NC State Football Recruiting Update – December 5, 2019
Subtractions
Backup QB Matt McKay and Backup OT Justin Chase have decided to leave the program.
Available scholarships left for 2020
Around 5-6, maybe more depending on addition attrition between now and February’s Signing Day. I fully anticipate NC State will sign 20 in December and several more in February. Rumor has it that they will have several more deductions from the offensive side of the ball and possibly several on the defensive side.
Recent Commits
WR Anthony Smith – Attends Huntingtown HS in Maryland. 6’1″, 175. Rated a NR 2* on Rivals, NR on 24/7Sports, and NR on ESPN.
He’s an absolute burner. Career records in 100m was 10.98, 200 m was 21.96 in Spring 2019, during his junior season. This would translate to a 4.5 40, which is very good to be 6’1″. He was officially clocked at 4.46 at a camp in the summer of 2019. Smith could easily become a vertical passing threat or another underneath extension of the running game – like Nyheim Hines was during his first year at State.
Senior Season Stats: 35 catches for 918 yards with 14 Touchdowns, 17 Tackles with 1 Tackle for Loss.
Highlights:
WR Jalen Coit – Attends Cheraw HS in South Carolina. 6’1″, 165. Rated a 3* and #17 overall player in South Carolina on Rivals, the #185 Wide Receiver in the Country and the #20 overall player in South Carolina (3*) by 24/7Sports, and the #163 Wide Receiver in the Country (3*) on ESPN.
He’s a stellar two sport athlete who averages around 19 points per game in basketball. Most analysts have him slated to be a slot receiver in college. Several analysts have stated that they think he has a higher ceiling and better open field play making ability than the top rated receiver in South Carolina (Jaylin Hyatt). Coit also projects to potentially play in the slot with Smith. Coit could be a potential to play immediately as a kick returner along side Lesane (if Lesane can figure out his fumbling issues). Coit has been named to the Shrine Bowl team for South Carolina.
Senior Season Stats: 1 for 1 passing for 9 yards, 1 carry for 39 yards, 55 catches for 842 yards with 11 Touchdowns, 2 Two Point Conversions Scored, 7 Kickoff Returns for 67 yards, and 13 punt returns for 154 yards with 1 Touchdown.
Highlights:
Big Visitors at UNC Game
The #1 JUCO Safety in the Country was at the UNC game. Justin Harrington, who currently attends Bakersfield College in California, was offered a scholarship by State late last week. Harrington attended Southeast Raleigh HS as a prep prospect but could not qualify academically to attend a major college. He was high school teammates with Current Nickel Tyler Baker-Williams. Harrington is planning to be a mid-year enrollment at whatever college he decides to attend. Right now, it looks like Oklahoma is the major competition for Harrington. Harrington is also planning an official visit to Oklahoma State and possibly Southern Cal before making his college decision.
Transfer 3* OL Joe Kane from Virginia Tech attended the game. Transfers look like they are going to be the route to go for several different empty spots for the staff to find, particularly in high needs areas (depending on further attrition, I would argue that WR, QB, and OL/DL are these areas of potential grad transfer targets). Kane was recently offered a scholarship to play D-Line at Elon.
Transfers to Mention:
I just list these as possibilities that the coaches would be interested in targeting and the reasons:
QB Jack Allison – Transferring from West Virginia, knows and was recruited by Tony Gibson
QB Jake Bentley – Transferring from South Carolina, knows and was coached by Kurt Roper
QB Feleipe Franks – Transferring from Florida, could be a target because he would have immediate eligibility
QB Dekereon Joyner – Transferring from South Carolina. NC State was his #2 school before he committed to South Carolina. He also knows Kurt Roper. Converted to WR this year.
WR Brian Montgomery – Transferring from Miami, NC State offered him a scholarship during the 2018 cycle
WR/APB Tevin Bush – Transferring from West Virginia, knows and was recruited by Tony Gibson
TE/WR Daevon Robinson – Transferring from Rutgers. NC State was his #2 school when he decided to stay home and commit to Rutgers
OT Carter Colquitt – Transferring from Ole Miss. NC State was his #2 school when he decided to commit to Ole Miss
LB Derek Boykins – Transferring from South Carolina. NC State was his #3 school when he decided to commit to South Carolina. From NC, and NC State is also recruiting his younger brother.
JUCO DE Dionte Gipson – Attends Hutchinson CC in Stone Mountain, Georgia. NC State recruited that area well a few years ago when we landed Jakobi Meyers
JUCO RB Brian Snead – NC State was recruiting him when he was in HS, attends Iowa Western CC, a place where they’ve have had some success in the past. He attended HS with former Pack RB Erin Collins, however the Wolfpack will probably stay away from him due to some unsavory criminal activity when he was enrolled as a freshman at Ohio State.
JUCO WR Justin McGriff – NC State recruits the Tampa area well. He has extremely good size and long arms that Coach D covets – 6’5″, 210.
Official Visits Coming Up
December 6th:
4* JUCO S Justin Harrington
4* OG RJ Adams – recently decommited from Penn State. NC State was one of his top schools before he committed. Visited for UNC game also. Alabama visit is after this.
3* DB Joshua Pierre Louis – Smaller CB/NLB type prospect who also has a lot of speed.
Most of NC State’s current commits will also be officially visiting this week (Porter Rooks, Devan Boykin are confirmed via social media).
Things to keep an eye on
If James Franklin leaves Penn State and goes to Florida State, former 4* CB Joseph Johnson could also be in play again for NC State (his father really liked State).
If Will Muschamp leaves South Carolina, current Target 4* WR Rico Powers and Target 4* LB Mohamad Kaba could be in play again for NC State. (Unlikely Muschamp leaves)
My Take on the Coaching Switch
In the periphery of the season, it looks like the canning of Huxtable was due to the huge amount of points the defense continued to allow, bad technique by the defensive backs, and bad play calling at times.
However, there is another silver lining to the canning of Huxtable in deference to the other members of the staff.
Des Kitchings and George McDonald are considered to be the best recruiters of offensive talent on the staff, whereas, Kevin Patrick and Tony Gibson are considered to be the best recruits of defensive talent on the staff. According to a pre-season publication, Huxtable was responsible for recruiting Alamance County/Orange County in NC and the Orlando to Space Coast areas of Florida (zero currently committed players in the 2020 cycle). The last three commits all came from the areas in which McDonald and Kitchings are assigned. This is not to say that the coaching switches are completely done, but I don’t foresee any more coaching switches before the December Signing Day event, which will take place on December 18, 2019.
On the Road
All the coaches are on the road this week to meet with current commits and see current targets. George McDonald was visiting South Carolina earlier this week and extended an offer to 6’4″ receiver, Ger-Cari Caldwell, who had a stellar senior season at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and was named to the Shrine Bowl. Caldwell is an interesting prospect because of his size and playmaking ability. Not necessarily a burner, but runs great routes and has great hands.
