What head coach Dave Doeren said about the NC State football signing class

N.C. State signed more than 20 new players on Wednesday for its 2026 recruiting class, adding a number of players to its roster in much-needed positions.

The Wolfpack signed eight players from North Carolina, which leads all states, and five from Florida. It also picked up three signees from Georgia, as well.

“We met all our needs,” N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said. “There’s some more guys that you’ll see coming in that accentuate the class in a positive way; some really good players, really good kids and some guys that can help us next year.”

Of its 2026 class, it added three safeties/nickelbacks, five linebackers, two cornerbacks and several defensive linemen. Some of the new linebackers, however, can play in hybrid positions and serve as edge rushers.

On offense, the Pack signed four wide receivers, three offensive linemen, three running backs, one quarterback and a pair of tight ends.

The Wolfpack has a few other commits who have yet to sign, but they still have time. This was the first day of the early signing period.

Doeren is excited about the upcoming class and the work his staff has devoted to finding the right players. Doeren said he is open about the coaching process, the expectations, statistics and success rates to find players that will thrive in the program.

“I think when you’re transparent and honest and authentic, kids like that,” Doeren said. “I think [at] some of these schools they go to, they feel like it’s just a song and dance. That’s the last thing I want them to feel when they’re here.”

N.C. State’s class, all three-star recruits, ranks No. 13 in the ACC for its 2026 recruiting class and No. 49 in the national composite rankings. Doeren isn’t particularly concerned about the rankings. He noted UNC’s recruiting classes have historically ranked higher, but the Wolfpack is 9-4 against the Tar Heels during his tenure and is one of the better programs at sending players to the NFL who were ranked three stars or lower in high school.

“It’s not about what makes people happy on Rivals or On3,” Doeren said. “It’s about what wins games and what your team needs, and finding guys that are the right fit that are going to represent our university, and guys that I know can play well. … This is a developmental program that knows how to identify talent. Always has been since I got here and will continue to be that way.”

The early signing period opens before the transfer portal does, so it’s uncertain what the team’s attrition will look like. Doeren said it recruited based on expected needs. It will go into the portal for any unexpected losses.

The Wolfpack honored 29 players on senior day, including 19 key contributors this season. Ten were from the defensive side of the ball. Though the new recruits help replenish the roster, the staff will have to recruit players in the portal hard as it loses several experienced players on the offensive and defensive lines.

Jalen Grant (6th year), Jacarrius Peak (4) and Anthony Carter (6) all participated in senior day and have a combined 14 years of college football experience. The Wolfpack is also losing at least two senior tight ends with Justin Joly and Cody Hardy. Dante Daniels came from the junior college level and could receive additional eligibility.

Senior defensive linemen Travali Price, Sabastian Harsh, Brandon Cleveland and Chazz Wallace are among N.C. State’s seniors on the defensive side. Cian Slone played in a hybrid linebacker/defensive end role, as well, alongside veteran linebackers Caden Fordham and Kenny Soares. Fordham led Power Four with 130 tackles this season.

It also seeks to retain players, such as quarterbacks CJ Bailey and Will Wilson, running back Duke Scott, and its young players in the secondary.

Flipping the script

Some of N.C. State’s signees include players who were previously committed to other programs. Inside linebacker Caleb Gordon, from Winston-Salem, decided to stay home, flipping from West Virginia to N.C. State. Gordon recorded 128 total tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2025.

Outside linebacker Lawrence Brown recently decommitted from North Carolina and officially signed with the Wolfpack on Wednesday. Brown missed his senior season due to an injury, but he finished his senior season with 30 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, 28 quarterback pressures and one forced fumble.

Running back Noah Moss was a more recent addition to the class after visiting Raleigh last week. With the help of former Wolfpack quarterback Philip Rivers and his own coach, the Pack was able to flip Moss from South Alabama. Moss ran for 2,038 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per carry, and 30 touchdowns during his senior season.

Top-rated recruit

Wide receiver Amiri Acker comes to N.C. State from South Carolina. He is a three-star recruit who was ranked No. 72 in the nation at the position and the 11th-best player in the state.

He chose N.C. State over South Florida, Michigan State, Memphis, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, East Carolina and Cincinnati, among other schools, saying he hopes to lead the Wolfpack to a perfect season and a national title.

“Amiri’s comments are welcomed, and I would love for him to do that; be able to come in and get our program to another place with all these guys,” Doeren said. “That’s the goal. They’re not coming here to stay where we’re at. They’re coming here to help us get better.”

In 2023, Acker finished with 19 receptions for 294 yards and four touchdowns. Last season, he had 28 catches for 604 yards and six touchdowns.

Acker is another two-sport athlete who ran track and field. As a sophomore, he placed third at the state track meet in the 100-meter dash. He qualified for the state meet as a freshman in two events.

Acker could join a tradition of freshmen receivers who have played for Doeren, including Teddy Hoffmann this year, Terrell Anderson and Keenan Jackson last fall and KC Concepcion two seasons ago.

Player who could impact early

N.C. State is losing size and experience on the defensive line, and junior college transfer Josh Warren could be one of the answers.

Warren, from Georgia Military College, is a three-star transfer and one of the highest-ranked junior college recruits. He was listed as the No. 3 edge JUCO edge rusher, the No. 1 JUCO prospect from Florida and No. 12 nationally. Coming out of high school last year, Warren was not rated in last season’s class.

Warren instead started his career at the junior college level and played as a hybrid defensive end and outside linebacker, similar to Slone, Harsh and Tra Thomas. His versatile abilities and aggressive play up front could help bolster the N.C. State defense.

Last season with Georgia Military College, Warren finished with 22 tackles, nine sacks and one forced fumble in 10 games played.

“The last five, six years, we’ve been recruiting to the 3-3-5 defense. Now that we’re in a 3-4, 4-2 scheme, we have to have more pass rushers. That’s what Josh is,” Doeren said. “You watch his film, and he’s a dynamic pass rusher. He can bend, he’s got really good speed, he’s got long arms, he can play our jack position or our field end position. He’s versatile.”

He had offers from West Virginia, Florida State, Appalachian State, Charlotte, Maryland, Minnesota and SMU.

N.C. State recruited former offensive lineman Anthony Belton from GMC. Belton is now in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers.

Most intriguing recruit(s)

Stephen Brown was listed as an athlete on his 247Sports recruiting profile — someone who can play multiple positions — but the program, in its signing day announcement, expects him to play at tight end.

Brown hails from Chicago and attended Marist High School where he played at tight end. The incoming freshman has ties to the ACC, with his father, Andre, playing college football at Miami before a stint in the NFL.

Listed at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, Brown is a four-year varsity starter on the Marist boys basketball team and a three-year varsity starter on the football team.

According to the available statistics on MaxPreps, he had 17 receptions for 308 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Last season, he had 20 receptions for 267 yards and three scores.

Doeren said the team’s success at tight end this season helped the program recruit nationally and connect with players who haven’t always been on the radar. Gavin [Locklear] did a great job going out and finding guys.”

“What a great athlete,” Doeren said of Brown. “Two-sport guy, tremendous basketball player, tall, rangy.

Brown was listed as a three-star recruit, No. 89 at the position and No. 42 in Illinois. He had offers from Texas Tech and Illinois.

“I picked N.C. State because I loved the coaching staff,” Brown said in an interview with the Beverly Review, a local newspaper in Chicago. “It was a great environment. Coach Locklear encouraged me a lot and told me what I need to work on. I really liked that. He’s going to help me develop in the process.”

With the departures of Joly and Hardy — all some of the most efficient offensive players for the Wolfpack, according to Pro Football Focus — it will be interesting to see Brown’s development.

Jacob Smith, a young quarterback, will be a dual-sport college athlete. He has signed with the Wolfpack baseball team as a pitcher. Doeren is working with coach Elliot Avent to work out a schedule for Smith to hopefully find success at both sports. The football team has featured several multi-sport athletes during Doeren’s tutelage, including Thayer Thomas and Nyheim Hines.

“He’s athletic, he’s tough, really competitive,” Doeren said. “There’s not many kids that are good enough to pitch in the ACC and play quarterback, and he’s got the pedigree to do both.”

Top local recruit

The Wolfpack kept wide receiver Tyreek Copper in state. Originally from Kinston, he committed to N.C. State on June 21.

Doeren said, in a time when programs are reducing their high school camp offerings, Copper is one of the reasons programs should still have them. The staff hadn’t seen the receiver in person until he attended a camp.

“When we did, we were like, ‘Holy cow, this guy is a great athlete,’” Doeren said. “Got with his mom and dad, brought him in my office and offered him a scholarship. In a matter of days, they had committed.”

Copper is the leading receiver in the state this season and No. 4 in the country, recording 92 catches for 1,955 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is the son of former East Carolina and nine-year NFL receiver Terrance Copper.

As a recruit, Copper ranked No. 79 in the nation at the position and No. 24 in the state overall. He selected N.C. State over ECU, Virginia, Navy, Coastal Carolina, Air Force and Army.

In his previous three seasons, Copper compiled 171 catches for 2,648 yards and 33 touchdowns.

Like Acker, Copper could be one of the freshmen receivers to see the field for the Wolfpack next season.

New but not really

The Wolfpack also signed RJ Boyd, a running back from Georgia. Boyd was originally part of the 2025 class but postponed his college career due to a cancer diagnosis.

The Georgia native was diagnosed with lymphoma during his senior year and forced him to miss the season. He went through more than 50 rounds of chemotherapy. He has remained in contact with N.C. State running backs coach Todd Goebbel.

“He’s doing really well with his treatments, and we’re hopeful that he can be a member of our football team,” Doeren said. “We totally believe in that young man and know that he’s been through hell and back with his treatment schedule.

“Prayers go out to him, as he continues to battle and get healthy and get back to who he was as a high school athlete.”

Boyd carried the ball 114 times for 694 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, splitting the touches with a teammate. A season prior, he ran for 967 yards and eight touchdowns. He selected N.C. State over Duke, Missouri, ECU, Coastal Carolina and Indiana.

2026 NC State signing day class

This story was originally published December 3, 2025 at 5:20 PM.

Jadyn Watson-Fisher

The News & Observer