i would hope to see atleast a 6-6 season next year with hopes that our young talent can start producing in 2 seasons

1/22/2008 10:15:32 AM

Since I'm at work and can't access Scout or Rivals, can someone compare NC State's commits and UNC's commits? Please include schools that offered/were interested in them. An offer list is sometimes a good way to evaluate how good a player is. Of course every now and then you get a sleeper from a school that doesn't get the press that say an Independence gets. Also you get guys like Jaradat from Canada. Despite being from Canada, a place that is vastly underrecruited, he still picked up offers from Colorado and UConn. Stars don't matter as much as an offer list. Dwayne Maddox is only a 3* player, but had offers from big time football schools such as Alabama, Clemson, etc. Considering that there's only a few 4* players and even fewer 5* players, no team is going to be able to recruit exclusively those players, especially in the state of North Carolina where usually there's only one 5* player in the state. So you have to do some talent evaluation and recruit players suited to your needs, even if that means getting 2* and 3* players. I think TOB has done fairly well at this. He saw that our O-line and LB corps needed bolstering and went out and got some good players.

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 10:55 AM. Reason : ]

1/22/2008 10:55:06 AM

I'm not denying that UNC hasn't got talented players. They do have a 'solid' 8 man (I think) class right now

I'm just saying that you can't build a football team with 8 signees per year. They'll still get a few more, but as bad as they are, they need to be signing about 20 players or more... they aimed too high for recruiting. BMFD isn't at Miami any more.

I think UNC had 19 scholarships to give... so they should be signing about 20-22 kids (Considering a few won't qualify)

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 11:17 AM. Reason : ]

1/22/2008 11:16:51 AM

How are we looking with Sterling Lucas and Marcus Udell? Also how did William Lowe and Rashaad Reid's visits go?

1/22/2008 2:34:53 PM

Lucas...50/50. Gonna be tough to beat USC.

No idea on the others

1/22/2008 2:50:29 PM

Think we have a shot at Lowe if he doesn't get an offer from tOSU because they seem to be his #1.

I haven't heard much about Udell so my guess is that we backed off of him for one reason or another. Maybe since we just lost a CB recruit we'll either go after him or hope to land ATH C.J. Wilson and let him develop into a CB.

1/22/2008 3:27:29 PM

Quote from Shea McKeen concerning his recruitment taken from PP:

Quote :

"I had visited North Carolina in high school and I loved it down there. They were recruiting me now, but I don't think it's a good fit. It's more of a basketball school and I wasn't trying to mess with that... plus I got hooked on State." "

i like this guy already

1/22/2008 5:13:08 PM

Quote :

""I had visited North Carolina in high school and I loved it down there. They were recruiting me now, but I don't think it's a good fit. It's more of a basketball school faggot school and Bitch Davis kept trying to suck me off and I wasn't trying to mess with that... plus I got hooked on State.""

I fixed his quote for him





[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 5:19 PM. Reason : /]

1/22/2008 5:18:13 PM

hahahahahaha gg

1/22/2008 5:20:32 PM

Nice. Hopefully he'll learn that criticizing the Tar Holes and regularly saying "Go To Hell Carolina" will get him voted student body president without ever entering his name into the running as well as getting him a lot of pussy.

1/22/2008 5:21:35 PM

Quote :

"I'm not denying that UNC hasn't got talented players. They do have a 'solid' 8 man (I think) class right now"

Carolina actually has 11 verbals right now. That's the exact same amount that we had at this point for last year's class, which ended up being #14 nationally. Butch made a hard push the final couple of weeks and I expect him to do the same this year. I don't think this class will pan out to be quite as good but I still think it'll be Top 25.

1/22/2008 8:00:42 PM

if we get Mackey and Lowe then i would be more than satisfied

We will prolly get Locust and CJ Wilson


We will prolly also land a few more we dont know about right now either

1/22/2008 8:15:28 PM

Quote :

" Carolina actually has 11 verbals right now. That's the exact same amount that we had at this point for last year's class, which ended up being #14 nationally. Butch made a hard push the final couple of weeks and I expect him to do the same this year. I don't think this class will pan out to be quite as good but I still think it'll be Top 25."

Yea, and now everyone has seen what Butch cant do with UNC football. It will not be nearly as good as last year

1/22/2008 8:29:43 PM

lol

He's only had one year.....

1/22/2008 8:39:28 PM

recruiting and coaching are 2 different things.

1/22/2008 8:43:26 PM

^exactly.....look at ND and Miami's recruiting classes and compare that to BC's. Then compare results on the field this year.

1/22/2008 8:46:19 PM

Quote :

"Heralded lineman commits to State The Wolfpack added R.J. Mattes of Concord Robinson, one of the top offensive linemen in the state. "I'm happy it's over," said Mattes, a 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive lineman. "N.C. State is the best place for me. When [Wolfpack] Coach [Tom] O'Brien made the in-home visit, his message was about how he has produced good offensive linemen and the number he has sent to the NFL. That has been my lifelong goal, and I know he can help get me there." Mattes, a SuperPrep All-America selection, is ranked the No. 23 offensive line prospect in the country by Scout.com. His father, Ron Mattes, played at the University of Virginia and with the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears in the NFL from 1986 through 1992. Virginia recruited R.J., but Ron Mattes already had a tie to O'Brien. "My dad and Coach O'Brien go back to the days at Virginia when dad played and Coach O'Brien was [offensive coordinator]," Mattes said. "N.C. State has awesome facilities and great academics. I really believe it's a program on the rise under Coach O'Brien. It felt like the right place for me." Robinson coach Bobby Cloninger said Mattes has a great work ethic. "He is a good student and a good student of the game. Cloninger said. "He has worked very hard improving himself." "

1/22/2008 9:10:01 PM

Quote :

"lol He's only had one year....."

see: Doherty, Matt

"oh man 2nd round NCAA's his first year!! can't wait till next year"

8-20

...

i don't think butch will have that poor of a season, but i think he's way, way overhyped. i mean hell everyone thought dave wannstedt was gonna rebuild Pitt, and they're worse than they were when he got there. we'll see who's on top in NC football in the next 5 years...of course Butch won't be here that long anyway. not even UNC can afford to keep giving raises to hang on to a mediocre coach. now, i'm sure he'll have one 7-5 or even 8-4 season to keep the boosters happy and get more $$$, but then they'll be right back to where they are now.

oh, and have fun with that 80k seat stadium you guys are ponying up the cash to have and leave empty. maybe they can paint the concrete and bleachers blue so it looks more full

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 9:19 PM. Reason : .]

1/22/2008 9:19:14 PM

I dont think UNC deserves to have a good football program.

1/22/2008 9:23:04 PM

http://www.wral.com/sports/story/2341469/

All five major in-state football programs made significant additions to their recruiting classes last weekend, but it was the N.C. State Wolfpack that made the biggest scores.

Second-year head coach Tom O’Brien continued building one of the best recruiting classes in recent Wolfpack history by landing an oral commitment from Concord offensive lineman R.J. Mattes and junior college defensive end Shea McKeen.

Mattes, who attends Jay M. Robinson High School, is rated among the nation’s top 21 offensive tackle prospects by the two major recruiting networks. Scout.com calls Mattes the nation’s 11th-best offensive tackle prospect and Rivals.com rates him No. 21.

Mattes, a 6-foot-6, 260-pounder, represented another huge in-state coup for O’Brien, whose 2008 recruiting class now features four of the state’s top-15 ranked players and 11 North Carolinians overall.

A strong relationship between Mattes, his father, former Virginia All-American Ron Mattes, and O’Brien helped seal the deal for the Wolfpack.

Ron Mattes has had a long friendship with O’Brien, who was an assistant coach at Virginia for many years under George Welsh.

“As far back as when I was in the sixth grade I can remember my Dad calling and talking to Coach O’Brien,’’ R.J. Mattes said. “So I knew about what kind of coach he is, and how he cares about his players.

“Then, when he was here for an in-home visit last Wednesday, he showed me the numbers about the offensive linemen he’s put in the NFL. That is my ultimate goal. I know I’ve got a lot of work to do to get there, but I believe Coach O’Brien can get me there.’’

Mattes chose the Wolfpack over a final list of suitors that included Clemson , North Carolina , South Carolina and Virginia .

Like Mattes, McSheen was one of the nation’s top recruits back in 2005 out of Mays Landing, N.J. He signed with South Carolina over offers from Florida , Miami , Michigan State, North Carolina and Purdue. But the 6-4, 270-pounder wound up leaving the Southeastern Conference school after being arrested for his involvement in a fight prior to his freshman year.

McSheen transferred to Nassau Community College in Garden City, N.Y., where this past season he earned All-Northeast Football League honors. He had 42 tackles, 17 tackles for losses and four sacks.

“They’ve ( N.C. State ) been on him the whole time along with every other major school in the ACC and SEC,’’ said Nassau ’s assistant head coach Joe Osovet. “Every coach who walked through the door wanted to know who our defensive end was.

“He’s a great pass rusher. He’s one of those defensive ends who can play both the pass and run really well. He really doesn’t have a weakness. He has a high motor and is a great leader.’’

The commitments from Mattes and McSheen give the Wolfpack 21 in its class.

1/22/2008 11:57:08 PM

Quote :

"Carolina actually has 11 verbals right now. That's the exact same amount that we had at this point for last year's class, which ended up being #14 nationally. Butch made a hard push the final couple of weeks and I expect him to do the same this year. I don't think this class will pan out to be quite as good but I still think it'll be Top 25."

Right... and Dwight Jones will never qualify (Heading to Louisville is the word) and Zach Brown is likely heading to Maryland, not UNC (Becuase Hargrave doesn't allow players to switch commitments).

That's 9. There aren't as many uncommitted quality players as there were last year, either.

I guess we'll see... but IMO, Butch needs to be filling every scholarship with many solid players they can realistically land. I just don't see you guys' class getting that much better.

1/23/2008 8:36:18 AM

Quote :

"“Then, when he was here for an in-home visit last Wednesday, he showed me the numbers about the offensive linemen he’s put in the NFL. That is my ultimate goal. I know I’ve got a lot of work to do to get there, but I believe Coach O’Brien can get me there.’’"

And this, folks, is what hiring a proven coach buys you.

1/23/2008 8:39:21 AM

If there's anything I don't worry about with O'Brien, it's the offensive line. Watch any NFL game, and chances are there is a BC lineman that played for him.

His offensive lines were always absolutely nasty punch-you-in-the-mouth style with 330+ pounders.

After years of Amato... I can't wait to see run blocking.

As a side note, I'd say the hardest part of building a program is a solid OLine. I believe it's why Amato failed. I worry about TOB being too conservative (he tended to be conservative at BC), but I have no doubt he'll build the best perennial OLine in the ACC... which is the first place Amato should have started

1/23/2008 8:46:50 AM

Good to see us focusing on the lines, that's for sure. That's where the game is won or lost.

1/23/2008 10:04:43 AM

Quote :

"I worry about TOB being too conservative (he tended to be conservative at BC)"

he seemed a lot less conservative last year than he did at BC. perhaps a bit of a herb sendek style of learning from your previous fanbase's complaints.

1/23/2008 10:16:18 AM

Quote :

"oh, and have fun with that 80k seat stadium "

this bodes well for us, Clemson fans, and VaTech fans

1/23/2008 11:10:17 AM

Haha yeah then UNC would have at least 3 "sell-outs" like they love to proclaim.

This class is really starting to shape up nicely....

1/23/2008 11:28:44 AM

UNC is the only school in the NCAA I can think of that does attendance by 'visual estimates'

Problem is, they hire ole one-eyed willie who's so damn blind he sees double to do it for them.

1/23/2008 12:47:20 PM

So, what about the other 26 prospects? Where are they going?

The good news for North Carolina schools is that more of the top prospects are staying in their home state. Half of the players, 13, are going to schools inside North Carolina, and of those 13, eight are going to become Wolfpack players. UNC received verbal commitments from three of the top thirty players, while Duke and ECU picked up one a piece.


[/b]and of those 13, eight are going to become Wolfpack players.[b]

1/25/2008 12:53:23 AM

we will prolly end up getting 3 commitments from lesser known players this weekend......

CJ Wilson is a lock in my opinion http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/a.z?s=178&p=8&c=1&nid=2480937
Locust is too if he gets an offer http://northcarolinastate.scout.com/a.z?s=178&p=8&c=1&nid=3165895
Johnson will prolly commit as well http://pittsburgh.scout.com/a.z?s=141&p=8&c=1&nid=1701127



Lowe seems to like us a lot but seems to be holding out for a Michigan and Ohio State offer which i don't think is coming so he may commit as well but I don't know as much about him as the others.


As for Lucas the only thing that I think gives us a fighting chance is the fact USC lost their DC and prolly won't have one by signing day but I think he will still end up going there.


If Mackey doesn't commit to VT this weekend then I think he may come to us which would be a HUGE finale to this recruiting class

1/25/2008 1:22:35 AM

Quote :

"As for Lucas the only thing that I think gives us a fighting chance is the fact USC lost their DC and prolly won't have one by signing day but I think he will still end up going there."

And unfortunately USC signed Arkansas's new DC yesterday.

1/25/2008 9:46:02 AM

you mean reggie herring? they're going to be sick next year on defense, then

1/25/2008 10:41:08 AM

no...the DC that Quitrino hired after he took the Arkansas job, Ellis Johnson. Johnson was at Miss. State last year took the Arksansas DC job and now is the USC DC.

1/25/2008 10:43:48 AM

damn they moved fast.....prolly wanted to keep all their defensive commitments solid

1/25/2008 3:40:58 PM

BTW Mike Glennon was at the bookstore a second ago and he is tall as fuck

1/25/2008 4:44:47 PM

^ What's he doing at the Bookstore? Is he on an official visit, because I was 99.9% sure he wasn't enrolling until the Fall?

1/25/2008 6:27:07 PM

he is on his official visit

1/25/2008 7:10:54 PM

looks like elton ford visited arkansas even though he told the pack pride guys that he wasn't going there. I'd say he won't be our commitment for very long.....and not because he chose arkansas

1/25/2008 11:20:12 PM

i dont want him anymore. Our entire recruiting class seems to have a lot of pride in NC State and a lot of class in general. Everyone of them seems like good kids. We don't need a person like this.

And if he thought he was going to keep the visit a secret then he's dumb as fuck


His offer is gone come Sunday

1/25/2008 11:51:44 PM

we're bringing a JUCO Safety in this week that we just heard about......might be because of losing Ford. Nonetheless, the kid obviously isnt a man of his word, so cut him loose. I don't care how many visits a player takes......but if they commit to NC State, then that should be the end of visits.

1/25/2008 11:55:47 PM

Welcome to the world of college football recruiting. No commit is a done deal until you get that LOI.

Quote :

"Right... and Dwight Jones will never qualify (Heading to Louisville is the word) and Zach Brown is likely heading to Maryland, not UNC (Becuase Hargrave doesn't allow players to switch commitments). That's 9. There aren't as many uncommitted quality players as there were last year, either. I guess we'll see... but IMO, Butch needs to be filling every scholarship with many solid players they can realistically land. I just don't see you guys' class getting that much better."

Jones reaffirmed his verbal to UNC just yesterday and is working hard to qualify. I don't believe Brown was a sign and place guy so he can commit to whichever school he wants. He's one to keep an eye on though because he could just as easily switch back to Maryland. He's a solid verbal for now though. We also just landed Jonathan Cooper today so we're up to 12. We only have 17 scholarships available this season and quite a few uncommitted 3 and 4 star guys interested in the program. Butch won't just take commitments from 2 star guys right now to fill the class like Bunting used to do. He's still holding out to land big time prospects like Quinn, Coples, and Abrams-Ward.

[Edited on January 26, 2008 at 12:25 AM. Reason : ]

1/26/2008 12:14:46 AM

^r u still alive?

1/26/2008 12:22:23 AM

haha, Dwight Jones making it into UNC is hilarious. UNC better NEVER say anything about being an awesome place for academia. You know how jones is gettin in? The coaches are letting him take online courses to make up for what hes missed. hahahaha, hilarious

1/26/2008 12:38:51 AM

BUTCH KNOWS NFL AND THEY GOT THAT HOT LIGHT BLUE ISH

1/26/2008 12:44:57 AM

1/27/2008 12:40:59 PM

Thomas Locust has allegedly committed early this morning.

1/27/2008 1:04:27 PM

i can hear it already. "look at locust swarm to the ball!!"

1/27/2008 1:14:33 PM

^^ Let's just cross our fingers and hope Mackey didn't do the same thing up at Va Tech. Haven't heard anything to suggest he did, but it seems like we're always losing guys to them. Except for Mike Glennon. Hehehe

[Edited on January 27, 2008 at 1:15 PM. Reason : adsf]

1/27/2008 1:15:38 PM

Locust commitment confirmed by pack pride. I already knew he was committing yesterday though.

1/27/2008 1:25:15 PM

1/27/2008 1:28:24 PM