Coaching staff, academics drew Brandon Cisse to NC State

Brandon Cisse from Sumter, S.C, was ready to commit to NC State as soon as he finished a tour of the academic facilities while on an unofficial visit last week. The cornerback had already become enamored with the football program and, once he saw what the rest of the university has to offer with his family, Cisse was ready to make his pledge official.

Cisse received an offer from NC State June 5 after running a 4.45 40-yard-dash and dominating one-on-one competition at one of the school’s summer camps. The class of 2023 athlete has visited NC State three times, more than any other school. He also held offers from USF and Appalachian State, among others.

In the middle of his third trip to Raleigh, he decided it was time to shut down his recruitment and join the Wolfpack. 

Cisse made his way to the football offices, found cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell and committed to NC State that day.

“As soon as I hit the office, I let Coach Mitchell] know ‘This is the place I need to be,” Cisse said. 

It’s fitting that Mitchell was the first member of the staff to learn Cisse is joining the 2023 class. The coach worked closely with Cisse at last week’s camp, offering up words of advice to Cisse before the staff had even officially extended an offer. 

Cisse waited to formally announce the decision Tuesday night at Lakewood High School, feeling comfortable enough to do so because of the genuine connections he has formed throughout the NC State coaching staff, the football program and the university.

He plans to enroll in December, meaning he has six months until his collegiate career begins. The cornerback has full confidence Mitchell will get him where he needs to be in the NC State defensive backfield. The Pack coach has created a meaningful bond with the first defensive commit in the NC State class.

“He’s a better man than he is a coach,” Cisse said. “It’s not even just about football with Coach Mitchell. He’s a really good guy.”

“His track record speaks for itself. He’s put out great corners,” he said. “If you just get to know him and get to be around him a little more, he’s really just amazing.” 

He had similar compliments for the entire defensive staff, especially coach Charley Wiles, who visited Lakewood multiple times and helped start Cisse’s connection with NC State. 

“I could call him on FaceTime, and we don’t even talk about football,” Cisse said. “He’s really one of the funniest guys you can be around.

“Just the way he operates, he’s a different dude. And when it’s time for football, he’s locked in.”

Cisse also spoke highly of NC State head coach Dave Doeren, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, safeties coach Joe DeForest and nickels coach Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay, an experienced group of coaches prepared to help the cornerback grow on and off the field. The football program definitely impressed Cisse, and the academic infrastructure helped sell his family on the university as a whole. 

Now that he has officially announced his commitment to the Wolfpack, Cisse said he plans to be back in Raleigh for frequent visits, potentially even making the trip this weekend when NC State plans to host a large group of official and unofficial visitors. 

Cisse did not wait until he announced his commitment to start recruiting his friends to join the class as well. He met NC State safety target Zack Myers from Christ School near Asheville at a camp last year and has already started recruiting him. Myers has an official visit scheduled to NC State this weekend. 

From now until signing day, Cisse does not plan to take any more visits. He is fully invested in the Wolfpack and expects to take his official visit to NC State in December along with the other commits. 

“They put their trust in me to make a commitment, and I’ll be loyal to them,” Cisse said. 

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