Where do NC State's signees rank in the new On300?

NC State’s 2023 recruiting class is almost complete ahead of February’s national signing day. Most of the signees are already on campus, including the three athletes who were recognized in the final edition of this cycle’s On300 Rankings Tuesday.

Four-star offensive lineman Darion Rivers, four-star cornerback Brandon Cisse and four-star tight end Javonte Vereen all made the list, completing their recruitments as three of the nation’s elite prospects. They all enrolled early at NC State in January.

The Wolfpack now holds the No. 35 recruiting class in the country and the No. 5 class in the ACC.

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Here’s a breakdown of where Cisse, Rivers and Vereen ended up in the On300.

Darion Rivers 

New ranking: No. 239

Old ranking: No. 235

The breakdown: Rivers’ slight drop in the rankings has nothing to do with his own rating, as the offensive tackle actually climbed from a 91 to a 92. The 6-6, 280-pound athlete is the No. 7 recruit in North Carolina and the nation’s No. 17 offensive tackle.

On3’s scouting report: “Long and lean tackle prospect who brings his body control and athleticism from the hardwood to the gridiron on Friday nights. Body type appears to be able to carry substantial weight. Stands in at 6-foot-5.5, 250 pounds with over a 6-foot-9 wingspan and nearly a 10-inch hand. Two-way player who is a solid defensive end in his own right. Shows burst and twitch when coming off the line of scrimmage.

“Extremely impressive foot quickness and balance in pass protection. Plays under control and with excellent leverage. Plays violently and looks to finish defenders on every snap. Lacking ideal functional strength but is a given due to lack of mass at this point. Will naturally get bigger and stronger as he physically develops. Has top-100 NFL upside off size and athletic traits alone. If he can add the necessary strength and mass, he has one of the highest ceilings in the country along the offensive line. “

Brandon Cisse

New ranking: No. 244

Old ranking: No. 270

Senior year stats: 42 receptions for 764 yards, 1,220 all purpose yards, 37 tackles, 13 passes defended, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 10 total touchdowns.

The breakdown: Cisse was unranked 9 months ago, but the electric cornerback has now climbed up the rankings all the way to No. 244 with a 92 rating. He is now the No. 29 cornerback prospect in the country and the No. 4 recruit in South Carolina.

On3’s scouting report: “Middle of the field safety who runs the alley with no regard for his own safety. Violent player when working downhill who is not afraid of contact regardless of his slimmer stature. Stands in at 5-foot-11.5, 165 pounds with a 6-foot-1 wingspan. Shows impressive long speed when working sideline to sideline.

“Ran a 11.12 100m and a scorching 22.09 200m during his junior track and field season. Flashes high point ability and ball skills on the offensive side of the ball at wide receiver. High ceiling prospect who will only get better as he physically develops. One of the younger prospects in the 2023 recruiting cycle.”

Javonte Vereen 

New ranking: No. 261

Old ranking: No. 255

Senior year stats: Vereen hauled in 72 receptions for 1,098 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he rushed for 36 yards and 5 more scores. He also has 2 interceptions on defense and threw a passing touchdown. 

The breakdown: Vereen finished his high school career as a top-300 recruit after securing another 1,000-yard receiving season. He played the majority of his senior year snaps as an outside receiver, so it will be interesting to see how his skillset is utilized at NC State. The nation’s No. 14 tight end prospect is North Carolina’s No. 8 recruit.

On3’s Scouting report: “Talented pass catcher with plus ball skills and the ability to make acrobatic grabs. Touts some of the better ball skills among tight end prospects in the 2023 cycle. Plays as an outside receiver and occasionally lines up as an in-line tight end for his high school. Accounted for 985 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 31 catches as a junior.

“Has very strong hands and wins in jump-ball situations with consistency. Makes tough catches look routine. Runs well and can pull away from defensive backs when in the open field. Also plays defense, with a productive junior year at linebacker. Has unverified size and will need to continue growing in terms of stature and bulk. Young for the class, not turning 18 years-old until August of his freshman year of college.”