ACC Atlantic recruiting overview
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/columns/story?columnist=tucker_billy&id=3217207

NC State

Signing day storylines: Tom O'Brien probably did not achieve the success he desired in his first-year at NC State, but off the field, the former Boston College head coach is building a quality recruiting class like he did for many years at Chestnut Hill. We actually expect even better classes down the road as O'Brien becomes accustomed with a recruiting area far more fertile than New England and with an admissions department presumably far less rigorous than BC's. This current 2008 class may reflect the changes already taking place, as the Wolfpack currently have the No. 20 class heading into signing day and perhaps have O'Brien's next Matt Ryan at quarterback.

Top prospect: Mike Glennon (Centreville, Va./ Westfield) possesses the size, arm strength and quick release to excel as a college quarterback and the intangibles to lead a rebuilding program. We were impressed with his talents on film but even more in person when evaluating him live as an Under Armour All-American. Glennon can make all the college throws with accuracy and knows how to add zip or touch when needed. He will need to add bulk to withstand the hits and stay in the pocket, but his drop-back style fits right into offensive coordinator Dana Bible's system that molded Matt Ryan for three years in Boston.

Class highlights: Glennon will have a great weapon heading into Raleigh with him on offense in ESPN's No. 8-rated athlete Brandon Barnes. This kid should be able to create mismatches all over the field for Bible with his quickness and is a legit dual-threat as a runner and receiver. Tight end Mario Carter has receiver skills in a 6-foot-5, 231-pound tight end body. He will need to recover from a season-ending knee injury, but his upside and physical tools at the position are excellent and earned him a top-10 ranking. The Boston College traits continue on the offensive line with R.J. Mattes (Concord, N.C./J.M. Robinson), a taller, leaner tackle prospect with good feet and the frame to get much bigger.

The Wolfpack also landed one of the top in-state defensive prospects in Terrell Manning (Laurinburg, N.C./Scotland). Hard to find many physical flaws in this kid's game, he is one of the better vertical attacking players in this class but will need to refine his coverage skills and continue physically developing to become a complete player.

The wild card in this class is Tobias Palmer (Pittsboro, N.C./Northwood), an excellent athlete with the quickness and speed to join Manning on defense as a shutdown corner or give NC State a home-run threat out of the backfield on offense.

Could see the field in 2008: Glennon, Barnes.

1/29/2008 12:21:07 AM

http://www.wral.com/sports/story/2364480/

N.C. State, UNC, Duke Receive Football Commitments
NCAA Football (Generic)

By Sammy Batten

Posted: Jan. 28 4:11 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 28 10:22 p.m.

N.C. State dipped into the junior college ranks for a second time in two weeks for defensive help, and North Carolina added a key in-state player to its class during weekend recruiting development.

The Wolfpack received commitments from Clement Johnson from Valley Forge Military Academy and defensive tackle Thomas Locust from Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. Both made pledges after taking official visits to Raleigh last weekend.

Johnson, a 5-foot-11 1/2, 195-pounder, played quarterback the last two years at Valley Forge. He was selected offensive player of the year in the Seaboard Football Conference this season.

N.C. State only recently offered a scholarship to Johnson after the coaching staff learned that junior safety DaJuan Morgan had declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. Johnson had previously committed to Temple before the Wolfpack offered.

Although he’s been used primarily as a quarterback, Johnson is confident he can step in and help N.C. State immediately in the secondary.

“My athleticism is ridiculous,’’ Johnson said. “I have good size. I’m a man-to-man type defensive back, but I find the zone easy to play. Plus, I’ve played on the offensive side of the ball, so I know how quarterbacks think. It’ll be a lot easier for me to read them because I’ve played the position before.”

Locust attended Florida A&M for one year but did not play or practice with the football team. He transferred to Cerritos, where played the last two years. Locust made 24 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 2007.

Colorado State and Nevada were also recruiting Locust, but he was drawn to N.C. State because it is closer to his hometown of Riviera Beach, Fla.

“Everything about the campus and the facilities made me close the deal,’’ Locust said. “The campus is nice and big and laid back. And it’s closer to home.’’

The additions of Johnson and Locust come a week after Nassau Community College defensive end Shea McKeen committed to the Wolfpack. A fourth JUCO player, defensive lineman Leroy Burgess from Georgia Military College, is also part of the N.C. State recruiting class.

UNC’s commitment came from one of the state’s top offensive line prospects in Jonathan Cooper from Wilmington’s Hoggard High School. The 6-2 1/2, 300-pounder chose the Tar Heels over offers from Duke, East Carolina, N.C. State, South Carolina and Wake Forest.

Cooper was a key player in Hoggard’s run to a 16-0 finish and the state 4-A championship this season. He was such a force at offensive guard that he was chosen player of the year in the Mideastern Conference.

Duke also added a third commitment for new head coach David Cutliffe in tight end Jackson Anderson from Frisco, Texas. The 6-4, 230-pounder had also taken an official visit to UNC, according to Frisco High coach Vince Gibson. (how did UNC lose a recruit to Duke?)

“He has good size potential,’’ Gibson said. “He’s a kid that’s going to get a lot bigger. He has the ability to be a good blocker. He’s a skilled athlete with good hands, and he can run routes and catch the ball, so he has the chance to develop into a really good prospect.’’

1/29/2008 12:31:12 AM

If I had no pro prospects, I would go to Duke before UNC possibly.

1/29/2008 12:33:17 AM

Sean Renfree, 4* #10 QB in the nation according to Scout who had previously committed to GT while Gailey was still there committed to Duke tonight. ^just to add to that

1/29/2008 12:51:33 AM

Lol. Carolina better watch out.

1/29/2008 12:52:53 AM

http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/a.z?s=178&p=8&c=1&nid=3508093

Sterling Lucas commits.

1/29/2008 10:50:43 AM

Sterling Lucas commits to TOB!

1/29/2008 10:50:58 AM

NIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really thought he was going to go to USC considering that is his home state and his father would have liked for him to go there.


I'm still waiting on someone with photoshop to do a good photoshop of TOB reeling in recruits like he's out fishing.

[Edited on January 29, 2008 at 11:15 AM. Reason : ]

1/29/2008 11:15:05 AM

Sweet now if we can just land Mackey

1/29/2008 11:34:36 AM

if we get Mackey then that would be a perfect class

1/29/2008 11:48:46 AM

Landing Mackey would be almost unbelievable at this point. What a class.

1/29/2008 11:51:56 AM

I don't know why I feel this way, but I will not believe that Deion Walker is actually going to Notre Dame until they receive his LOI. For some reason I think that he will pull a Greg Little and switch his commitment from Notre Dame on signing day and decide to run with the 'Pack. Wishful thinking I know.

1/29/2008 11:52:30 AM

think he ends up going somewhere other than ND as well. i think PSU most likely, but you never know. i think HIS heart is with NC State but people are pushing him to the big boys (family to ND, HS coach to PSU).

1/29/2008 11:55:16 AM

tj graham has got some speed

http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1378323619

meet record, #2 time in the country

dude can run endzone to endzone in under 10 seconds:
http://nc.milesplit.us/athletes/77608/stats

[Edited on January 29, 2008 at 12:21 PM. Reason : ]

1/29/2008 12:19:24 PM

Yeah I'm hoping the TJ Graham be a sleeper in this class. He's rated 3-stars so he isn't that much of a sleeper but I think with his abilities he could be rated higher, it's just he's in an offense that was very run-oriented and had a QB that wasn't spectacular. So hopefully he can come in and give us a deep-threat in the vertical game.

1/29/2008 12:41:13 PM

yeah he has a chance to play next year as a returner, but i think it'll take at least a year before his WR ability can be coached up enough to get him on the field in that regard.

i'd love to see lots of deep bombs thrown his way by mike glennon though, with him running 10 yards behind the closest defender

1/29/2008 12:44:37 PM

Yourhighness??

http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/a.z?s=178&p=8&c=1&nid=2998189

1/29/2008 2:34:06 PM

lolololl

wat

1/29/2008 2:34:56 PM

^^haha awesome

1/29/2008 2:52:39 PM

yeah he was probably a backup for if lucas went to USC. not sure if we'll end up signing him now that we got our guy.

1/29/2008 4:03:53 PM

here's Yourhighness' Rivals page.

http://ncstate.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=62642&sport=1

he probably hates the name and goes by something normal like Will or John. Yourhighness would be a pretty awesome name for a pimp though.

1/29/2008 5:35:10 PM

looks like Mackey is our last prospect unless we can get some suprise visitors this weekend


UNC looks to be setting up a huge signing day and i'm sure thats all the media will talk a/b the next day.

I wouldn't trade our class for anybody's b/c our guys seem to be good kids and want to play at nc state.

1/29/2008 9:43:43 PM

wait are you being sarcastic about UNC or serious? who do they have more than likely coming there besides the 12 commits that they currently have?

1/29/2008 9:51:50 PM

EJAW and Coples are locks and supposedly they are leaders for a Safety Davidson and a DE Quinn (both highly regarded). Prolly will get a few more but UNC is going to get some Big Time talent. I think everybody realized this when they got Butch.

Watch out for Spencer Adams and maybe Dwayne Allen too. Adams has Little written all over him.

1/29/2008 9:56:46 PM

because thats what the guru's are saying duh



...the same gurus that said Lucas to SC and Mattes to Klimpson.

[Edited on January 29, 2008 at 9:59 PM. Reason : ]

1/29/2008 9:58:37 PM

^i'm not saying all those ppl are locks to go there but the bottom line is NC state is going to get players and so is UNC. THe question is who is going to coach those players the best. And I personally believe that is TOB.

1/29/2008 10:03:07 PM

We've already gotten our players


I have no doubt that Keraliner will get theirs, but celebrating "potential" commits will just make it funny if they don't get them.

1/29/2008 10:08:57 PM

I hope EJAW goes to UT not just b/c I pull for the Vols, but b/c it would be great to see the bitching on IC.

1/29/2008 10:12:28 PM

No doubt Butchy can recruit nationally and will always have good recruiting classes coming in. It should be fun to see his 4 and 5 star recruits play against TOB's 4 and 3 star recruits. Hopefully in a few years, they can make the State/UNC game a national rivalry, not just a local one.

1/29/2008 10:20:53 PM

yeah honestly if butch has success at unc (like BCS success, not the occasional peach bowl) then it'll be because of stellar recruiting, not a mastery of actual coaching. pains me to say this, but i could probably say the same thing about roy a little bit

1/29/2008 10:24:14 PM

Quote :

"EJAW and Coples are locks and supposedly they are leaders for a Safety Davidson and a DE Quinn (both highly regarded). Prolly will get a few more but UNC is going to get some Big Time talent. I think everybody realized this when they got Butch. Watch out for Spencer Adams and maybe Dwayne Allen too. Adams has Little written all over him."

Wilson, McAdoo, and Massie too. Supposedly, some of these guys have already silently committed.

1/29/2008 11:16:33 PM

Quote :

"We've already gotten our players "

while i agree with you . . . we don't have shit until they fax in their LOI

1/29/2008 11:26:29 PM

Quote :

"THe question is who is going to coach those players the best ."

Stop right there. If UNC thinks that Butch Davis's last hoorah is at UNC, they are positively nuts. This guy will get back to the pros when the 5M a year offer comes in. I think with Petrino at Arkansas, and we know his routine, Butch will be in the SEC or NFL after two more seasons. But they should enjoy the next two seasons and recruiting will pick up. The fact that UNC had to pony up or lose Butch this season (4-8) tells me a lot about his future plans. Neither team will have a QB next season. Whatever happens, we can certainly feel much more comfortable about years 3-10 with TOB than they can with Butch

[Edited on January 29, 2008 at 11:32 PM. Reason : .]

1/29/2008 11:30:18 PM

Quote :

"pains me to say this, but i could probably say the same thing about roy a little bit"

my friend, that is exactly roy williams. not probably a little bit.

[Edited on January 29, 2008 at 11:30 PM. Reason : quote tagz]

1/29/2008 11:30:35 PM

Blake at UNC doesn't recruit areas, he recruits the top 100. He did this for Nebraska before he came to UNC and you see what that got them..........a fired coach. Nonetheless, they will have a good looking class. Saying that, the only player i would take from their class that they have right now is Kevin Reddick.

1/30/2008 12:05:33 AM

^and Braden Hanson so we have a fag to take shits on after practice

1/30/2008 3:33:50 AM

VT just landed a DE

Should help us with Mackey... or possibly tell us something about Mackey?

1/30/2008 10:00:29 AM

Yeah Va Tech now has 3 DE commits, hopefully Mackey can see that and see he needs to run with the Pack.

1/30/2008 10:27:17 AM

From Scout's Top 300 Commitment Tracker

#272 Leon Mackey Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military

Announcing: 2/6 - Signing Day

Finalists: Florida State, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech

Newberg: Virginia Tech Safrit: NC State
Wallace: Virginia Tech Actual

1/30/2008 1:20:57 PM

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=767204

haha, awesome


BATTLE FOR NORTH CAROLINA
The Combatants: North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Duke, East Carolina

The Winner: NC State

This is an easy call. NC State coach Tom O'Brien did a fine job his first year in state, hauling in numerous players who can make an early impact. Linebacker Terrell Manning, offensive tackle R.J. Mattes and athlete Brandon Barnes are all headliners and offensive lineman Andrew Wallace and linebacker Dwayne Maddox add depth to the in-state class. Athlete E.J. Abrams-Ward hasn't decided as of this writing and he could be a great addition to UNC's class if they land him and the Heels will sign linebacker Kevin Reddick and quarterback Braden Hanson but it's not enough. East Carolina did some nice work in state while Wake Forest and Duke focused more out of state. - Mike Farrell


The odd thing though is how they decided to include the state of North Carolina as one of the 5 states being discussed in the article along with great football states such as California, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania. And to Pitt beating out Penn State.

[Edited on January 30, 2008 at 9:30 PM. Reason : ]

1/30/2008 9:27:29 PM

Quote :

"Saying that, the only player i would take from their class that they have right now is Kevin Reddick."

Oh cmon, you'd gladly take any of the other five 4* commitments we have right now. I have no problem saying I'd be happy to have Glennon, Mattes, Manning, etc.

1/31/2008 12:20:40 AM

^ok, u got me, maybe melvin williams since he seems to be a pretty good safety, and thats a position we need help at RIGHT NOW(see that hes a JUCO). Other than that....we've covered the 4-stars you have. MLB? yea we're good. WOmble at RB? Eugene was a soph and ripped you for 160 last year. not to mention baker and brown return. Dwight Jones? thats just a joke because he shouldnt even stand a chance at getting into unc. Taking online courses??? lmao at your academics

1/31/2008 12:50:17 AM

Neither Brown nor Okakpu project as MLBs in college. They'll be outside LBs or Brown could even play safety with 4.39 40 speed. Womble would be great to redshirt this season since you guys do have good depth at TB. Brown and Baker both graduate after this year and then you're just left with Eugene who may have had a good game against us last season but overall wasn't that great. He averaged less than 4 yards/carry. You have to think beyond just this season. State may be able to pick up a top 15 back in recruiting next year but that's certainly not a given.

Also, I seem to remember a certain head coach at State taking online courses in order to complete his degree in time to fill the vacancy. Hmmmm....

[Edited on January 31, 2008 at 1:12 AM. Reason : ]

1/31/2008 1:01:37 AM

all this time, i thought tarheel was another word for faggot


[Edited on January 31, 2008 at 1:06 AM. Reason : .]

1/31/2008 1:05:18 AM

Quote :

"Also, I seem to remember a certain head coach at State taking online courses in order to complete his degree in time to fill the vacancy. Hmmmm...."

next time someone mentions to you how good that academic standards are to be the basketball coach at state (or any school anywhere), you bring this up.

i'll bring up recruits taking online courses to qualify next time someone from carolina brings up their academic standards to play for them.

do we have terms?

1/31/2008 1:33:02 AM

^^^ You forgot about Underwood. And that's a name, not a gay sex position, so don't get excited.



[Edited on January 31, 2008 at 1:33 AM. Reason : darnet]

1/31/2008 1:33:34 AM

Quote :

"Brown and Baker both graduate after this year and then you're just left with Eugene who may have had a good game against us last season but overall wasn't that great."

Actually Baker has two years left with Eugene should he choose to stay. And newsflash we just signed a 4* RB Brandon Barnes and Tobias Palmer and either could play RB.

[Edited on January 31, 2008 at 1:36 AM. Reason : ^Underwood looked good in limited carries as a freshman]

1/31/2008 1:35:55 AM

barnes projects as a safety, not a running back, at the college level

1/31/2008 1:45:30 AM

^^ fucking zing right thar.

1/31/2008 1:45:51 AM

Quote :

"next time someone mentions to you how good that academic standards are to be the basketball coach at state (or any school anywhere), you bring this up. i'll bring up recruits taking online courses to qualify next time someone from carolina brings up their academic standards to play for them. do we have terms?"

Sure. Lowe completed online courses to qualify for a job that he otherwise would not have. Jones is trying to complete a couple of online courses to qualify for a school he otherwise would not have. Works for me.


^^^ My bad on Baker. I didn't realize he had redshirted last season. I don't think either Barnes or Palmer are slated to play TB at State though.

[Edited on January 31, 2008 at 1:55 AM. Reason : ]

1/31/2008 1:48:34 AM