BREAKING: Three-star LB Kamal Bonner commits to NC State
NC State continued to put the finishing touches on its 2023 recruiting class Wednesday when Kamal Bonner announced his commitment Wednesday. The three-star linebacker for Colquitt County (Ga.) High, chose NC State over Wake Forest, West Virginia and others.
After committing to Georgia Tech over the summer, NC State offered Bonner shortly after his senior season began. He reopened his recruitment, and Wake Forest and the Wolfpack quickly emerged as the main contenders for the linebacker.
Bonner took an official visit to Raleigh Dec. 9-11, and he told The Wolfpacker that that trip went well and helped him reach his decision.
“The official impacted a lot, getting to see practice, just being around the guys,” Bonner said. “What stood out the most was the communication on defense sounded familiar. They run the same defense I’m in now.”
He unofficially visited Wake Forest the week prior, and the Demon Deacons were heavily involved in his recruitment, but the Wolfpack secured his commitment this week.
“I just felt like I was at home, and that was the better place for me,” Bonner said.
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Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson visited him at Colquitt County High recently, and head coach Dave Doeren was there to see him Tuesday. The staff made Bonner a priority for months.
Bonner shared his thoughts on the Wolfpack in late September. The interest has been there for months, and now he is the 18th member of the senior class.
“They have a really good program,” Bonner said in September. “They’ve been ranked the last couple years, so I think that’s a big thing. I’m a defensive guy, and their defense is pretty good, so I want to be a part of that. Being a part of a pretty good defense, that’s a big thing in my recruitment.”
Gibson, who will be position coach and coordinator at the next level, and Doeren have built a solid relationship with the linebacker.
“Coach Gibson [is] my guy,” Bonner said. “He’s really a good dude. That’s someone I wanted to play for. Coach [Doeren], man, I love him man!”
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During his unofficial visit earlier this fall, the staff pitched him on potential early playing time, with potentially all three starting linebackers from the 2022 season leaving for the NFL Draft.
“They produce a lot of pretty good linebackers,” Bonner said in September. “They’ve got a pretty good defense, and Coach Gibson puts many guys in the league, so I want to play for somebody like that.”
After committing to NC State, Bonner joins three-star prospect Kelvon McBride as the second linebacker commit in the 2023 class. McBride committed to the Wolfpack Nov. 25 after officially visiting NC State two weeks prior.
Bonner just wrapped up a massive senior season at Colquitt County High, where he recorded 125 total tackles, including 7 for loss, during his first season playing linebacker after switching positions from safety prior to this fall.
“I love contact, so that’s why I love playing that position,” Bonner said. “I just wanted to help the team.”
The linebacker is still ranked as a safety by On3 but holds an 85 Consensus ranking. He is the No. 942 prospect in the nation and the No. 93 prospect in Georgia. Bonner will enroll early in January.
