North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Football Welcomes Eight Early Enrollees
1/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State football program welcomed eight new freshmen to campus this week, as classes for the spring semester got underway. Six of these newcomers graduated from high school early, while two were members of the 2014 signing class who ‘grey-shirted’ last season.
The group includes three of the top players from the state of North Carolina according to rivals.com. DE Darian Roseboro (Lincolnton), ranked by rivals.com as the No. 1 player in the state, arrived on campus Tuesday, just two days after competing in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl for the victorious East squad. RB Reggie Gallaspy II (High Point) led the state in rushing last season and is ranked No. 12. Raleigh native James Smith-Williams, a linebacker from Millbrook High School, also ranks in the top 50.
The group also includes two talented players from Florida: LB Riley Nicholson (Kissimee) and OL T.J. McCoy (Groveland), who both played on teams that qualified for the state playoffs. S Freddie Phillips, Jr., from Pelion, S.C., was ranked as the No. 1 safety in that state by scout.com.
Placekicker Kyle Bambard (Walled Lake, Mich.) and punter A.J. Cole III (College Park, Ga.) originally signed with the Wolfpack last February, but deferred their enrollment until 2015. These talented specialists will seek to replace NC State’s career leaders in both the placekicking and punting categories.
Here’s a look at the Wolfpack’s mid-year enrollees:
Signed with NC State as part of the 2014 Class … Played quarterback and handled all kicking duties at Walled Lake Western High School for coach Michael Zdebski … Made 11-of-18 field goals and averaged 37.3 yards on 27 punts as a senior … Converted 130-of-138 extra points during his career, including 47-of-48 as a senior … Of his 144 career kickoffs, 90 went for a touchback … For his career, threw for 4,268 yards and 48 TDs and rushed for 2,680 yards and 20 TDs … As a senior, completed 112-of-188 passes (.596) for 1,721 yards with 21 TDs and only five INTs … Also rushed for 1,458 yards (average of 9.7 per carry) and 14 TDs … Helped team to a 9-2 record as a senior, including 5-0 in conference play … Team advanced to the district finals of the state playoffs … Posted a 29-6 record as a starting quarterback … Also played high school baseball, hitting .435 during his sophomore year … High school teammate of redshirt sophomore starting safety Josh Jones … Ranked as the No. 9 kicker nationally by Chris Kohl and No. 15 by Kornblue Kicking in the 2014 rankings … Ranked as the No. 12 kicker nationally and the No. 16 player in Michigan by ESPN.com in 2014 rankings.
Signed with NC State as part of the 2014 Class … Was the punter and kicker at Woodward Academy for coach John Hunt … Also played tight end and defensive end … Averaged 40.1 yards per punt on his 26 punts as a senior … Converted 7-of-9 field goal attempts and 33-of-38 extra point tries for 54 points … Of his 42 kickoffs, 32 were touchbacks … Named to the 2013 Atlanta Journal Constitution’s All-Metro team … Also named all-region and second-team all-state … Helped lead team to a 9-3 record as a senior and the quarterfinals of the Georgia 3A state playoffs … Also played high school basketball … Ranked as the No. 13 punter in the country by Kohl’s Kicking in the 2014 rankings … Ranked as the No. 5 kicker nationally and No. 70 player in Georgia by rivals.com and the No. 19 kicker nationally by ESPN.com in 2014 rankings.
Played running back at Southern Guilford High School for coach Darryl Brown … Led the state of North Carolina in rushing as a senior with 349 carries for 3,318 yards and 52 touchdowns … Helped lead his team to NC 3A state quarterfinals, team went 13-1 … Rushed for 278 yards and six TDs in final game … Named to the AP all-state team … Totaled 282 carries for 1,704 yards and 26 rushing TDs as a junior … Also caught 14 passes for 245 yards, finishing with 2,325 all-purpose yards … Ran for 1,751 yards and 20 touchdowns during his sophomore campaign … Played in the 2014 Shrine Bowl, and tabbed by rivals.com as having The Best Feet … Ranked as the No. 29 running back nationally and the No. 12 player overall in North Carolina by rivals.com … Ranked as the No. 84 running back nationally and the No. 24 player overall in North Carolina by scout.com … Ranked as the 44th-best running back nationally by ESPN.com.
Played on both the offensive and defensive line at South Lake High School for coach Mark Woolum … Saw action at center as a senior, after previously playing both guard and tackle … Helped lead his team to an 8-3 record and the first round of the Florida 6A state championship … Played in the Central Florida All-Star Game … Son of former Florida Gators defensive tackle Tony McCoy, who played in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts (1992-1999) and Arizona Cardinals (2000) … Ranked the No. 89 offensive guard nationally by scout.com … Ranked the No. 77 offensive guard by ESPN.com.
Played linebacker and tight end at Osceola High School for coach Doug Nichols … Totaled 132 tackles, including 70 solo stops as a senior … His team posted a 13-2 record, was Florida 7A state runner-up … As a junior, recorded 100 tackles, including 58 solo and 17 tackles for loss and forced six fumbles … Ranked as the No. 66 middle linebacker nationally in Florida by scout.com … Ranked the 25th-best inside linebacker by ESPN.com.
Played strong safety and wide receiver at Pelion High School for coach Ben Freeman … As a junior, tallied over 500 yards receiving and 48 tackles on defense … Also played high school basketball and ran track … Played in the 2014 Shrine Bowl … Ranked as the No. 64 safety nationally, the No. 14 overall player in South Carolina, and the No. 1 safety in the state by scout.com … Ranked the 16th-best prospect in South Carolina by rivals.com.
Played defensive end and running back at Lincolnton High School for coach Scott Cloninger … Totaled 125 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior … Rushed for 1,459 yards and 34 TDs … Named to the AP all-state team … Helped lead his team to an 11-3 record and the NC 2AA state quarterfinals … As a junior, tallied 128 tackles, including 26 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, while registering seven pass breakups … Posted 107 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and four forced fumbles as a sophomore … Named a sophomore All-American by MaxPreps.com … Was a varsity starter as a freshman, totaling 107 tackles, seven sacks, and 12 tackles for loss … Played in the 2014 Shrine Bowl and the Semper Fidelis All-American game in Carson, Calif. … Ranked as the No. 39 player nationally regardless of position, the No. 4 defensive tackle nationally, and No. 1 player in North Carolina by rivals.com … Ranked as the No. 147 player nationally regardless of position, the No. 14 defensive tackle nationally, and No. 3 player in North Carolina by scout.com … Ranked No. 166 nationally in the ESPN 300 and the 19th-best defensive tackle by ESPN.com.
Played outside linebacker at local Millbrook High School for coach Clarence Inscore … Posted 146 tackles, 19 sacks and 36 tackles for loss as a senior … His 19 sacks tied the school record for most in a season … Helped team to an 11-3 record and the NC 4AA state quarterfinals … As a junior, posted over 70 tackles and 10 tackles for a loss … Scored a 30 on the ACT and had an unweighted 3.9 GPA with a 4.9 weighted GPA … Ranked as the No. 49 player in North Carolina by Rivals.com … Ranked as the 111th-best outside linebacker nationally by ESPN.com.
