Quote :

"A school official confirmed today that former Wake Forest and Iowa Western linebacker Ford Howell has transferred to NC State. Howell, who was a member of Wake's 2013 recruiting class, redshirted at Wake Forest in 2013 before leaving the school after one year. Howell originally committed to NC State in 2012 before flipping to Wake Forest, where he was a mid-year enrollee. He was an all-state selection as a senior at Memphis University School. The 6-foot-1, 243-pounder is enrolled and will participate in spring practice. He spent this past year at Iowa Western CC where he totaled 67 tackles."

http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/story/1500569-pack-adds-lb-transfer?s=178

Also NC A&T QB Jordon Dawson is apparently transferring here. Both supposedly walk-ons.

Sounds like we are getting a DT transfer as well that may be a bigger deal than either of these guys.

here's a decent overview of the current state of recruiting, though it needs some proofreading: http://www.statefansnation.com/2015/01/pack15-football-recruiting-update/

[Edited on January 9, 2015 at 3:59 PM. Reason : links]

1/9/2015 3:51:17 PM

Justin Smith looks like he could be a sleeper

6'7" 200lbs and runs a 4.58 before he has gotten into a college level weight training program.

https://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Justin-Smith-169937;_ylt=AhVoskelZA321s3Cug62aYdIPZB4

1/13/2015 6:30:47 PM

Quote :

"Justin Smith looks like he could be a sleeper 6'7" 200lbs and runs a 4.58 before he has gotten into a college level weight training program. "

Agree. This guy has big potential to be a match up nightmare.

1/13/2015 7:50:46 PM

dead period ends tomorrow. i've seen this posted a couple places, but things can always change...

upcoming official visits:
Friday 1/16 WR Vernon Grier
Saturday 1/17 WR Dominique Taylor
Friday 1/23 RB Johnny Frasier and OT Rob Dowdy
Friday 1/30 WR/S Denzel Johnson and WR Justin Smith

1/13/2015 7:57:51 PM

We offered Emmanuel Olenga, even though he's already committed to ECU? Is that normal?

http://247sports.com/Player/Emmanuel-Olenga-43452

1/16/2015 1:20:45 PM

Is it normal to offer a player who has already verbally committed somewhere else? Yeah that's fairly normal. One of our commits DL Jabari Zuniga has picked up some offers since committing to us (from Clemson and Florida). I'm sure there are other examples too. Alabama's interest in Johnny Fraiser (not sure exactly when they offered) has definitely picked up recently even though he's been committed to FSU for a while.

1/16/2015 1:40:50 PM

In this instance we always liked the guy, but his academics weren't in order. I'm guessing he got his grades up first semester and it now looks like he could qualify to go to State...so we offered.

Not a big deal and hopefully we get him because he's an athletic beast.

1/16/2015 1:41:57 PM

Johnny Fraiser no longer taking an OV to Bama. So that would seem to bode well for us.

1/16/2015 4:43:19 PM

wow..thats good.

1/16/2015 4:55:14 PM

kids get offers all the time after committing elsewhere. we also offered QB Jakobi Meyers this week, who has been committed to Kent State since last June.

1/16/2015 5:58:48 PM

Quote :

"Adam Friedman ?@RivalsFriedman · 3h3 hours ago Per his coach, #Rivals250 #FSU RB commit Johnny Frasier @JohnnyOsoFast is no longer taking his official visit to #Alabama @AndrewJBone"

Quote :

"Adam Friedman ?@RivalsFriedman · 3h3 hours ago Johnny Frasier @JohnnyOsoFast is still scheduled to take an official visit to #NCState next weekend @TheWolfpacker @Warchant @rivalsmike"

1/16/2015 7:19:42 PM

Quote :

"we also offered QB Jakobi Meyers this week"

State coaches have a fascination with QBs who first name sounds like Jacoby. Recruit the kid.

1/16/2015 8:31:17 PM

apparently Florida is coming hard for Jabari Zuniga, who has an OV there this weekend. he has an official scheduled for Arkansas next weekend too.

1/17/2015 9:33:23 AM

He gone

1/17/2015 10:45:05 AM

Quote :

"Andrew Spivey @AndrewSpiveyGC · 24m 24 minutes ago DE Jabari Zuniga says #Florida gave him something to think about this weekend. Zuniga will make a final decision a week from Monday."

1/18/2015 3:04:02 PM

WR Vernon Grier out of Mallard Creek HS (same as Jaylen Samuels) commits. supposedly has been timed with a 4.44 forty

Quote :

"Vernon Grier @VG_BlackMagic · 16m 16 minutes ago I am truly blessed to say I am Committed to NC State ???? #Pack15 "

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Vernon-Grier-162865
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/193225/vernon-grier

edit: didn't realize how little info those links provided. here's more:
Grier, who checks in at 5-11 and 175 pounds, was the offensive MVP of the 4-AA state title game for Mallard Creek, which won its second consecutive championship. Grier caught four of Mallard Creek’s five completed passes in the game for 85 yards.

It capped a senior season during which Grier hauled in 64 receptions for 1,158 yards and 14 touchdowns. Four coaches from NC State watched Grier in the state title game, including offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Canada and tight ends/fullbacks coach and special teams coordinator Eddie Faulkner, who recruits the Charlotte area for NC State.

Faulkner had kept tabs on Grier throughout the fall, and when Hines left he let Grier know that he was one of the targets on NCSU’s board. Grier is familiar with NC State. One of his teammates at Mallard Creek last year was Jaylen Samuels, now a freshman fullback/tight end for the Pack.

“He says NC State is definitely the place you want to be academically and athletically,” Grier noted. “He said the coaches have the backs for their players whenever they need something. He said NC State is definitely a great place to be.”

Grier is currently committed to Charleston Southern, but he implied that an offer from NC State would lead to a switch. He has set up a Jan. 17 official visit to Raleigh.

edit 2: HiGhLIghTs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkBN6wxls1I&sns=em

[Edited on January 18, 2015 at 4:23 PM. Reason : a]

1/18/2015 4:09:39 PM

Quote :

"Grier is currently committed to Charleston Southern, but he implied that an offer from NC State would lead to a switch. He has set up a Jan. 17 official visit to Raleigh."

Well, I'd sure hope so.

1/18/2015 4:28:16 PM

Quote :

"NC State Recruiting ?@Pack_Recruiting · 2h2 hours ago Commit Jabari Zuniga “I’m still committed to North Carolina State but that might change. I’m going to Arkansas next weekend""

[Edited on January 18, 2015 at 5:24 PM. Reason : .]

1/18/2015 5:24:35 PM

hahah "I'm committed to NC State unless I find some school that I like better"

1/18/2015 5:26:50 PM

Justin Smith committed to Mizzou and cancelled his visit

1/18/2015 9:38:40 PM

Jakobi Myers commits to State according TheWolfpacker on twitter

1/19/2015 3:06:51 PM

I'm always a little hesitant about these guys we pick up after offering late (Meyers, Grier, potentially some of these WRs/DLs we've been after), but I know it's part of the game these days with guys unexpectedly leaving the program or decommitting.

that said, both of them look to have some strengths on film (granted, they are highlights). Meyers appears to have a ton of arm strength. Grier seems to be tough to take down (especially for his size) with solid speed, the ability to adjust to the ball, and a knack for finding seams on returns.

edit: watched a little more of Meyers and it looks like a decent # of his completions are due to his receivers making good plays on the ball, so accuracy may be an issue. that said, i'm sure that barring disaster, he will redshirt next year anyway.

Grier will apparently come in as a blueshirt (pay his own way as a walk-on temporarily)

[Edited on January 19, 2015 at 5:48 PM. Reason : name]

1/19/2015 5:28:55 PM

dang, really wanted Smith

1/19/2015 5:41:31 PM

^Grier, not Griggs.

Meyers runs an offense in high school which is basically a shortened version of the NC State offense. Not to mention hes 6'2 and has been timed at 4.5 in the 40.

Grier is part of the Mallard Creek national champion relay team. He was also the leading receiver for the best team in the state that churns out talent every year.

Good pickups this late in the game IMO.

1/19/2015 5:42:37 PM

thx, i think i was reading the wrong name too much in a PI thread that either misspoke or talking about another potential target

^^ me too... seems like Grier was one of our fallback options (although obviously pretty different physically)

WR and former Rutgers commit Freddie Simmons (http://247sports.com/Player/Freddie-Simmons-41113) was also supposed to have been visiting this weekend, so he's another receiver we still may be able to land

at this point, I'm just really hoping we can land Frasier and keep Zuniga (and the rest of our commits). I'll be thrilled with that class no matter who else we do or do not land

[Edited on January 19, 2015 at 5:51 PM. Reason : a]

1/19/2015 5:48:18 PM

Quote :

"at this point, I'm just really hoping we can land Frasier and keep Zuniga (and the rest of our commits). I'll be thrilled with that class no matter who else we do or do not land "

definitely.

1/19/2015 6:04:15 PM

Quote :

"Pack Pride @PackPride · 1m 1 minute ago NC State has landed a commitment from PA WR Freddie Simmons. He was recruited by new WRs coach @CoachGMcDonald"

6'3" 175 lb consensus 3-star who supposedly runs a 4.46 forty. According to 247's rankings, he's around the sixth highest ranked commit currently in our class.

edit: HiGHliGhts http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1432323/freddie-mack-simmons-jr-

assuming our remaining targets are Frasier and some D-line help, but there's always the potential we could have a surprise. didn't realize how highly regarded Jason Strowbridge (UK DL commit who visited this weekend) was, but apparently he'd be somewhere in our top 5 or so commits based purely on ratings. haven't heard anything lately about the Evan Kelly (Richmond all-conference DL) transfer rumors. Keivonnis Davis (Syracuse DL commit recruited by George McDonald) is another name that has been mentioned. no idea how many of these guys, if any, we go after if Zuniga stays.

[Edited on January 20, 2015 at 1:56 PM. Reason : a]

1/20/2015 1:46:11 PM

McLendon is about to have a myriad of options in a couple years

1/20/2015 1:56:51 PM

Simmons is a nice pickup, nice hands, good speed, yards after carry, and smart player.

1/20/2015 2:10:53 PM

Didn't realize Frasier never even took an OV to FSU...

It definitely bodes well for us that we're the only thing he has set up between now and signing day.

1/20/2015 3:27:56 PM

yeah, kinda weird that he hasn't been down there since last February, according to an article I read. supposedly their RB coach came up to see last week to try to get Frasier to set up an OV. hoping the fact that he hasn't (thus far) bodes well for us, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much after so many predicted Hughes was a lock

1/20/2015 3:59:13 PM

Simmons replaces Hines basically...other than experience. right?

1/20/2015 4:21:02 PM

he seems more like a MVS replacement to me, except hopefully with better hands

apparently Evan Kelly (potential DL transfer from Richmond) is a no go, but Tyrone Riley is another Kentucky DL commit that visited this weekend. BTW, I've been getting a lot more info (and less nonsense) from the Pack Insider thread (http://www.forum.packinsider.com/forum/showthread.php?96-2015-Football-Recruiting/page403) than PP lately, if anyone else likes following along

[Edited on January 20, 2015 at 4:57 PM. Reason : a]

1/20/2015 4:28:34 PM

State target and former Syracuse DL commit Keivonnis Davis flips to Oregon State

1/21/2015 8:12:34 PM

to continue talking to myself...

Consensus 4 star DL and Under Armour All-American Marques Ford apparently had his spot pulled by Tennessee (their D-line class is loaded). No idea if we could land him... we offered him last April, as did Syracuse, but so have most other ACC schools, a few SEC programs, and more than a dozen other P5 schools. He's a Florida kid, so it'd be great if McDonald work some more last-minute magic here.

Quote :

"Former Tennessee commitment Marques Ford is "definitely a little bit angry," according to his high school coach, after being told Wednesday there was no longer room for him in the Vols recruiting class. Frank LaRosa, who coached the defensive end at East Bay High School near Tampa, Fla., said Ford received a call from Tennessee defensive line coach Steve Stripling on Wednesday — exactly two weeks before national signing day. "It's an ugly business," LaRosa said. " … In the nasty business, they kept it sort of honest by at least saying that they had other commits and they were pulling his commitment." Stripling passed along word that because of a crowded class, Ford, who has a four-star rating from recruiting services, would not be able to play for the Vols this fall."

1/21/2015 10:39:28 PM

I'd heard we had 1-2 more possible DL to recruit. Don't know if Ford was one of those or might change our stance on those recruits.

1/22/2015 10:50:59 AM

Ford has said he wants to visit NC State and WVU for sure. So we have a shot.

1/22/2015 11:05:35 AM

he would be a huge get at this point in the game

[Edited on January 22, 2015 at 11:22 AM. Reason : ]

1/22/2015 11:22:23 AM

That's great news. We've only got two weekends left between now and signing day, so does that mean those will be his only two visits?

1/22/2015 12:51:57 PM

Fraiser is visiting State this weekend.

1/22/2015 2:01:53 PM

Quote :

"Fraiser is visiting"

1/22/2015 2:10:17 PM

lol i now see that that's been posting like 5 times on this page...that's what i get for misspelling his name when i ctrl + f searched this page

1/22/2015 2:15:19 PM

Anybody with premium wanna give realistic expectations that we hold onto Zuniga? 50/50 or worse? I saw where he said he would make his "final" decision on Monday.

[Edited on January 22, 2015 at 2:52 PM. Reason : ..]

1/22/2015 2:51:50 PM

^On Rivals I haven't seen anything but pure conjecture and speculation. Nothing solid either way.

1/22/2015 3:00:04 PM

He's gone in my mind

1/22/2015 3:38:45 PM

id say 30/70

1/22/2015 3:54:22 PM

yeah, it all seems like speculation at this point.

with the limited # of scholarships we have left, though, it doesn't seem like the coaches would be going after all these defensive linemen (Ford, Davis, Strowbridge, Riley, Olenga) so hard if they thought Zuniga was remotely solid, unless Drew Davis' career-ending injury (discovered around the time of bowl game) made a bigger impact to the process than I imagined and/or they're just not wanting to put all their eggs in one basket.

1/22/2015 5:09:14 PM

johnny frasier is visiting? looks committed to FSU

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Johnny-Frasier-153267;_ylt=A0LEVzbsdcFUZp0AMqpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzZzA5ZzQyBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1NNRTkxOV8x

1/22/2015 5:14:09 PM

thanks for catching yourself up to date.

1/22/2015 5:29:49 PM

yall hold your breath, i wont

1/22/2015 5:32:07 PM