With Players Transferring Back Home, Juice Vereen Believes NC State Has Something Special

When players like Noah Rogers, Hollywood Smothers and Tamarcus Cooley transferred to NC State this offseason, from Ohio State, Oklahoma and Maryland respectively, according to Wolfpack Sophomore Tight End Juice Vereen, the 2023 recruiting class that was supposed to be, is now a reality.

“That was supposed to be the recruiting class in 2023 the first time. Noah (Rogers), Hollywood (Smothers), all these boys,” said Vereen. “To see them coming back, we’ve got something special…really, really special going on now. We’re looking to bring it all back.”

Despite the fact that these players from the state of North Carolina were spread out across the United States, the bond that was built over the years of high school didn’t waiver.

“I was always wanting to play with those boys. Now that I get to play with them, it feels special. We’ve all been bonded since high school. When everybody split their ways, we didn’t stop our communication,” said Vereen. “Now that they’re back, we are as tight as ever again. The bond never broke. Ever. I’m glad those boys came back and realized where home was.”

Rogers played for Rolesville, Smothers played for West Charlotte, and Vereen played for Havelock, but the best players across the state of North Carolina build relationships despite the distance.

“We all got connected through visits. Camps can do it too. I’ve been on camps with multiple of these players…Noah, Hollywood, Lex. Coming up here watching games together, sitting beside each other, getting to know each other a lot,” said Vereen. “That helped us out, leading to these boys making the decision to come back home. We pretty much knew they were going to after their Freshman seasons.”

One of the key components of a football team is the relationship the players share off the field, and according to Vereen, the players from the 2023 class are as tight as ever.