines are on May 11th, May 18th, and May 25th.

Rivals Camp Series Combines

April 6th in Charlotte, NC and April 13th in Washington D.C.

Under Armour Combines

April 14th in Ohio and April 28th in Baltimore.

NUC Combines

April 14th in Columbia, South Carolina; April 14th in Highland Springs, Virginia, April 28th in Charlotte, North Carolina; and May 19th in Northern Virginia.