Evaluating how NC State’s 8 midyear enrollees fit in for Wolfpack football in 2020
Dave Doeren welcomed eight freshman football players in January, but didn’t want to wait to get a jump on their careers.
N.C. State, like every other college program in the nation, had to cut spring practices short but the Wolfpack was lucky enough to get in some practices, giving Doeren a chance to properly evaluate the midyear enrollees.
Here is how each player fits in with the Wolfpack in 2020 and Doeren’s evaluation:
BEN FINLEY
▪ 6-foot-3, 205 pounds
▪ Phoenix, Ariz., Paradise Valley High
▪ Quarterback
▪ High school stats: Finely, the younger brother of former N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley, tossed for 8, 272 yards and 74 touchdowns during his prep career. He threw for 2,119 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior.
▪ 2020 outlook: The quarterback room is full and Doeren has said publicly that redshirt sophomore Devin Leary is the starter heading into fall camp. But that doesn’t mean Finley can’t compete for one of the backup spots. It’ll be an uphill battle as he’ll try to jump Bailey Hockman (redshirt junior) and Ty Evans (redshirt freshman), who know the offense little better.
“I thought Ben Finley did some good things, he had some tough days as well, but he’s very gifted,” Doeren said. “Excited about the progress he’ll be able to make. Those reps (fall camp) are going to be valuable for him.”
SEAN HILL
▪ 6-3, 310
▪ Snellville Ga., Brookwood High
▪ Offensive line
ETHAN LANE
▪ 6-3, 265
▪ Lawrenceville, Ga., Archer High
▪ Offensive line
▪ 2020 outlook: ESPN ranked Lane as the No. 6 center prospect in the country. Showing up midyear will give Hill and Lane to get in the rotation. The offensive line appears set with five players returning who started at least one game in 2019, including center Grant Gibson, who started all 12 games a year ago. Justin Witt, who suffered a season-ending injury after five games is also back.
But the early work gave the two young linemen a chance to try and snatch a backup role, if not a starting spot, if they can knock off an incumbent.
“I thought on our offensive line, both Sean (Hill) and Ethan (Lane) came in and were repping with the twos and getting a lot of work,” Doeren said. “They are both going to be good players. They are tough, they’re coachable, and did some good things.”
DEVAN BOYKIN
▪ 5-10, 175
▪ Greensboro, Ragsdale High
▪ Defensive back
▪ High school stats: Six career interceptions, including four as a senior. Also had 44 tackles.
▪ 2020 outlook: Chris Ingram and Teshaun Smith locked down the corner spots early last season and both return. Malik Dunlap also got plenty of reps. There are also a lot of younger corners waiting in the wings. But Doeren wouldn’t count out Boykin seeing the field this season.
“I thought Devan Boykin really showed up, did a lot of positive things, very athletic defensive back,” Doeren said. “Excited about him. He’s a guy who could play early for us and probably will.”
PORTER ROOKS
▪ 6-1, 185
▪ Charlotte, Myers Park
▪ Wide receiver
▪ High school stats: For his career, first at Providence Day then at Myers Park, he caught 173 passes for 2,424 yards and 34 touchdowns. His senior year at Myers Park, he caught 54 passes for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns.
▪ 2020 outlook: No question Rooks will be a player who will see the field in week one. He will be surrounded by an experienced bunch, but will add to the mix on the outside.
“Porter Rooks really stood out at receiver,” Doeren said. “Porter had some nice catches. Gets open, feels it, can adjust his body well.”
JALEN COIT
▪ 5-11, 150
▪ Cheraw, S.C., Cheraw High
▪ Wide receiver
▪ High school stats: Caught 175 passes for 2,746 yards during his high school career and 39 touchdowns. His senior season, Coit caught 55 passes for 842 yards and 11 touchdowns.
▪ 2020 outlook: Coit’s speed caught some attention in the spring, but a lot of veteran receivers, plus Rooks, will make it tough (but not impossible) to crack the rotation.
“Jalen Coit’s a really, really fast kid,” Doeren said. “He’s going to have to get a little bigger in the weight room and he’s done so already. But he has a lot of speed, which we expected him to have when we recruited him.”
JAYLAND PARKER
▪ 6-2, 215
▪ Macon, Ga., Westside High
▪ Linebacker
▪ High school stats: Registered 42 tackles as a senior. Ranked the No. 14 inside linebacker recruit in the country by ESPN.
▪ 2020 outlook: N.C. State has plenty of experience at linebacker this year. Isaiah Moore holds down the middle, with Drake Thomas, Payton Wilson and Louis Acceus on the outside. Seth Williams and Jaylon Scott played a lot of specials teams last year, but look to fight for snaps from scrimmage this season. Parker enrolling early could land him a spot on special teams to get on the field early.
NEHKI MEREDITH
▪ 5-9, 175
▪ Virginia Beach, Va., Bishop Sullivan
▪ Defensive back
▪ High school stats: No. 8 recruit in Virginia according to ESPN and the No. 31 athlete nationally. Played defensive back and running back in high school.
▪ 2020 outlook: In the same spot at Boykin, Meredith will arrive in a defensive backs’ room with a lot of experience in front of him. Might have to make an impact on specials teams early to catch the eye of the coaching staff, could help in the nickel if needed.
