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Recruiting: Incoming Wolfpack Class Impressive

With more than a month to go before the signing period begins, N.C. State has put themselves in position to have a very good recruiting class.

Posted Updated
NCAA Football (Generic)
By
Sammy Batten

Even if national signing day occurred tomorrow, you could go ahead and count N.C. State’s recruiting year a success.

Coach Tom O’Brien and his staff have already put together an impressive class of 19 prospects with more than a month to go before the signing period begins on Feb. 6.

But it’s not just the quantity at this stage of the recruiting process that is impressive about the Wolfpack’s effort.

O’Brien has firmly established himself as a major player with in-state prospects and has addressed many of the program’s primary needs with his first full recruiting class since coming from Boston College.

Ten in-state players have made oral commitments to N.C. State, including consensus top-ranked talents in Bunn defensive back Brandon Barnes and Scotland linebacker Terrell Manning. Barnes and Manning are rated the state’s Nos. 1 and 2 prospects by Rivals.com.

Manning plays one of the positions that the Wolfpack needed to bolster through recruiting. Linebacker, offensive line and quarterback are areas that N.C. State needed to restock or upgrade its talent with this class.

In addition to Manning, the Wolfpack has commitments from three other linebackers: Floridian William Beasley, Elton Ford from Georgia and highly touted Dwayne Maddox from Shelby.

Four offensive linemen, led by 6-foot-6, 275-pound Sam Jones from Fuquay-Varina and Hargrave Military Academy, will be a welcome addition next fall to a blocking corps beset by injuries in 2007.

The real key in the class, however, could be quarterback Mike Glennon from Centerville, Va.

Rated the nation’s No. 4 pro-style quarterback by Rivals.com, Glennon threw for 2,552 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior. The 6-6, 195-pound Glennon could find himself a serious contender to start in 2008 for the Wolfpack if returning quarterbacks Daniel Evans and Harrison Beck don’t display more consistency.

The question that remains is who will fill the final spots remaining in the Wolfpack recruiting class?

Here are some of the top possibilities:

R.J. Mattes, offensive line (6-6, 260) Robinson HS, Concord — Despite family ties to Virginia where his father played, R.J. appears to have an open mind about his final five schools, which include Clemson (Jan. 11 official visit), South Carolina (Jan. 18), UNC, N.C. State and the Wahoos. He’s already made officials to the last three. In my book, Mattes has the most potential of any blocking prospect in the state.

Leon Mackey, defensive end (6-5, 275), Newark HS, Delaware (Hargrave Military Academy) — Big Mac has incredible speed (4.7 in the 40-yard dash) for a man of his size. He’s more than capable of making an immediate impact at whatever school he chooses next fall. Mackey has January visits lined up to N.C. State (Jan. 11) and UNC (Jan. 18), and may try to squeeze one in at Virginia Tech. Florida State is his fourth school.

Quinton Coples, defensive end (6-7, 240) Kinston HS, Kinston (Hargrave Military Academy) — Coples is a potential beast coming off the end, but unlike Mackey still has some physical maturing to do. Spending the year at Hargrave has certainly helped in that area.

Coples and Mackey have lined up the same visits — Florida State (Dec. 7), N.C. State (Jan. 11) and UNC (Jan. 18). Could they be a package deal?

Jonathan Cooper, offensive guard (6-3, 304) Hoggard HS, Wilmington — When Cooper gets up a head of steam and hits the hole it’s like dynamite. He just blows up defenders, paving a wide path for his runners. He’ll make an official to UNC this weekend, then head to N.C. State on Jan. 11. Wake Forest is also expected to get a visit.

Marcus Udell, cornerback (6-1, 195) Godby HS, Tallahassee, Fla. (College of the Canyons) — Udell is one of the nation’s top junior college corners. He was good enough to sign with Alabama out of high school, but needed to improve his academics. He’s scheduled to visit N.C. State on Jan. 30. Marshall is his other offer.

Greg Scruggs, defensive end (6-5, 230) St. Xavier HS, Cincinnati, Ohio — Scruggs hails from the same high school O’Brien attended. He first committed to Tennessee, but is now looking at other options, including N.C. State, where he made an official visit Dec. 14. He’ll also visit Wake Forest sometime this month.

Veteran reporter Sammy Batten covers recruiting for the Fayetteville Observer. His reports are running on WRAL.com this season. Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or (910) 486-3534.

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