Brock Stukes is ready to join the Pack: 'NC State was so stunning that I don't need to take another visit'
By Ethan McDowell
Brock Stukes entered the transfer portal Dec. 9 and, for a couple of days, his phone did not ring. He was patient, trusted his faith and saw the rewards of that determination pay off this week when he visited and committed to NC State.
The former North Carolina A&T offensive lineman will join the Wolfpack in January. He has two seasons of eligibility left with a redshirt year available, and he’s fired up about his opportunity to play center in Raleigh.
Stukes is excited to be done with the transfer portal process. He previously planned trips to Marshall and North Texas but did not need to take them after spending Tuesday with the Pack.
“NC State was so stunning that I don’t need to take another visit,” Stukes said. “It was home. The portal is a scary place, but I’m very religious. I kept my faith, and I landed somewhere.”
The Wolfpack gave him a chance to play Power Four football just a few hours away from his home town of Chesapeake, Virginia. NC State’s authentic approach to the recruiting process drew him to the school.
When he met with offensive line coach Garett Tujague, the Wolfpack assistant did not just heap praise on the lineman. He explained what Stukes needed to improve and outlined a path for him to get there in Raleigh.
“He said ‘These are the things you need to fix, and I can help you fix it,’” Stukes said. “You can’t get a better coach than that. That’s truly what led me to NC State right there — transparency between the head coach, transparency between the O-line coach. It was just a blessing.”
Stukes called the NC State scholarship an offer he couldn’t turn down. During the visit, the Pack’s campus matched what he was looking for. Everything is pretty centrally located, which he appreciated.
Then, the overall program atmosphere made him feel at home. The camaraderie between the players and the coaching staff impressed the lineman. He left campus knowing NC State was the right spot for him.
“They have so many things set in place for you to succeed,” Stukes said. “I saw it as if I went here, I know that I would be a better man. I know it.”
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Stukes, who missed the second half of his sophomore year due to injury, will arrive in Raleigh in January and said that he will be fully healthy for spring practice.
The lineman wants to make a statement during his time at NC State. Stukes knew he could compete at the ACC level after playing well against Wake Forest with his former school this fall.
“They got me sometimes, but I gave them the fight of their life,” Stukes said. “I feel confident that I can play Power Four football, and that’s what I intend to do. I intend to prove people wrong. A lot of people don’t think that I can go from FCS to Power Four football and be able to play, but I know I can.”
Stukes started 4 games at left guard and 1 at center as a sophomore, allowing 4 quarterback pressures over 344 snaps. When the lineman and Tujague sat down to talk about his role in Raleigh, the NC State assistant said he has plenty of tackles and guards for next year’s roster but needs a center.
That sounded great to the newest Wolfpack commit. He’s excited to join the program and completely buy into whatever opportunity he receives.
“I said, ‘Coach, wherever you need me to play is where I’m going to play,’” Stukes said. “I’m not a guy that comes in and tries to demand a spot.”
