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PI EXCLUSIVE: Auburn Transfer Safety Donovan Kaufman Breaks Down Official Visit to NC State

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6 months ago

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This past weekend, Auburn Transfer Safety Donovan Kaufman (5’10″/204) took an Official Visit to NC State. I caught up with Kaufman to get his take on the experience.

Break down the experience of the Official Visit. What did you do?

I toured the facility, met the staff, watched some film with the coaches, got to get around some of the players, and looked over some academics.

What were your interactions like with the coaches? What was their pitch to you?

The interactions were good. It seemed very genuine. The culture is a winning culture. Their pitch was really just showing me the facts of the situation and that they have a great chance of making the playoffs.

What was your favorite part of this visit?

My favorite part of the visit was them showing me how they could develop me mentally.

After entering the Portal, what led you to take an Official Visit to NC State?

Honestly, they asked if I wanted to come and I said yes. They were one of the schools who reached out to me the first or second day I was in the portal.

After the visit, where do things stand with you and the Wolfpack?

Things are pretty good with us.

What was it like to visit with Auburn teammate Cam Riley?

It was a good feeling, just knowing everything we had been through, it was good to be able to go through the new chapter together, especially with us both having one year remaining.

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Rivals ranked Kaufman as a 4-Star prospect in the 2020 recruiting class. They ranked him as the #186 overall player nationally, the #11 Safety, and the #9 player in the state of Louisiana. Out of high school, Kaufman committed to Vanderbilt.

In his first season of college football, Kaufman played 2 games (started) for the Commodores as a True Freshman, collecting 15 tackles and a pass breakup in limited action.

In 2021, Kaufman transferred to Auburn, where he played in 13 games as a Freshman (2020 didn’t count against eligibility due to Covid), starting in 7 of them. In 414 snaps, Kaufman had 33 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups and 3 forced fumbles.

In 2022, Kaufman was the returning starter at Safety, starting in the first 7 games, before suffering an injury that kept him out of the final 4 games. Still, he played in 459 snaps, which was a new career high. As a Sophomore, Kaufman recorded a career high 39 tackles, as well as 2 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble. His PFF grade was 72.1 that year, which is the best grade of his career.

In 2021, Kaufman transferred to Auburn, where he played in 13 games as a Freshman (2020 didn’t count against eligibility due to Covid), starting in 7 of them. In 414 snaps, Kaufman had 33 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups and 3 forced fumbles.

In 2022, Kaufman was the returning starter at Safety, starting in the first 7 games, before suffering an injury that kept him out of the final 4 games. Still, he played in 459 snaps, which was a new career high. As a Sophomore, Kaufman recorded a career high 39 tackles, as well as 2 pass breakups and 1 forced fumble. His PFF grade was 72.1 that year, which is the best grade of his career.

NC State is returning both of their starting Safeties from 2023 in Devan Boykin and Sean Brown. Boykin is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in December, so I’m not sure what his status will be heading into Game 1. Robert Kennedy III started for the Wolfpack at Nickel this past year, and he has run out of eligibility, leaving a hole there. I could see Boykin moving to Nickel. Either way, there will be a starting role open at Nickel, or one of the Safety positions if Boykin moved to Safety.

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Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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Football Recruiting

What Recruits are at NC State Football’s Alpha Wolf Showcase Tonight?

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5 hours ago

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July 26, 2024

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The 2024 Alpha Wolf Showcase is today, which is the biggest Annual Recruiting Event for the NC State Football team.

Here’s a look at who we’ve confirmed will be in attendance.

Commits

3- Star DE Makhi Williams-Lee

3- Star OL Michael Gibbs

3-Star CB Cam Strong

3-Star S Tristan Teasdell

3-Star DE Colby Cronk

4-Star WR Jerel Bolder

3-Star DE Mykah Newton

3-Star TE Gus Ritchey 

2025 Prospects

4-Star S Jordan Young 

2026 Prospects

4-Star LB Chad Fairchild

3-Star QB Jacob Smith

3-Star OL Brady Sakowitz

3-Star OT Tre Aiken

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Football Recruiting

Where Does NC State Stand with 4-Star Guard/Forward Bryce Heard Heading Into Today’s Announcement?

Published

3 days ago

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July 24, 2024

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4-Star 2025 Guard/Forward Bryce Heard (6’6″/190) will be announcing his college decision today at 2:30pm. He will be choosing between NC State, USC, Mississippi St. and Xavier.

Heard took an Official Visit to NC State beginning on June 23rd.

247Sports, ESPN and Rivals all rank Heard as a 4-Star prospect. Rivals ranks him as the #95 overall player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class. 247Sports ranks him as the #16 Combo Guard in the class, and they also rank him as the #2 player in the state of Illinois.

As a Junior this past season at Homewood-Flossmoor (Chicago, Illinois), Heard averaged 19 point, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

From what I’m hearing, I predict Heard will commit to Run with the Wolfpack this afternoon, and I also predict he will reclassify to the 2024 class, filling the last spot on the NC State roster for this upcoming season.

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Football Recruiting

PI EXCLUSIVE: Defensive End Mykah Newton Breaks Down Committing to NC State

Published

7 days ago

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July 20, 2024

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On Thursday, Defensive End Mykah Newton verbally committed to NC State. I caught up with Newton to get his take on his decision to Run with the Wolfpack.

What was it about NC State’s Football Program that stood out over the rest?

What really stood out was just the amazing love the whole staff showed and the constant recruitment they showed.

Why do you believe NC State is the best place for you to be developed?

I believe its the best place because it fits my personality and who I am as a player, and also defensively, I fit in their scheme.

What were the most important factors you were looking for in a school?

The most important factors were academics, how the coaches can help me get to my goal and how they can help produce me into the player I want to be.

What are your thoughts on NC State’s 2025 recruiting class?

I feel amazing about my class. We are very underrated and we are going to shock all of College Football.

What do you think of where NC State’s football program is at, and where it’s heading?

It’s heading in a very good direction and they’re going to constantly progress throughout the years.

To check out more on Newton, click here.

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Football Recruiting

PI EXCLUSIVE: Center Isaac Sowells Jr. Breaks Down Committing to NC State

Published

7 days ago

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July 20, 2024

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On Thursday, the #3 Center in the 2025 recruiting class, Isaac Sowells Jr., committed to NC State. I caught up with Sowells Jr. to get his take on his decision to Run with the Wolfpack.

What was it about NC State’s Football Program that stood out over the rest?

There was no point in my recruitment where they tried to buy my love and always kept it real.

Why do you believe NC State is the best place for you to be developed?

Coach 2J and the NC State program both know how to develop All-American level Centers and Rimington Finalist/Winners. I believed they had the best chance to develop me I to that level and beyond.

What were the most important factors you were looking for in a school?

Connection with Coaching Staff, opportunity to play early, and fan engagement(I Don’t Want To Play In A Half Full Stadium).

What are your thoughts on NC State’s 2025 recruiting class?

We got some big pieces at the Offensive Skill and Defensive Skill positions. We got me and Gibbs and hopefully 1 more Offensive Lineman and the D-Line is solid. Having a QB and a TE committed too is big‼️

What do you think of where NC State’s football program is at, and where it’s heading?

With the ACC now being 1 big conference and not Atlantic/Coastal Divisions, things are very favorable. I do believe NC State can win the ACC for years to come.

To check out more on Sowells Jr., click here.

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