North Carolina State University Athletics
GoPack.com's Football Signing Day Coverage
1/31/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 1, 2012
Raleigh, N.C. -
2012 Signing Day Central (Bios & Highlights)
Twenty-three student-athletes will join the Wolfpack football program for 2012, including four who have been enrolled at NC State since January and a transfer from Colorado State, head coach Tom O'Brien announced today. The class includes players at every position on offense and defense.
"Our staff is very excited about the signing class of 2012," said O'Brien, who has led the Wolfpack to the third-best record in the ACC over the past two seasons. "We went into this recruiting year with the intention of adding talent at every position, on both sides of the ball. We are at the point now where we are signing to build a team, not rebuild a position, and we are adding quality depth."
The class includes six defensive linemen, three linebackers, four defensive backs, four offensive linemen, two wide receivers, one tight end, one running back and two quarterbacks.
"It's a long, tall, very athletic class," O'Brien continued. "Many of these young men were team captains and team leaders, which means they are the type of selfless players who will come in here with a goal of winning a championship. Seven of the signees attended our camp, so we have really had a chance to get to know them and their character."
The majority of the class hails from State's traditional recruiting footprint, with eight signees from North Carolina high schools, six from Georgia and others from South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.
NC State will open spring practice on March 23 and will conclude on April 21 with the annual Kay Yow Spring Game at 1 p.m.
Here is NC State's 2012 signing class:
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown | Last School | Time Signed |
| Deylan Buntyn | DT | 6-4 | 330 | Havelock, N.C. | New Mexico Military Institute | Enrolled |
| Bryce Kennedy | OL | 6-4 | 285 | Southern Pines, N.C. | Pinecrest HS | Enrolled |
| Quincy McKinney | OL | 6-4 | 300 | Columbus, Ga. | Fork Union Military Academy | Enrolled |
| Manny Stocker | QB | 6-3 | 200 | Coatesville, Pa. | Coatesville Area HS | Enrolled |
| Pete Thomas | QB | 6-5 | 225 | El Cajon, Calif. | Colorado State | Transfer |
| Josh Sessoms | DB | 6-3 | 185 | Bailey, N.C. | Southern Nash HS | 7:10 |
| Xavier Griffin | WR | 6-3 | 185 | Newark, Del. | Newark HS | 7:41 |
| David Grinnage | TE | 6-5 | 230 | Newark, Del. | Newark HS | 7:42 |
| Joe Wright | DE | 6-7 | 235 | Greenville, N.C. | Rose HS | 7:51 |
| Desmond Owino | DE | 6-5 | 235 | Nairobi, Kenya | Sanderson HS | 7:55 |
| Marchez Coates | DB | 5-11 | 172 | Pomfret, Md. | McDonough HS | 8:10 |
| Drew Davis | LB | 6-3 | 230 | Raleigh, N.C. | Broughton HS | 8:10 |
| Niles Clark | DB | 5-10 | 173 | Marietta, Ga. | Lassiter HS | 8:15 |
| Charlie Hegedus | WR | 6-2 | 195 | Marietta, Ga. | Lassiter HS | 8:28 |
| k'Hadree Hooker | DT | 6-2 | 285 | Deep Run, N.C. | South Lenoir HS | 8:05 |
| Shadrach Thornton | RB | 6-1 | 200 | Hinesville, Ga. | Liberty County HS | 9:00 |
| Eddie Gordan | OL | 6-2 | 305 | Boiling Springs, S.C. | Boiling Springs HS | 8:46 |
| M.J. Salahuddin | LB | 6-2 | 192 | Fayetteville, N.C. | Jack Britt HS | 7:30 |
| John Tu'uta | OL | 6-2 | 325 | Fredericksburg, Va. | Fork Union Military Academy | 8:15 |
| Tyler Knox | DE | 6-4 | 225 | Myrtle Beach, S.C. | Myrtle Beach HS | 10:04 |
| J.J. Jones | DB | 6-4 | 205 | Lithonia, Ga. | Martin Luther King HS | 9:30 |
| Robert Caldwell | LB | 6-3 | 235 | Twentynine Palms, Calif. | College of the Desert | 10:50 |
| Kenderius Whitehead | DE | 6-4 | 220 | Lithonia, Ga. | Martin Luther King HS | 8:58 |
