Getting to Know the #Pack16 Targets - Part 1

Quarterbacks

Commits

Dylan Parham 3 Star / 6’4 195 / Southeast Raleigh, Raleigh, NC

Parham committed to the Pack back in November over an offer from Old Dominion. While his offer list wasn’t huge, there is still plenty to be excited with Dylan. Although he has only played one season as the full-time starting quarterback for Southeast Raleigh, he threw for nearly 1800 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is raw, but has good size at 6’4, a cannon of an arm, and the ability to use his feet. While Parham is still learning how to run an offense, the tools are all there for the future.

Targets

The initial plan was to take two signal callers in the class of 2016, but the likelihood of that happening has decreased. The biggest QB targets on the Pack’s board (Austin Kendall, Chazz Surratt, etc.) have all committed to other schools. Unless somebody worth targeting emerges later in the cycle, the Pack is likely done here.

Running Backs

Commits

None

Targets

As it currently stands, the Pack does not plan on taking any running backs in 2016. The backfield is stocked full after the completion of the 2015 class and there is no immediate need for another body back there. If this were to change, Kennedy McKoy (North Davidson, Lexington, NC) would likely become the number one target.

Wide Receivers

Commits

None

Targets

Cornell Powell 4 Star / 6’1 190 / Rose, Greenville, NC

Cornell Powell is the top receiver target for NC State and he really likes the Wolfpack. There is just one problem; he’s committed to Clemson. This hasn’t stopped the coaching staff from pursuing him and the evidence suggests their efforts are working. Powell, who has been a Tiger pledge since early February, has been to NC State too many times to ignore. He’s been to PNC arena for a basketball game, and most recently he was camping with the Wolfpack. In interviews he has said that Clemson doesn’t have anything to worry about, and that he visited Raleigh because a teammate asked him to go with, but this was before he attended camp this week. Powell had 67 receptions last year for 1,248 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Diondre Overton 4 Star / 6’5 194 / Page, Greensboro, NC

One of the biggest goals of the 2016 cycle was to add height to the undersized receiving corps. Checking in a 6’5, Overton would certainly accomplish this goal. That kind of height at receiver is not something to undervalue, and some of the nation’s top programs have taken notice. Diondre has a lengthy offer list that includes the likes of Tennessee, Clemson, Michigan, South Carolina, Nebraska and others. Clemson and Tennessee lead, but NC State isn’t far behind and appears to be gaining ground recently. Overton has visited campus multiple times and no doubt is seriously considering the Wolfpack, but tearing him away from his two favorites won’t be an easy task. He caught 62 passes for 1,187 yards and 11 touchdowns in his junior year, which was his first year playing football for Page after focusing on basketball for several years.

Divine Deablo 4 Star / 6’4 207 / Mount Tabor, Winston-Salem, NC

If I was a coach, I would offer Divine just because of how awesome his name is. Luckily, this is not the only reason the pack is after him; he is also good at football. Like Overton, Deablo is a prospect that would provide the receiving corps with height they desperately need. Unlike Overton, the Pack is leading in the recruitment. In a recent interview, he named the pack as the team that has most caught his attention out of a top 5 that also included UNC, Virginia Tech, Georgia, and South Carolina. This would a huge coup for the Pack, because the tall receiver was viewed early on as someone the Pack would have a hard time pulling away from UNC.  Deablo also said that he remains interested in Louisville and West Virginia, both of which have offered. He plans to make his decision sometime around the start of next season.

Myles Dorn 3 Star / 6’2 195 / Vance, Charlotte, NC

Myles is another tall North Carolina receiver that State is in good shape with. He is the brother of Torin Dorn, who recently transferred from Charlotte to NC State for basketball. The brothers are close, which could provide the Pack with an obvious advantage. If Dorn thinks going to school with his brother is a big factor, then this one could be wrapped up quickly. If he wants to pave his own way and doesn’t view that as a deciding factor, then State will have to fight it out with Wake and UNC.   One potentially interesting wrinkle here is that Wake and UNC reportedly want Dorn to play defensive back, while he’s being recruited as a receiver in Raleigh.  He played on both sides of the ball last year, tallying 75 receptions for 1,274 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also being responsible for 75 tackles and 5 interceptions.

Chavis Dawkins 2 Star / 6’2 195 / Byrnes, Duncan, SC

NC State offered Dawkins last summer during camp and they are joined by Wake Forest and Louisville as the Byrnes prospect’s only power five offers. Dawkins attended the NC State vs. Florida State game last season in Carter-Finley, which undoubtedly left a positive impact on him.  The problem here is that he seems interested in waiting on more offers, and it has paid off for him. He said in an interview that his favorite player is former Louisville star Devante Parker, and he appeared pretty stoked about getting the Cardinals to offer. He’s also been in contact with Tennessee and the potential exists for him to receive an offer from them. State will likely need to make a push if they want to land the Duncan, South Carolina product.

Eric Kumah 3 Star / 6’3 200 / Forest Park, Woodbridge, VA

Kumah initially set his decision date for June 19^th, but that date appears to have gone out the window. He now plans to cut down his list in early August, and NC State will make the cut. The suspected top two right now for the Forest Park star are Virginia Tech and NC State. Kumah is also very fond of the Miami Hurricanes. He has a huge offer list filled with power 5 schools, so the fact that the Pack sits squarely in the top five is extremely impressive. We’ll have to wait and see as far as a decision date goes, but if the Pack goes all in here, expect them to be in it until the end.  During his junior season for Forest Park he caught 43 passes for 830 yards.

Update: Committed to Virginia Tech

Devontres Dukes Unrated / 6’4 200 / Wharton, Tampa Bay, Florida

Devontres Dukes has the size that State is looking for, and the Pack is also the only power five offer on a list that also includes Toledo, UCF, and Samford. NC State would probably not accept a commitment from Dukes right now though, as they are focusing on other targets. He is more a backup plan at the moment. Dukes really does like the pack though, and could potentially be a name to watch down the line.

Next up: tight ends and offensive linemen