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After receiving a commitment from Kollin Byers earlier in the day, NC State picked up a second commitment to the 2016 NC State football recruiting class in Hillside’s DaeShawn Stephens last night.  I caught up with the wide receiver today to talk about his commitment to the Wolfpack.

Stephens told me that NC State started recruiting him early last season, and that Coach McDonald even came by the school to talk with him.  When NC State offered, he was confident he was offered by the top football school in the state.

“I personally believe that NC State is the best in-state football program in the state of North Carolina,” said Stephens.  “When I looked into Coach Doreen’s eyes, I could tell that he meant everything that he was saying.  I just know that NC State is a good place for me to go to further my football career.”

Stephens has plus-size for a receiver, standing 6’2″ (205lbs), and that is one of the things that NC State likes about him.

 “The NC State coaches really like my size,” said Stephens.  “They said they could see me being a go-to receiver on third downs, and when plays need to be made.”

When I asked him if he knew any of the other 2016 football commits, he said that he already knew Tight End Bryce Dixon and Linebacker Garrett Hooker.  He said that all of the commits that were at the Alpha Wolf Showcase last night at NC State formed one large group text to stay in communication.

Stephens cited a variety of things that he wants to work on, but gave one of the best, yet obvious, goals I have heard out of a wide receiver.  He wants to catch ’em all.

“I’m just planning on working on my route running and getting faster,” said Stephens.  “I really want to work on my conditioning, so I don’t get as fatigued as I used to.  And I guess to catch everything that comes my way!”

 

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

3-Star Safety Tristan Teasdell Commits to NC State!

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3-Star 2025 Safety Tristan Teasdell 6’1″/175) verbally committed to NC State this afternoon.

Teasdell chose to run with the Wolfpack over offers from Miami, Duke, ECU, Coastal Carolina, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma St., Oregon St., Pitt, TCU, Washington, Notre Dame, USC and others.

After the Wolfpack’s Spring Game, Teasdell told me that NC State was in his Top-5. He is scheduled to take an Official Visit on June 7-9.

Teasdell plays for Tuscarora High School in Leesburg, Virginia.

NC State offered Teasdell on March 25.

Teasdell is now NC State’s 4th verbal commitment in the 2025 recruiting class.

3-Star QB Will Wilson
3-Star TE Gus Ritchey
3-Star Defensive End Colby Cronk
3-Star Safety Tristan Teasdell

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Football Recruiting

3-Star DT Drayden Pavey is Taking an Official Visit to NC State

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3-Star 2025 Defensive Tackle Drayden Pavey (6’3″/305) will be taking an Official Visit to NC State on June 18th. He also has Official Visit’s scheduled for Purdue, Wisconsin and Arizona.

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ON3 ranks Pavey as the #4 player in the state of Kentucky (Robert A. Taft High/Burlington, KY)

NC State has already made quite the impression. They only offered him on April 24th. Getting an Official Visit scheduled a week after offering a player is a good sign.

When Pavey released his Top-8 back in February, NC State was obviously on the list. It consisted of Miami (OH), Toledo, Boston College, West Virginia, Pitt, Cincinnati, Indiana and Purdue. Wisconsin is also new to the scene, offering Pavey on April 21st.

As a Junior, Pavey had 46 tackles 7.5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss.

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Football Recruiting

4-Star Safety Jordan Young Includes NC State in Top-8

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4-Star 2025 Safety Jordan Young (6’0″/170) revealed his Top-8 schools today, and NC State made the cut along with Alabama, FSU, UNC, Clemson, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas A&M.

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It’s not shocking that Young included the Wolfpack, because back on April 15th he shared that he had locked in an Official Visit to NC State for June 19-21. He also has Official Visits scheduled to Clemson (May 31), FSU (June 14), and Tennessee (June 21).

All 4 recruiting databases rank Young as a Top-200 prospect nationally in the 2025 recruiting class, with ESPN, 247Sports and ON3 ranking him in the Top-35. 247Sports ranks him as the #29 overall player nationally, the #2 Safety and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina.

This past season, Young had 66 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and 3 pass breakups for Monroe High School. On the offensive side of the ball, he had 34 receptions for 812 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Young is planning to announce his commitment on October 12th.

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Football Recruiting

4-Star Safety Jontae Gilbert Has Locked in an Official Visit to NC State

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4-Star 2025 Safety Jontae Gilbert (6’1″/180) confirmed with me that he has locked in an Official Visit to NC State for the weekend of September 27-29, and he plans for it to be his last Official Visit.

Back in July of 2022, Gilbert committed to Ohio St., but last July he decommitted from the Buckeyes.

Gilbert also has Official Visits scheduled for UCF, South Carolina and USC.

At one point, Gilbert was a 5-star prospect, but now he is a consensus 4-star prospect, and a consensus Top-275 player. Rivals ranks him as the #70 overall player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class, and the #8 player in the state of Georgia.

NC State offered Gilbert in April of last year.

Recently, he has taken unofficial visits to, or been visited by Louisville, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia St., Oregon, Clemson, Texas and South Carolina.

While he doesn’t have an Official Visit set up with Georgia, the Bulldogs are obviously a big player in Gilbert’s recruitment.

Gilbert plays for Douglass High School in Atlanta, Georgia.

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