Pack's O'Brien says prospects better have five stars when they leave

North Carolina State University

Pack's O'Brien says prospects better have five stars when they leave

By Dane Huffman

Feb 5, 2009

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N.C. State football coach Tom O’Brien isn’t one to worry about what recruiting services say about players, so he looked thrilled with his class of recruits Wednesday even though it is not stuffed with prospects with multiple stars.

“We don’t care what they come in as, but they better leave as five-star guys,” O’Brien said.

State signed 28 players, and four – safety Donald Coleman of Detroit, offensive lineman Sam Jones of Fuquay-Varina, defensive tackle Nathan Mageo of New Mexico Military junior college and running back James Washington of Boone – are already enrolled.

The NCAA only allows schools to sign 25 football prospects per year, so O’Brien said the four already enrolled will count against last year’s limit.

The class overall is heavy on linemen, with 12 linemen and two tight ends.

“We haven’t had enough linemen,” he said. “[I was] very concerned last year a couple of times. … We were awful short.

“This will solve a lot of those problems in the long run. … We’re bringing in players we can a develop. There are a lot of very good players here. There are a lot that we like."

O’Brien said he likes the potential of the linemen State has signed, and the prospects should work well with N.C. State’s staff.

Only five of the 28 players are from North Carolina, a low number given that O’Brien’s staff has made recruiting in-state a priority.

“Our goal is still to start in the state to fill our needs,” O’Brien said. “When we can’t do that, we go north or south.

“I think there were two kids in the state that visited us that we wound up not getting.”

State actually signed seven players out of Georgia, which O’Brien said was fertile ground for Virginia when he was on the Cavaliers staff with George Welsh. The Wolfpack signed only three players from Florida, which former Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato had recruited heavily.

In other news, O’Brien said receiver Geron James will transfer and that quarterback Harrison Beck and defensive end Jamaine Clemmons have decided to graduate and not return.

He said receiver Donald Bowens had knee surgery Wednesday, and receiver Darrell Davis had shoulder surgery Tuesday.

Quarterback Russell Wilson is lifting weights, but has not been cleared for more since being injured in the bowl game. O’Brien said Wilson needs to learn when to throw the ball at the right time and not rely on running as much as he does. O’Brien said Wilson’s injuries tend to come when he tucks the ball and runs.

Five players that can contribute right away:

A lot is made of the quality of a team’s recruits brought in on signing day, but the fact of the matter is that if coaches had their way, most of them would never see the field their freshman years.

In a majority of cases, athletes right out of high school need a redshirt year to mature, adjust to college life and master the schemes and conditioning programs of their new schools.

However, there are situations that arise, whether through a sheer lack of talent, or because of a vacancy left by a departed player, where true freshman are called upon to give their programs significant reps in their inaugural years on campus.

The following are five players that could see the field early and often for Tom O'Brien in Raleigh.

1.) Jarvis Byrd - DB

State needs to replace two of its starting defensive backs after the loss of Jeremy Grey and J.C. Neal to graduation. Byrd is the best defensive back prospect that State has coming in, and the fact that he plays one of the few positions where they have a glaring need means he has an opportunity to see the field early. Byrd is from Pahokee, FL, a traditionally strong area of the country for high school football, so the transition to the college level shouldn't be as shocking as another player that may not have seen much competition in his prep career.

Deandre Morgan and Clem Johnson likely have one of the cornerback and safety spots locked up, respectively, but State doesn't have anyone else in the defensive backfield that wows so much with their talent that they can't be replaced over the course of spring practice.

2.) Tyson Chandler - DT

Defensive tackle, like defensive back, is one of the few areas where State doesn't have a returning starter or a younger player groomed to take over. With Keith Willis Jr. and Antoine Holmes moving on after graduating, there is an opportunity for someone to earn the right to line up next to standout DT Alan-Michael Cash. At 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, Chandler is scary big and very hard to move off the ball. With players like Nate Irving and Ray Michel lurking behind the defensive line, Chandler could end up playing the often overlooked role of the run-stuffing defensive tackle. If Chandler can occupy two O-linemen and keep them from getting to the second level, it will open up tackling lanes for Irving and Michel, allowing them to make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage.

3.) Raynard Randolph - DT

Randolph is more of a #2A than a #3 in that much of the same things that can be said about Chandler also apply to the 6-3, 300-pounder. Only one man can potentially win the starting job, if they aren't red-shirted, but even if Chandler earns the starting nod, Randolph could provide much needed rotational depth. Moreover, given State's recent history, he could put himself in position to take over in the case of the inevitable injury or two the Pack will suffer along the D-line.

4.) Asa Watson - TE

With Anthony Hill gone, there is an opening, albeit a slight one, at tight end. Watson will need to prove himself a capable blocker if he is to crack the rotation. Matt Kushner will be coming off of knee surgery, but George Bryan, who will be a redshirt sophomore, acquitted himself very nicely last year when he had to step in for the injured Hill and Kushner. I would have gone with an offensive lineman here, but O'Brien can plug the holes left by the departure of Meares Green and Jon Bedics with guys like R.J. Mattes and Sam Jones, two players that signed last year that are likely ready to step in to starting roles this year.

Watson, on the other hand, is athletic and fast, and could ultimately become a pass-catching specialist in his first year when the down and distance calls for those services.

5.) James Washington - RB

This, again, is a bit of a longshot, but someone had to make the list. With last season's leading rusher Andre Brown gone, There is a spot available behind Jamelle Eugene. Curtis Underwood and Brandon Barnes will have something to say about Washington coming in and getting snaps in his first season, but the 5-10 speedsters 4.4 forty-yard dash time is hard to ignore. Barnes may ultimately end up playing some as a slot receiver which would ease the logjam on the depth chart, but the likely scenario is that, barring injury, Washington would redshirt.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Pack's O'Brien says prospects better have five stars when they leave

Speaking of UNC academincs, if the school is so amazing then why was UNC recently under question in a local newspaper for professors inflating grades? 84% of students making As and Bs in all classes... let's be serious. UNComCollege perhaps.

RE: Pack's O'Brien says prospects better have five stars when they leave

You would come over to a football article that has absolutely nothing to do with your team and bring up point guard play. How cleverly you holes can change sports. That deserves a pat on the back for avoiding the painfully obvious, which you have done the entire time. And forgive me for calling you a Mcdonald's employee, being that you're a carolina graduate I'm sure you're enjoying work at one of the many philosophy factories set up across our great state.

RE: Pack's O'Brien says prospects better have five stars when they leave

oh - forgot to ask billy.....how's Walmart treating ya?
- Posted by 1Packfan

Well, if I actually worked there, I'm pretty sure they'd be treating me horribly. They don't give their employees decent benefits, and they're basically responsible for the main problem of small business bankruptcy and abandoned large box real-estate in America. So do what's right for America, and don't shop there.

But I'm way off the subject . . . Wal-Mart, McDonald's, wine and cheese, arrogance . . . Seriously State fans. Are we burger-flippin' peasants or are we elitist Lexus drivers? Pick an insult and go with it. Your smack talk is about as consistent as your point guard play.

RE: Pack's O'Brien says prospects better have five stars when they leave

oh - forgot to ask billy.....how's Walmart treating ya?

RE: Pack's O'Brien says prospects better have five stars when they leave

Wow - I am so honored to be reading posts from someone that graduated from smurf village. If my life ended today, I can say I lived a full life because I talked smack on a message board with a true honest to goodness unc grad. WOW!

For the record - I never said I was #1 State fan. I am one of many State fans....hence the number "1". Surprised you couldn't figure that out with your fancy degree. (and yes - I do have my college degree so don't even go there).

Still - I'm curious why someone so devoted to smurf village would degrade themselves by coming over here?

WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University