N.C. State signs 12. Doeren expresses frustration with uncertain scholarship numbers
Quality over quantity properly describes Dave Doeren’s class of 2022 signees.
On Wednesday, the start of the early signing period for college football, 12 players sent their letters of intent to the Murphy Center. The group is ranked No. 7 in the ACC and No. 50 in the nation by 247Sports.
The overall ranking would be higher, but the dozen players have an average ranking of .8703, per 247Sports rankings. That’s the highest average per player in school history.
Doeren told the media on Wednesday this was purposely a smaller group because of the extra year granted to players because of COVID-19 last season. Not only did his roster have super seniors this season, but each player got an extra year. That means guys who would be done with eligibility can return. So far, the Wolfpack has gotten a handful of players from the current roster who have already announced their plans to return in 2022.
So Doeren and his staff, which will have to work really hard at roster management as the COVID numbers shift out, settle for a smaller group that fits their needs.
Expecting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu to enter the NFL Draft, Doeren got a late addition to the class in tackle Jacarrius Peak. He has a running back, Michael Allen, who can help right away, especially if Zonovan Knight leaves for the NFL. Ricky Person, Jr. already announced his plans to forgo an extra season and enter the draft.
He also landed a potential quarterback of the future in dual-threat signal-caller, M.J. Morris.
The good news is, even with small numbers, he won’t have to rely on many of them right away. The ‘Dirty Dozen’ of 2022 are talented, but a lot of them are classic N.C. State long-term projects; guys who will develop over time.
Doeren had to have a conversation with many members of the 2022 class about sitting and waiting with so many guys returning. He doesn’t see that as a negative.
“For example the two linebackers we signed today (Daejuan Thompson and Torren Wright), they are going to play with Isaiah Moore, Drake Thomas, Payton Wilson, Levi (Jones),” Doeren said. “They get some really good mentorships in that first year. To me that’s a positive. I think that’s part of the development. We talk about developing our players and we look at this place as the best in the country at developing players.”
FIGURING OUT THE NUMBERS
In 2021, programs were allowed to go over their allotted 85 scholarships because of the COVID year.
Players all over the country, including N.C. State, took advantage and had super seniors on the roster.
What the NCAA hasn’t done yet was announced when schools will be required to go back to 85. Football has always been a numbers game, something coaches have to figure out. But it’s been a lot easier when coaches know the magic number to work with. It’s a tricky game that Doeren doesn’t want to play.
“I think the NCAA has completely failed us as coaches with our roster management,” Doeren said. “I’m sure they thought it was a good idea to reward everyone on our roster with an extra year, and I can see why that happened.”
Last season, the super seniors didn’t count towards the 85 scholarships. Doeren thought that was the right model.
“It’s not a good situation to be in as a football coach,” Doeren said. “You’re either recruiting fewer players, which hurts the development of guys.”
In the past it was easier to predict attrition, but the extra year has made it difficult.
“I think the NCAA really screwed this one up,” Doeren said. “That’s just my opinion. They probably don’t care if that’s my opinion, but I hope there is some relief.”
For the foreseeable future, Doeren and his staff will do what they’ve always done; take the group of mostly three-star players and build them up.
“We have to be able to find guys that fit the measurable we want and build them up,” Doeren said. “Find the guys who have the work ethic and intangibles because that takes a certain guy. I’m very proud of our staff. It’s a good group of people that understand the vision.”
Michael Allen (5-11, 186) | RB | J.H. Rose (Greenville) |
Nick Campbell (6-3, 270) | DE | Lake Minneola (Minneola, Fla.) |
Brandon Cleveland (6-3, 265) | DE | Carrollwood Day School (Tampa, Fla.) |
Isaiah Crowell (5-11, 175) | DB | East Forsyth (Kernersville) |
DJ Jackson (6-2, 275) | DT | Sumter (Sumter, SC) |
MJ Morris (6-1, 192) | QB | Carrollton (Carrollton, Ga.) |
Daejuan Thompson (6-3, 200) | LB | Whiteville (Whiteville) |
Terrell Timmons, Jr. (6-2, 180) | WR | Northern Guilford (Greensboro) |
Rylan Vann (6-1, 270) | OL | Cary (Cary) |
Jackson Vick (6-0, 175) | DB | Southern Nash (Bailey) |
Torren Wright (6-3, 215) | LB | A.L. Brown (Kannapolis) |
Jacarrius Peak (6-5, 310) | OL | Valdosta (Valdosta, Ga.) |
