NEEDSThe Wolfpack lost just three offensive starters this season, but have a solid replacements already in line at wide receiver after losing Bra’Lon Cherry. With Jumichael Ramos and Kelvin Harmon back, the addition of three wideouts was likely just a depth move. As for the losses of Joe Scelfo and Matt Dayes, head coach Dave Doeren responded by adding four offensive linemen and three running backs. On the defensive side of the ball, the Pack lost just two cornerbacks in Dravious Wright and Jack Tocho. This was one area where Doeren and his staff fell short, adding only one DB in Chris Ingram. With five rising seniors along the front seven, State loaded up on defensive linemen and linebackers, adding 11 to the mix.EARLY ENROLLEESNC State already has six players on campus readying for spring practice in Damien Darden, Xavier Lyas, Matt McKay, Damontay Rhem, Liam Ryan and Antoine Thompson. McKay and Ryan are both Triangle players who shined at Wakefield and Cary High School, respectively. While he’s only listed as a 3-star quarterback by 247Sports, McKay has a great frame at 6-foot-4 and 183 pounds — Mike Glennon was 6-foot-6, 195 pounds when he signed at NC State. McKay is also a versatile signal-caller who threw for 1,956 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 895 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior.OUTLOOKDoeren wound up with the 10th-ranked recruiting class in the ACC, not exactly a great look after a .500 regulard season in 2016. The Pack collected a total of 19 3-star commits, according to 247Sports, while grabbing no 4-star or 5-star signees. To be fair, NC State does have a wealth of returning talent including redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley, four standout wide receivers and and entire front seven that’s still in tact. This is the year where Doeren needs to prove he can get the job done with the players he recruited. Do that, and the top-tier high school talent should follow.RECRUIT LISTPlayerPositionHeight,WeightHometown(School)Louis AcceusLB6-0, 200Spring Valley, N.Y. (St. Joseph Regional)Danny BlakemanLB6-2, 227Raleigh, N.C. (Leesville Road)Adam BoselliTE6-5, 220Ponte Vedra, Fla. (Episcopal)Kevince BrownDE6-6, 242Winter Park, Fla. (Winter Park)Erin CollinsRB6-1, 200Plant City, Fla. (Armwood)Dalton CountsS6-0, 211Raleigh, N.C. (Garner)Cayman CzesakLB6-2, 200Wilmington, N.C. (Laney)Damien DardenTE6-4, 246Pikeville, N.C. (C.B. Aycock)Emeka EmezieWR6-3, 195Waxhaw, N.C. (Marvin Ridge)Joshua Fedd-JacksonOT6-3, 336Montvale, N.J. (St. Joseph Regional)Max FisherWR6-3, 205Upper Marlboro, Md. (Gonzaga College)Charles FletcherOL6-2, 273Greenville, N.C. (J.H. Rose)Grant GibsonDT6-1, 295Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)Trenton GillK/P6-4, 187Hillsborough, N.C. (Cedar Ridge)Chris IngramCB6-0, 180Mooresville, N.C. (Mooresville)Dante JohnsonDE6-3, 248Apopka, Fla. (Wekiva)Ibrahim KanteDE6-5, 235New York, N.Y. (Trinity-Pawling)Xavier LyasDE6-5, 218Plant City, Fla. (Durant)Jessie MalitLB6-3, 215Concord, N.C. (Cox Mill)Matt McKayQB6-4, 186Raleigh, N.C. (Wakefield)Isaiah MooreLB6-3, 220Chester, Va. (Bird)Damontay RhemRB5-11, 215Wendell, N.C. (East Wake)Nakia Robinson, Jr.RB5-11, 185Miami, Fla (Miami Jackson)Liam RyanOL6-3, 290Cary, N.C. (Cary)Raven SaundersLB6-1, 215Riviera Beach, Fla. (Dwyer)Bryson SpeasOL6-4, 265Greensboro, N.C. (Dudley)Antoine ThompsonWR6-1, 176Plant City, Fla. (Plant City)
