The NC State football team announced the signing of 19 recruits on Wednesday. This 2019 class is undoubtedly a success and comes on the heels of the 2018 class which made an early impact on the field, yet still has a lot of untapped potential. If the Wolfpack can continue to stack classes like these last two, it can take the program to new heights.
Capitalizing on success
NC State is not a blueblood football program. It’s nearly impossible to recruit without success on the field and getting players to the NFL. When there’s above average seasons on the field, it won’t mean much in the long run if recruiting doesn’t match the above average seasons. Well, the Pack has been above average on the field and matched it off the field. Top-25 classes are not the norm at NC State, but each of the last two seasons have been just that. The Wolfpack had one of the best draft classes in the country last year and is set to have another top draft class again. The only way for the Pack to continue contending for the Atlantic Division and ACC Championships is to match that success on the recruiting trail, and that is exactly what has happened the last two years.
“I said this back then, when you have four players drafted on the d-line, it’s happened three times in NFL history, not just NC State, in the history of the NFL draft,” head coach Dave Doeren said. “Then all of a sudden you see us get the four best defensive linemen in the state, there’s a correlation there. When kids can see it, it’s different than when you just talk about it.”
Offense adds speed
By any measure, the Pack had a top-25 offense in 2018. However, one thing it was missing was speed. After former running back Nyheim Hines left early for the NFL, the offense missed somebody who could take it to the house on any given play like Hines could. Well, that’s changing. Running back Zonovan Knight and wide receiver Keyon Lesane are big additions for that reason. Knight showed off his speed in the Shrine Bowl with a 61-yard touchdown run and averaged 16.6 yards per carry his senior season. When watching him run, it’s hard not to see the similarities to Hines. Knight will almost certainly have a big role as a true freshman and could even get a look at kick returner. Lesane is a slot receiver who could play immediately.
Restocking the quarterback room
Former Florida State quarterback Bailey Hockman and Colorado native Ty Evans both join the impending quarterback competition after signing Wednesday. Hockman competed in the spring to win the Seminoles starting quarterback job but left after finishing third. He’s a left-handed, dual-threat who will push freshman Devin Leary and redshirt freshman Matt McKay. Evans was a late pickup who had been committed to Colorado. Whether or not Evans is a threat to win the starting quarterback spot as a true freshman remains to be seen.
“We had some voids when you look at our depth,” Doeren said. “You don’t want to stack talent in the same year if you can help it. Being able to get an older guy like Bailey and add a younger guy like Ty, I think was great for all of them, because you don’t want to put guys on top of each other if you don’t have to on the depth chart.”
Defensive line reloads
The defensive line is unquestionably the crown jewel of the 2019 class. The Pack had to capitalize on all four defensive linemen getting drafted in 2017, and boy did it ever. Defensive ends Savion Jackson and Terrell Dawkins, plus defensive tackles Josh Harris and CJ Clark is as good of a group as anybody in the entire country. Any four of those guys had any pick of schools across the country like Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama and others. All four are enrolling early and Jackson and Harris are near locks to play as true freshmen. Clark is recovering from injury and Dawkins needs to add weight, but depending on spring practice, they could also play next fall. If it’s even possible, the 2018 and 2019 classes could turn into a better defensive line than the four former players who got drafted in 2018.
What now?
There’s still six weeks of the 2019 recruiting cycle left. The next signing day is Feb. 6, 2019 and the Pack has work to do, even though there aren’t many spots left. Last year, the Pack was able to sign redshirt sophomore tight end Cary Angeline, a transfer from USC and freshman cornerback Taiyon Palmer, among others in the late signing period. That was a huge success for the Pack. This year, the biggest focus is on running back Jamious Griffin who is a verbal commit but elected not to sign on Wednesday. Griffin committed to the Pack in May but had a huge senior season and was rewarded with the Gatorade Player of the Year award in Georgia and has received offers from Miami and Auburn the last couple weeks. He also visited Georgia Tech this past weekend. Keeping Griffin in the fold for six weeks is going to be tough, but that will be the primary focus. Presumably, the goal will be to sign four players: Griffin or another running back, an offensive lineman, a safety and a linebacker. Keep an eye on transfers from four-year schools and from junior colleges during this time.
