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NC State Football Recruiting Update

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3 months ago

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Here’s a rundown of some of the happenings in the world of NC State Football Recruiting recently.

Thursday Visitor

4-Star 2026 EDGE Zavion Griffin-Hayes (6’6″/225) took an unofficial visit to NC State Thursday.

ON3 ranks Griffin-Hayes as the #78 overall player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, the #9 EDGE, and the #7 player in the state of North Carolina.

Griffin-Hayes plays right down the road from NC State at Rolesville, where NC State’s Isiah Jones, Tamarcus Cooley & Noah Rogers played. The Wolfpack have yet to offer Griffin-Hayes yet, but he does hold offers from South Carolina, App St., Auburn, UCLA and others.

Griffin-Hayes has been a frequent visitor to NC State.

This past season as a Sophomore at Rolesville, Griffin-Hayes had 50+ tackles, 20+ tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

4-Star RB Kentrell Rinehart is taking an Official Visit

4-Star 2025 Running Back Kentrell Rinehart (6’2”/205) is taking an Official Visit to NC State on June 21-23. He also has Official Visits scheduled to Minnesota and Syracuse.

Back on February 10th, Rinehart revealed his Top-5 schools, and he included NC State, along with Syracuse, Indiana, Kentucky and Minnesota.

Rivals ranks him as the #24 Running Back in the 2025 recruiting class, and the #14 overall player in the state of Ohio.

His Junior stats this past season (at Bishop Ready) were video game numbers, rushing for 2,837 yards (8.3 yards per carry) and 42 touchdowns.

Yesterday’s Visitors

3-Star 2026 Wide Receiver Nyqir Helton (5’11″/180) was on an unofficial visit to NC State.

Rivals ranks Helton as the #7 overall player in the state of New Jersey in the 2026 recruiting class. He holds offers from Penn St., Rutgers, UCONN, Maryland, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

As a Sophomore, Helton had 33 receptions for 606 yards and 7 touchdowns for Winslow Township (Atco, New Jersey).

4-Star 2026 Running Back Jaylen McGill (5’10″/185) was on an unofficial visit to NC State.

Rivals ranks McGill as the #238 overall player nationally in the 2026 recruiting class, the #17 Running Back, and the #2 player in the state of South Carolina.

McGill holds offers from Tennessee, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Indiana.

As a Sophomore last year, McGill 1,602 yards rushing (9.1 yards per carry) and 24 touchdowns for Broome (Spartanburg, SC). He also had 88 yards receiving and 2 touchdown receptions.

3-Star 2026 Interior Offensive Lineman Steven Pickard Jr. (6’5″/300) was in Raleigh for an unofficial visit.

ON3 ranks him as the #10 overall player in the state of South Carolina in the 2026 recruiting class.

Pickard Jr. plays for Phillip Simmons in Charleston, SC.

4-Star 2025 Wide Receiver Braswell Thomas (6’2″/185) was also on campus.

Rivals ranks Thomas as the #8 player in the state of New Jersey in the 2025 recruiting class.

Thomas holds offers from Penn St., Rutgers, Tennessee, Georgia, and Nebraska.

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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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4 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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