Tom O’Brien and his staff will welcome four new players to the
Wolfpack football program when classes begin next week, two who
originally signed with the Pack in 2009 and two transfers.
Here’s a look at the Pack’s new players:
David Akinniyi
6-4 * 250 * Defensive End * Senior
Rocklin, Calif. * Rocklin HS * Northeastern University
Three-year starter defensive end and linebacker for Coach Rocky Hager
at Northeastern University, which announced in November that it was
discontinuing its football program * Has one year of eligibility
remaining * Recorded 40 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in
2009, including two tackles for loss against Boston College * Named to
the Colonial Athletic Association Academic All-Conference team in 2007
and 2008 * Played 34 games at Northeastern, recording 141 tackles, 22
tackles for loss and 12 sacks* Lettered in football, basketball and
track at Rocklin High School* Earned all-conference honors as a senior*
Hails from an athletic family, his sister Dorcas is a heptathlete at
Wisconsin, sister Deborah ran track at Stanford (2005-08) and brother
Akin was a linebacker at Arizona (2002-06) * Born 6/3/88.
A.J. Ferguson
6-3 * 250 * Defensive End * Freshman
Southport, N.C. * South Brunswick HS
Originally signed with the Pack in 2009 and spent last season at Fork
Union Military Academy * Named to the USA Football Junior National squad
that represented the United State in the first IFAF Junior World
Championship in Canton, Ohio, during the summer of 2009 ... A four-year
starter at South Brunswick High School for Coach Gordon Walters, he
recorded 90 tackles, including 20 for loss, and 10 sacks during his
senior season* Scored three touchdowns on defense as a senior* Also
played tight end, pulling down 10 receptions and four touchdowns in 2008*
Helped lead his team to the third round of the 2AA state playoffs* Named
all-conference in 2008 and 2007* Led South Brunswick in sacks for three
seasons (2006-08)* Named to the All-Atlantic Region Class of 2009 by
Prep Star* Also ran track in the 100 and 200-meter events.
Mikel Overgaard
6-6 * 280 * Offensive Line * Junior
Weiser, Idaho * Weiser HS * Snow College
Transfers to NC State from Snow College in Utah, where he started at
left tackle for Coach Steve Coburn * Earned all-conference honors in
2009 and posted a 3.8 GPA * Rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com*
Originally enrolled at Washington State in 2007, where he walked on and
red-shirted at tight end * A graduate of Weiser High School, where he
earned four letters each in football, basketball and track* An all-state
performer as a junior and senior * Earned all-conference and all-state
honors in basketball* Captured state championship in discus, setting a
school record with a throw of 149-11* Born 9/12/88.
Deion Roberson
6-3 * 275 * Defensive Tackle * Freshman
Tucker, Ga. * Tucker HS
Originally signed with the Wolfpack in 2009, but spent the past season
rehabbing * Named a top-five defensive lineman at the U.S. Army
All-American combine, he missed his entire senior campaign (2008) after
severely dislocating his ankle on the second play of the season* Played
defensive tackle at Tucker High School for Coach Frank Stevens * Tallied
35 tackles, 12 for loss, and three sacks in 14 games as a junior * As a
sophomore, made 44 tackles and six sacks * A member of the Atlanta
Journal Constitution’s “The Georgia 150” ... Honor roll student
who was a member of the chess club and worked with Habitat for
Humanity.