North Carolina State University
N.C. State signing day preview
By Ryan Craig Feb 3, 2009
As college football's national signing day approaches, more and more is made of each program's recruiting class, and rating services from all over the nation compare and contrast the athletes from whom various schools have earned oral commitments.
Prep school players and transfers from across the country are labeled with stars and, if they are good enough, invited to All-Star games in which they get to represent their future collegiate institution.
Any college football fan or coach knows that success starts with recruiting talented athletes, but there is no fool-proof formula for predicting which high school standouts will have the greatest impact at the college level.
Sometimes the "best" players in the nation pan out and become tomorrow's All-Americans, while other times they're busts. On the other hand, every year we see so-called sleeper prospects, those who didn't garner much in the way of star rankings or recruiting attention, but who blossom on the collegiate field.
Here is a look at the players from the Wolfpack's 2008 recruiting class who had the most impact on Tom O'Brien's team last season, along with their rankings at the time of their commitments.
(All rankings and measurements according to Rivals.com)
1.) T.J. Graham: 2-star wide receiver
Graham electrified the conference with his kickoff-return abilities, most notably his 100-yard touchdown scoring effort in the team's 38-31 loss to Boston College. Graham finished the year first on the team in all-purpose yardage with 1,405 and seventh on the squad in receiving with 251 yards on 16 catches. With the ability to turn the tide of a game on a single play, Graham quickly earned respect from opposing coaches, who told their kickers to angle the ball out of bounds rather than kick to the freshman speedster, a respect usually reserved for veteran return specialists.
2.) Shea McKeen: 3-star defensive end
McKeen missed time at the end of the season with a leg injury, but still finished the year with 32 total tackles, four tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. McKeen's biggest play was his sack of ECU quarterback Patrick Pinkney during overtime of the rivals' game early in the 2008 season. The sack and ensuing forced fumble iced the game for State and gave it the team's first win against an FBS team on the year.
3.) Dwayne Maddox: 3-star linebacker
Maddox was forced into a starting role when superstar Nate Irving was knocked out of the lineup with a high ankle sprain. Maddox would go on to make several starts for the Pack, tallying 28 tackles, a half sack and a fumble recovery in the process.
4.) Leroy Burgess: 3-star defensive tackle
The defensive line was one of many areas where N.C. State was hit by the injury bug, and Burgess, a junior college transfer, took advantage of his opportunities during his first season with the Pack. The 6-foot-1, 300-pounder clogged the middle of the line of scrimmage to the tune of 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss as a junior.
5.) Sterling Lucas: 3-star linebacker
Lucas, like Maddox, saw more time than O'Brien would have liked in his true freshman season. The linebacker from Orangeburg, S.C., made 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss while playing several positions.
As for the 2009 recruiting class, here are the players that have either signed, or intend to sign, their letter of intent with N.C. State:
Already signed:
| Name | Position | Stars | Ht | Wt | 40 Time (in sec.) | Hometown |
| Nathan Mageo | DT | 3 | 6-4 | 280 | 5.1 | Roswell, NM |
Expected to sign with the Pack:
| Name | Position | Stars | Ht | Wt | 40 Time (in sec.) | Hometown |
| Jarvis Byrd | DB | 4 | 5-10 | 173 | 4.5 | Pahokee, FL |
| Tyson Chandler | DT | 3 | 6-6 | 344 | 5.4 | North Plainfield, NJ |
| Rickey Dowdy | LB | 3 | 6-1 | 229 | 4.6 | High Point, NC |
| Raynard Randolph | DT | 3 | 6-3 | 300 | 5.2 | Brandywine, MD |
| Bryan Underwood | WR | 3 | 5-9 | 162 | 4.4 | Cleveland Heights, OH |
| Morgan Alexander | ATH | 3 | 5-10 | 180 | 4.5 | Cartersville, GA |
| Denzelle Good | OL | 3 | 6-6 | 325 | 5.25 | Gaffney, SC |
| Deion Roberson | DT | 3 | 6-4 | 258 | 4.9 | Tucker, GA |
| Brian Slay | DT | 3 | 6-2 | 276 | 4.9 | Ashburn, VA |
| James Washington | RB | 3 | 5-10 | 170 | 4.43 | Orlando, FL |
| Camden Wentz | OL | 3 | 6-2 | 276 | -- | Marietta, GA |
| Brandan Bishop | DB | 3 | 6-1 | 200 | -- | Boca Raton, FL |
| Ryan Cheek | LB | 3 | 6-0 | 232 | 4.51 | Lancaster, OH |
| Duran Christophe | OL | 3 | 6-6 | 275 | -- | Woodstock, GA |
| Sylvester Crawford | DE | 3 | 6-5 | 230 | 4.62 | Charlotte, NC |
| Quintin Payton | WR | 3 | 6-3 | 190 | 4.49 | Anderson, SC |
| Everett Proctor | ATH | 3 | 6-1 | 190 | 4.45 | Fayetteville, NC |
| Hans Rice | LB | 3 | 6-3 | 195 | 4.5 | Eufaula, AL |
| Asa Watson | TE | 3 | 6-4 | 210 | 4.69 | Rock Hill, SC |
| Darryl Cato-Bishop | DE | 2 | 6-3 | 238 | 4.65 | Dorchester, MA |
| Donald Coleman | LB | 2 | 6-0 | 210 | 4.5 | Princeton, NJ |
| Rashard Smith | ATH | 2 | 5-10 | 180 | 4.5 | Dublin, GA |
| Chris Ward | K | 2 | 6-1 | 170 | -- | Fayetteville, GA |
| Dean Haynes | DB | 2 | 6-0 | 180 | 4.5 | Tunnel Hill, GA |
| Anthony Talbert | TE | 2 | 6-4 | 230 | 4.75 | Cincinnati, OH |
| A.J. Ferguson | DE | 2 | 6-2 | 250 | 4.8 | Southport, NC |
Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
RE: N.C. State signing day preview
I like our class this year as it should add depth a few years from now, but we will still be very thin this upcoming year.
I don't know if I'd say we're going to be "very thin". Remember, we redshirted a LOT of last year's recruits. That will pay dividends this year and beyond as those guys are a year older, bigger, stronger, and have had a year to learn the TOB system.
I expect a
minimum of 8-9 wins this year. If we catch a few breaks, and the injury gods smile on us this year, the sky is the limit. Oh, and we need to keep Russell Wilson. I'm not sure our O-line is ready to protect an immobile pocket passer like Glennon just yet. Maybe one more year...
RE: N.C. State signing day preview
I could be wrong, but it seems like I remember TOB saying that in his ten years at BC he never had a top 25 recruiting class.I'd say some of those teams turned out pretty well and although he wasn't coaching the team in '07 that was at one time #2 in the country, he did recruit most of the players.
RE: N.C. State signing day preview
well said awomack123...
RE: N.C. State signing day preview
I like our class this year as it should add depth a few years from now, but we will still be very thin this upcoming year.
As far as the class rankings and stars, I think they are very important, but must be combined with great coaching. If you look at the teams that year end year out have the top classes, you will see that they are the ones playing for championships. Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, USC, Ohio State. They are always in top 10 or better. Yes, some of the teams with top talent do not always have good teams(Notre Dame!), but that is the exception not the rule in the long run.
RE: N.C. State signing day preview
Let me give you a couple of two stars-NATE IRVING AND RUSSELL WILSON.Coach OB and his staff know what they need, and know how to develope...
Rank: Sports Legend 
Rank: 
