Top 2023 NC running back Daylan Smothers will commit today. Could he pick NC State?
The top running back in the state will make his college announcement on Thursday.
Daylan Smothers, a four-star prospect and the No. 9 player in North Carolina, will pick between N.C. State, Oklahoma, Florida State and Alabama at 4:30 p.m. He will make the announcement at Charlotte’s Ranson Middle School.
A two-year starter at Chambers High in Charlotte, Smothers led the Cougars to a 4AA state title as a sophomore in 2020. He led Chambers back to the state championship game as a junior. Ahead of his senior season, Smothers transferred to West Charlotte. In June, it was announced that he would be suspended for his senior season due to an eligibility issue.
Last season he rushed for 1,581 yards and 21 scores. Smothers won the N.C. High School Heisman Award for his play during his junior season.
Pack’s in-state success
If Smothers picks N.C. State, he’ll added to the Wolfpack’s in-state heavy class. So far the Pack has 11 players committed to its Class of 2023. Seven of those players are from North Carolina.
Since taking over the Wolfpack program in 2013, Dave Doeren has landed five four-star running backs from North Carolina: Johnny Frasier (2015), Nyheim Hines (2015), Ricky Person (2018), Zonovan ‘Bam’ Knight (2019) and Michael Allen (2022). Frasier was a Florida State verbal commit before flipping to N.C. State.
Three of those backs — Hines, Person, Knight — are currently in the NFL.
What school will he pick?
The 247Sports.com projections have Oklahoma (90%) as the favorite to land Smothers, followed by Florida State (10%).
Smothers (5-11, 182) took an official visit to Florida State on June 24, a week after visiting N.C. State.
Wolfpack offensive coordinator Tim Beck and wide receivers coach Joker Phillips have led Smothers’ recruitment.
