NC State football signing day live updates: Wolfpack has 11 in-state commitments
In the most unique recruiting year ever, coach Dave Doeren and his staff found a way to lure a respectable class to N.C. State in 2021.
The Wolfpack will welcome players to the team after they sign on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period. Of that group, nine will enroll early.
“It’s a good class,” Doeren said. “It starts with meeting your needs, but to bring in things we may not have. All these young men are super competitive. For us it was all about trying to get them to understand what we’re all about.”
In any other year Doeren and his staff would have wined and dined the group on campus during their recruiting visits. That was a no-go due to COVID-19. So the N.C. State coaches had to get to know their future players over a computer or phone screen this off season.
“Having five new coaches on our staff and not being able to showcase their personalities, system changes, how they coach,” Doeren explained. “I thought it was difficult and these guys did a tremendous job. A lot went into it that was very different in signing a class.”
Luckily for Doeren, several of the players committed early and were all-in of their vow to the Wolfpack.
‘It’s a class that we’re very proud of,” Doeren said. “A bunch of guys who fit our culture.”
Here are the recruits who have committed to N.C. State and are expected to sign with the team Wednesday.
The 19-man class of commitments features three, 4-star prospects. The class features 11 players from North Carolina. The top two players in the class (wide receiver Micah Crowell, athlete Jordan Poole) are both in-state, hailing from Kernersville and Oakboro, respectively. Doeren is also expected to welcome four transfers, including two - Cyrus Fagan, Durden - from Florida State.
Crowell is a player who is ranked nationally as a wide receiver and defensive back. Doeren said he will be a wide out at N.C. State.
“That’s what he is,” Doeren said. “He’s a very versatile guy on offense. He’s big, he can do a lot of different things at that position. With his size it allows you to be creative.”
Doeren and his staff got a chance to meet most of the class in person when they were underclassmen before COVID-19 struck. Since they couldn’t do any in-home visits to the seniors, a “ton of homework” went into evaluating the prospects.
“There’s been a lot of virtual conversations,” Doeren said. “You still get to watch the same amount of tape regardless, talk to counselors regardless, talk to coaches, those kind of things happen. We did everything we could and I think that’s all you can do is your best.”
NC State class of 2021 commitments
MICAH CROWELL, WIDE RECEIVER (6-2, 205 pounds)
East Forsyth, Kernersville
Crowell hasn’t played football since his sophomore year after suffering an ACL tear. The wide receiver room is one of the most crowded for the Wolfpack, but if Crowell is healthy, he’ll find his way on the field.
JORDAN POOLE, ATHLETE (6-0, 225)
West Stanly, Oakboro
Poole is a standout two-way player at West Stanly High. He registered 36 tackles and one interception as a junior and rushed for 1,534 yards and 22 touchdowns on offense. Projects to be a linebacker for the Wolfpack.
AARON MCLAUGHLIN, QB (6-5, 219)
Denmark, Alpharetta, Georgia
If you thought N.C. State’s wide receiver room was crowded, the quarterback room would like a word. Next year redshirt junior Bailey Hockman, redshirt sophomore Devin Leary and freshman Ben Finley all return. McLaughlin is a big-time talent (7,637 career yards, 101 career touchdowns), but he could be the quarterback of the future once Hockman and Leary graduate.
TRAVALI PRICE, DEFENSIVE END (6-4, 265)
North Lincoln, Lincolnton
Price finished with 84 tackles (21 tackles for loss) in 2019, his junior year. There’s experience at the defensive end position, but a spot is open in the rotation if graduate student Daniel Joseph doesn’t return.
CHASE HATTLEY, SAFETY (6-3, 205)
Panther Creek, Cary
Hattley, the lone commit from the Triangle, finished with 29 tackles and nine interceptions as a junior. Also played some wide receiver in high school, but projects to stay on the defensive side of the ball in college.
CADEN FORDHAM, LINEBACKER (6-2, 220)
The Bolles School, Jacksonville, Florida
At N.C. State, Fordham will have some veterans in front of him - Isaiah Moore, Drake Thomas, Payton Wilson, plus Vi Jones and Jaylon Scott returning. He finished with 93 tackles and four interceptions as a high school junior.
JULIAN GRAY, WIDE RECEIVER (5-10, 174)
Hopewell, Huntersville
Wide receiver will definitely be one of the hardest spots to crack for a true freshman at N.C. State. Gray caught 44 passes for 890 yards and seven scores in 2019.
CEDRIC SEABROUGH, TIGHT END (6-4, 220)
Swainsboro, Swainsboro, Ga.
All three of the Wolfpack’s top tight ends from 2020 were seniors. If the trio all decide to move on, Seabrough could get on the field right away.
ZYUN REEVES, DEFENSIVE END (6-7, 245)
East Forsyth, Kernersville
Reeves helped lead the Eagles to a state title in 2019 and finished his junior season with 88 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Relatively new to football, he focused on basketball until last season.
THORNTON GENTRY, CENTER (6-4, 282)
Chapin, Chapin, South Carolina
The No. 11 player in the state of South Carolina will have an ideal mentor in front of him next season in Wolfpack center and co-captain Grant Gibson.
NATE EVANS, CORNERBACK (6-1, 175)
Frank W. Cox, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Evans picked N.C. State over Tennessee and will have some time to develop with plenty of talent and experience in front of him at the cornerback position.
JALEEL DAVIS, OFFENSIVE LINE (6-6, 300)
Richmond, Rockingham
A player with long arms is ideal for the tackle position and that’s what coach Dave Doeren could get in the 6-6 Davis. One tackle spot will be held down by Ikem Ekwonu, the other possibly by Bryson Speas. Davis could prove to be a valuable backup in year one.
FREDRICK SEABROUGH, TIGHT END (6-4, 215)
Swainsboro, Swainsboro, Georgia
Frederick, the twin of Cedric Seabrough, could join his brother at the tight end position for all the same reasons mentioned above, there will be room to play for the Seabrough twins.
MARIO LOVE, CORNERBACK (5-10, 170)
Hough, Cornelius
Like Evans, Love will have the ability to learn from some experienced corners at N.C. State. The Pack’s top two corners in 2020 were underclassmen - freshman Shyheim Battle and sophomore Cecil Powell. True freshman Aydan White came on late, which will make it challenging, but not impossible, for Love to crack the rotation early.
DEMIE SUMO, RUNNING BACK (6-0, 202)
Willingboro, Willingboro, New Jersey
Sumo is the only running back in the class of 2021. With Bam Knight, Ricky Person, Jordan Houston and Trent Pinnix all returning, Sumo will more than likely sit and learn as a freshman. In two varsity seasons, he rushed for 1,241 yards and 16 scores.
JAKOLBE BALDWIN, WIDE RECEIVER (6-1, 205)
Richmond, Rockingham
Baldwin has played on a loaded Richmond team, scoring eight touchdowns in each of the last two seasons. In 2019 he caught 34 passes for 687 yards.
LYNDON COOPER, OFFENSIVE LINE (6-3, 315)
Carrollton, Carrollton, Georgia
Cooper was a late commitment to the class of 2021 and might not make a contribution right away, with the return of Speas and the development of Dylan McMahon in 2020. Doeren was also high on Sean Hill and Ethan Lane, two true freshmen who didn’t play in 2020.
SEAN BROWN, SAFETY (6-1, 190)
Hough, Cornelius
Brown finished with 65 tackles and one interception as a junior. Will get a chance to learn and develop behind Tanner Ingle, who will be a senior in 2021.
JAYDEN TATE, LONG SNAPPER (5-11, 265)
North Lincolnton, Lincolnton
TRANSFERS
CYRUS FAGAN, SAFETY (6-2, 195)
Florida State
Fagan played in 24 games with FSU since enrolling in 2017. He has 72 career tackles and one interception.
CORY DURDEN, DEFENSIVE LINE (6-3, 315)
Florida State
Durden played in 26 games in three seasons for the Seminoles, finishing with 68 tackles and 7.5 sacks. With Alim McNeill turning pro and Val Martin entering the transfer portal, there will be snaps available immediately for Durden.
CHANDLER ZAVALA, OFFENSIVE LINE (6-5, 325)
Fairmont State
Zavala was a Division II All-American last season for the Falcons. Depending on who returns up front will determine if Zavala contributes right away. If guard Joe Sculthorpe decides not to come back, Zavala could contend for a starting spot.
NC State’s recruiting class rankings
ACC RANKING: No. 6
NATIONAL RANKING: No. 31
*According to 247Sports
BEST RECRUIT
Micah Crowell, East Forsyth
Crowell, a wide receiver, is the No. 12 player in the state according to 247Sports.
TOP TRANSFER
CHANDLER ZAVALA, Fairmont State
Division II All-American will add some size and depth to the offensive line, which might be losing two starters.
BEST SURPRISE
Nate Evans was a Tennessee commit, but flipped to N.C. State.
This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
