Wolfpacks finding in-state recruiting success

At Prep Redzone, we love the opportunity to cover the high school players -- and subsequently the teams they currently play for -- but every once in a while we’ll venture into the college ranks. I pay particular attention to which teams are recruiting the state of North Carolina well, both in terms of identifying talent and ultimately bringing that talent to their team. Three weeks into June, no Power Five team is having more success in the Tar Heel state than NC State. In this unique feature, we’ll break down some of the Wolfpack’s recent commitments. NC State got off to a quick start to the month, picking up four commitments in the span of eight days, including two from the state of North Carolina. But the recruiting class got started with the commitment of legacy player, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28656" first="Rylan" last="Vann"]</strong>. Vann, the brother of current Wolfpack defensive lineman Davin Vann, plays on the offensive side of the ball, where he’s a talented, yet slightly undersized interior lineman. Vann will bring some versatility to the Wolfpack as he can play all three interior lineman spots and also contributes on defense. Vann’s weight is down for wrestling, but he has a frame that could hold another 20 or so pounds, putting him well in the range of a Power Five offensive lineman. The Wolfpack were his first offer last year and he rewarded them by giving his pledge in April of this year, giving NC State its first commitment in the 2022 class. After a flurry of weekend visits early in June, the Wolfpack received a pair of commitments from two of the best linebackers in the state. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="149126" first="Daejuan" last="Thompson"] </strong>of Whiteville was not the highest-profile player on my radar, but I got the opportunity to watch him work out in late May at the National Preps Showcase. He moves incredibly well for his size and is athletic enough to excel as a receiver as well. His future is as a defender though, where he’s able to use his quickness and physicality to cause disruption. He’s a smaller school player and there’s a bit of rawness to his game but from a recruiting perspective, there’s a lot to like about the Whiteville product. Perhaps the Wolfpack’s biggest pickup is star linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28639" first="Torren" last="Wright"].</strong> Against stiff competition for his services, the Wolfpack picked up a commitment from the AL Brown product on June 8. Wright has the size of an edge rusher, can move line a linebacker and hits like a safety. He’s one of the most complete defenders in the state and is a guy that will likely contribute as a true freshman in college. When I started writing this, that was the list. However, the Wolfpack continued their hot stretch with a recent commitment from Southern Nash athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28654" first="Jackson" last="Vick"]</strong>. The dynamic two-way player spent most of his time at running back this season, but I like him as a defensive back, where his speed and length project well to the next level. The Wolfpack seem to have taken Vick as a corner, which is where I think he is most suited to play. Going back to when I originally wrote this, I had two players on commit watch, JH Rose’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28637" first="Michael" last="Allen"] </strong>and East Forsyth’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="28643" first="Isaiah" last="Crowell"]. </strong>However, when it became apparent both pledges were imminent, I held off on publishing to wait for in-state commits Nos. 5 and 6. We’re high on both of these guys as they are at the top of their respective position groups. We’ve listed Allen as an athlete, but the Wolfpack have recruited him at running back, like most of the other schools on his list had done. Perhaps the best return specialist in the state, Allen is shifty and runs with a lot of power, especially for his size. Crowell is another Wolfpack legacy, the younger brother of current NC State receiver Micah, and was considered a heavy lean throughout the recruiting process. He too, brings versatility to the Wolfpack, though he’s best suited as a long, speedy corner with good technique and excellent ball skills.