2004
Wolfpack Signee: DaJuan Morgan
What Happened: Pack Pride first encountered DaJuan Morgan on our recruiting tour through the state of Florida, and he was one of the prospects that NC State appeared to have a a great shot at as he raved about the Wolfpack.
“I met Coach Amato in May and I shook his hand. He looks like a good, hard coach. He’s a real sharp man who looks like he’s been in the Army or Navy,” Morgan joked at the time. “NC State’s not that far away to me and they have a lot of Florida guys in their program so that's good.”
On Nov 16, 2003, Riviera Beach (Fla) standout athlete DaJuan Morgan committed to Ohio State after taking an official visit to Columbus. Despite his commitment to the Buckeyes, NC State, led by then wide receivers coach Doc Holliday, continued their pursuit of Morgan through December and into January of 2004.
 |
|
"I gave Coach Amato my word."
|
In early 2004, Pack Pride made a call to Morgan to ask if he had any intentions of potentially making a visit to NC State. Morgan’s response was short and to the point. “No.”
However, Holliday continued his pursuit and as fate would have it, Ohio State rescinded their scholarship offer. That fact received quite a bit of media coverage with charges of OSU cutting recruits after running short on scholarships. The first call Morgan made was to Holliday, who quickly scheduled an official visit. Morgan's mind was already made up, and he verbaled during the visit.
“Actually I had decided that before going up there, but I just wasn't going to tell anybody,” he said. “The visit made me want to do it even more, so I gave Coach Amato my word.”
His commitment was a bright spot on what had been a rough few months for Morgan. His family's home was destroyed in a tornado and he missed his entire senior season after injuring his hip in a car accident. Some thought he'd never be the same athlete, but Morgan would sign with NC State and have a very good career in Raleigh.
He enrolled as a wide receiver but left one of the top safeties in the conference. As a junior for the Wolfpack, Morgan led the team in tackles with 117 and had 13 pass breakups. He passed up his senior season at State to enter the NFL draft where he has been projected as one of the draft’s top safety prospects.
Wolfpack Target: Olu Hall
What Happened: The Wolfpack thought they had Olu Hall wrapped up. A four-star prospect and the nation's No. 9 defensive end, the Fairfax (VA) standout visited NC State the weekend of January 23rd and came home impressed.
“That visit was hot,” Hall stated following the trip. “Man, it was just the team. They made me feel like I belonged there with that brotherly atmosphere. There was always something to do and plus they have the academics and everything I want too.”
 |
|
"That visit was hot."
|
Considered the top player in the state of Virginia, the only thing that stood between NC State inking Hall was a trip to UVA that appeared harmless, as most considered Virginia Tech and Purdue the competition (because Hall intended on majoring in engineering). On Signing Day, Hall picked Virginia despite the fact this his mother was hoping he would ink with NC State.
“Last night I really realized I wanted to go to Virginia,” Hall stated at his press conference. “I talked about it with my mom and told her that's what I wanted. After I told her I wanted to choose Virginia she said she thought I was gonna choose North Carolina St. She liked them because we have family up there, but she wouldn't tell me her favorite until I made up my mind.”
Hall's journey to Virginia took a detour as he ended up at Hargrave after failing to qualify. He would enroll at Virginia in 2005, but his academic issues followed him to Charlottesville. He only played 94 snaps and recorded one tackle during his career, as he missed the 2006 and 2007 seasons due to being academically ineligible. Shortly after being declared ineligible a second time, Hall decided to transfer and join ex-UVA coach Ron Prince at Kansas State. He sat out the 2007 season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
2005
Wolfpack Signee: Toney Baker
What Happened: One thing was clear in 2004 and that was Toney Baker was one of the best running back prospects in the nation. Baker, who starred for four seasons at Ragsdale High School in Jamestown, graduated as the North Carolina career rushing leader with 10,241 yards, surpassing T.A. McLendon as the state’s all-time rusher. He also boasted the No. 2 (3,411 yards) and No. 7 (3,030 yards) single season rushing totals in NC football history.
While he could’ve had his choice of virtually any school in the nation, the five-star prospect chose to limit his option to states that bordered North Carolina.
 |
"I've kind of always felt
that was where I wanted to go."
|
From the outset, NC State, UNC, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Tennessee were the main players for Baker’s commitment. Early on, much of the buzz had UNC leading the way but a couple of unofficial visits to Raleigh combined with several friends already enrolled at State helped land the Pack some early points.
His recruiting stayed fairly quiet and even among the five finalists, but as December approached, much of the behind-the-scenes info started to point to NC State emerging as the favorite. The Wolfpack was the only program that he officially visited. “I had a very good time in Raleigh. I got a chance to be around their players a lot, and I thought that I fit in very well with them,” Baker said.
Selected to the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Baker declared his commitment to State on national TV.
“I picked North Carolina State,” he said. “I did that because that is where I felt the most comfortable and I felt in my heart that is where I needed to be. I've always felt the opportunity was there, it's right there close to home, and that's where I feel I should be. I've kind of always felt that was where I wanted to go... I just feel like I made the right decision.”
As a freshman, Baker rushed for 546 yards and five touchdowns. He bettered those numbers as a sophomore by leading the Wolfpack on the ground with 688 yards. Baker redshirted in 2007 after suffering a knee injury and he has two more years of eligibility remaining.
Wolfpack Target: Jonathan Hannah
What Happened: Fool me once... well, you know how the saying goes, and the truth be known, Jonathan Hannah had everyone fooled, including the Wolfpack. A legacy recruit for NC State, Hannah's father, Joe, played linebacker for the Wolfpack under Chuck Amato. The younger Hannah was regarded as a four-star prospect and the No. 5 tight end in the country and garnered dozens of scholarship offers.
Late in the process the Hope Mills (NC) South View product narrowed his list to NC State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and South Carolina and set a press conference for the Wednesday before Signing Day. Heading into the presser, it appeared every school felt they would land him... it is believed that he had in fact verbaled to all four programs at some point during the process. Stepping to the podium, Hannah shocked nearly everybody when he picked Virginia Tech, as most in the media center believed it was an NC State-UNC battle.
 |
|
"I'm going to be a Hokie."
|
“I'm going to Virginia Tech, I'm going to be a Hokie,” he stated. “They brought some film of how they like to use their tight ends and ... and I think will be able to do great things. I just got a good feeling that I could be there four years and enjoy it.”
The other schools didn't back off... they turned up the heat even more. Signing Day rolls around and word starts to spread that Hannah hasn't faxed his letter of intent to Virginia Tech. Calls were made to South View High School, and officials stated he was still debating his decision as it sounded like all four programs were back in play. Would he attend the same school as his father? Would Hannah honor his original commitment to Virginia Tech? Would he suit up for North Carolina, a program he followed on the hardwood? At the end of the day, Hannah chose a completely different route, electing to ink with the SEC's South Carolina Gamecocks... another shocker.
His stay in Columbia was short. Hannah played in USC’s first three games this past season, recording one catch for 24 yards at Georgia. A sprained right ankle suffered against Troy in the fourth game of the season on Sept. 24 sidelined him for the rest of the season and he was granted a medical redshirt. He wouldn't be using it at South Carolina, as he chose to transfer at the end of his first semester.
He verbally committed to the Wolfpack that winter but failed to qualify for admission into NC State in 2006. He would play the 2006 season at Louisburg Junior College as a Wolfpack commitment, but didn't sign with the Wolfpack in 2007.
Instead he would follow Chuck Amato to Florida State. However, academics forced him to sit out the 2007 season and he just recently was granted admission into Florida State where he will play tight end for the Seminoles. He has two years of eligibility remaining but thus far has just one college reception.
2006
Wolfpack Signee: Audi Augustin
What Happened: Spring practices and jamborees are a big deal in Florida and one of the real advantages that college coaches enjoy when recruiting the Sunshine State. That early practice paid off when then Wolfpack defensive line coach Todd Stroud spotted Audi Augustin during a spring workout.
As the story goes, Stroud was so impressed with Augustin while viewing him at a Northeast HS practice, he called Amato, who was viewing a workout in Miami, and informed him that he had found the best defensive lineman he's seen in Florida. Amato jumps in his car and makes the hour-long drive from Miami to Oakland Park to catch the tail-end of the practice... Amato made it in just under 45 minutes. Following the practice, Amato and the Wolfpack offered Augustin a scholarship and he became a major priority.
 |
"It was just the
players at NC State."
|
While Augustin continued to entertain interest from schools like South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Michigan State, what they didn’t know was that the Pack had all but sewed Augustin up late in 2005.
He sported NC State wallpaper on his cell phone and his parents were solidly in the Pack’s corner. His parents would limit contact from other schools as they were all for him signing with NC State.
“I think my parents still feel like they want me to go to NC State,” said Augustin. “I don't think my mom cares as much, just as long as I get an education, but my dad wants me to go to NC State. He thinks it is too cold up at Pitt. I don't think it's too cold though, I thought it was nice up there.”
Ultimately Augustin would make an official visit to Pittsburgh but would make his commitment to the Wolfpack public at a signing day press conference at his high school.
“I probably made my decision around 3 am on Signing Day,” said Augustin. “It was just the players at NC State. That helped me make my decision because they made me feel good about the school. I felt real comfortable with the players, coaching staff... everybody.”
“I think [the NC State coaches] kind of had an idea,” he added. “I think it was the way I acted on my visit. I believe I gave them the vibe that I was going there, but they didn't know for sure until I called them after my press conference.
"They were excited when I told them. I could tell they were happy.”
After redshirting his freshman year, Augustin played in 11 games as a redshirt freshman and recorded four tackles. He is expected to compete for a starting spot at defensive end in 2008.
Wolfpack Target: Brent Schaeffer
What Happened: The Brent Schaeffer saga dominated the NC State recruiting scene in 2006, and rightfully so, as most considered him a can't-miss talent at quarterback. Originally inking with Tennessee over the Wolfpack in 2004, Schaeffer would spend one year in Knoxville before taking his game to College of the Sequoias Junior College in California. Schaeffer reportedly wanted to transfer directly to NC State from Tennessee, but the move was blocked by the Vols as NC State loomed on their future schedule.
NC State was considered the favorite to land Schaeffer the second time around. Wolfpack assistant Todd Stroud headlined the recruitment, and the Pack had plenty of playing time to offer. A five-star prospect, Schaeffer was considered the top player in junior college and a must-get for a variety of schools.
 |
|
"They have a quarterback."
|
After narrowing his list to Ole Miss, NC State, and Wisconsin, Schaeffer visited all three programs before announcing his decision to attend Ole Miss in mid-January. “That was a big part of the decision, going back and playing in the SEC,” said Schaeffer. “I enjoyed playing in the SEC. I enjoyed the atmosphere every Saturday. Each SEC game is real intense.”
The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder left-hander said his final decision came down to Mississippi and North Carolina State. The presence of then-sophomore quarterback Marcus Stone - who led the Wolfpack to wins in five of their last six games after taking over as the starter - factored against NC State.
“I liked [the Wolfpack] coming out of high school, before Tennessee,” Schaeffer said. “But they have a quarterback coming back and that was a big factor.”
The Wolfpack inked Justin Burke in the class and never looked back. Schaeffer had an up-and-down career at Ole Miss, but mostly down as he never living up to all of the hype. As a junior,he completed 47% of his passes with 10 interceptions and only nine touchdowns for 1,442 yards. He was sacked 29 times in 12 games.
In 2007, his final season in Oxford, he lost his starting job and finished the year completing 35-of-92 passes for 578 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. Schaeffer is now looking to preparing for the NFL Draft, working out as a wide receiver.
2007
Wolfpack Signee: Jay Smith
What Happened: You can understand and forgive the former NC State coaching staff if they wanted to keep Jay Smith a secret. They had watched him develop over the years at their summer camps and prior to his junior season, he came away rated as the top overall receiver at their 2005 camp.
He was extended an offer on September 1st of his junior season, the first day that colleges can officially offer a prospect.
No one on the recruiting scene talked about him... he was virtually an unknown. Not a peep was heard about Smith until he exploded on the scene at the Scout.com combine held in Durham, North Carolina. He recorded a tremendous 40-yard dash time of 4.4-seconds on a notoriously slow surface, and Smith was unanimously recognized as the top receiver, with the likes of Greg Little, Dwight Jones, and Mark Barnes among others also in attendance. His performance in the events and during one-on-ones earned him overall combine MVP honors, and with that, the cat was out of the bag.
 |
"I have the opportunity
to be a Wolfpacker."
|
Early on State led the way and nearly landed a commitment from Smith in the summer of 2006. He wanted to commit to the Pack during an unofficial visit but ended up deciding against it after talking with his father. Ironically, Smith’s father brought a former UNC football player, Amos Lawrence, with them on the visit.
As time passed, Miami seemingly became the main competition for Smith with one report (erroneous as it turned out) having the Canes on the cusp of landing his commitment.
However, the fact was Smith had always intended on playing for the Wolfpack, and he verbaled at a press conference in mid-November of his senior year. Despite owning 52 scholarship offers, it turns out NC State was never really threatened by another school.
“After careful consideration and guidance, I presently plan to play college football at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina,” Smith stated at his press conference. “Coach Chuck Amato and his staff have been apart of my life as I've grown up. Now I have the opportunity to be a Wolfpacker and help them on their quest to the ACC championship. I plan to pursue a five-year degree program in Architecture.”
Amato was fired a couple of weeks after Smith's announcement but his commitment to NC State never wavered... he always wanted to wear the Red and White. He inked with the Wolfpack and redshirted in 2007. He is expected to contend for playing time at wide receiver in 2008.
Wolfpack Target: Linwan Euwell
What Happened: Linwan Euwell was one of NC State's first commitments in the 2007 class, verbaling to the Wolfpack in May of 2006 following an unofficial visit. “I thought about it long and hard last night, and I decided to go ahead and make a commitment to NC State,” Euwell stated. “I committed to coach Cignetti and coach Amato up at NC State today. They were excited, they were just like I was when they offered me.
“I liked their defense, the coaching staff, and the facilities. They always have a great defense and defense wins games, defense wins championships. I always liked them growing up, and State has been my favorite for a long time.”
 |
"So [NC State] withdrew
their scholarship offer."
|
A Wolfpack fan on the gridiron (but a UNC basketball fan), his commitment seemed solid, but eyebrows raised when he attended a summer camp at North Carolina. An unknown from the eastern part of the state, Euwell camped with the Heels after his head coach paid for the camp, and a strong performance led to an offer from the Tar Heels. “The State coaches just told me to go up there and don't get caught up in all the hype. I'm still committed to NC State,” he said. “Their defense attracted me to them... I'm still firm right now.”
UNC assistant Ken Browning never backed off and the crack he was looking for opened when NC State head coach Chuck Amato was fired. UNC's John Bunting was fired as well, but the Heels retained Browning while Curt Cignetti, NC State's assistant in charge of recruiting Euwell, was let go. Euwell continued to maintain that he was solidly committed to NC State, despite taking an unofficial to UNC for a basketball game in early January and an official visit. Euwell's statements started to differ a bit following those trips.
“I don’t want to say right now,” he stated after his visit to UNC. “I want to think things through and I don’t want things out there [to the public]. “[My commitment] is still there,” said Euwell. “I’m just keeping my options open – that’s it.”
Word started to circulate that Euwell was planning a Signing Day switch to North Carolina and he was holding on to his commitment hoping the Wolfpack would offer a scholarship to teammate Sam Battle. NC State caught wind of the rumors and gave Euwell an ultimatum. He didn't give them the answer they were looking for, and the Wolfpack pulled his scholarship offer.
“On Sunday he told both NC State and North Carolina that he would make a decision in a few days, and he wanted a little more time [from Sunday],” said Euwell's coach Raymond Cobb. “Last night I think NC State decided they need a definite answer from Linwan during their in-home visit because they needed to know either they were getting him or that they needed to go in another direction.
“In talking with Linwan, he said that last night he told [coach Willis] that he wasn't ready to make a decision, so [NC State] withdrew their scholarship offer. I think they wanted an answer last night, and I think he wanted through this weekend to make a final decision.”
A day later he verbally committed to North Carolina and signed with the Tar Heels. Euwell redshirted in 2007, as he is making the move from defensive end to linebacker. He suffered a torn ACL during the season and his status for the future is unknown.