ACC Recruiting: NC State recruits react to coaching change
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| CB Evrett Edwards enjoys attention from other schools but he's loyal to Duke. (Photo courtesy of Edwards family) |
NC State recruits react to coaching change: NC State fired coach Tom O'Brien on Sunday. Athletic director Debbie Yow promised players she'd replace O'Brien with a coach that could bring in “Alabama-type talent.” That has some Wolfpack recruits reconsidering their verbal commitments. RB Matthew Dayes (5-10, 195 pounds, Cypress Bay, Fla.) appears to be up in the air.
A day later, conflicting reports came out that Dayes was opening things back up and that he was remaining committed to NC State, so it's safe to say that he's undecided.
DB Hassan Childs (6-foot-1, 170 pounds, Osceola, Fla.) chose to reopen his recruiting because O'Brien and DB coach Mike Reed will not be returning.
WR Kyrin Priester (6-1, 185, Snellville, Ga.) is also considering his options. No decision has been made on Wolfpack WR coach Troy Walters, and Priester's decision depends on Walters' status.
Weston (Fla.) Cypress Bay RB Matt Dayes on his #NCState commitment after O'Brien news - "I'm not sure as of right now. Just confused."
— Chris Nee (@CNee247) November 26, 2012
OG Tylar Reagan (6-5, 279, Bartram Trail, Fla.) was disappointed about the firing, which came a day after he made his official visit for the Wolfpack's game against Boston College.
The worst news ever wow the head coach and all the position coaches that worked there butt off to get me here are prolly gone this sucks
— Tylar Reagan #66 (@Treag66) November 25, 2012
His commitment to NC State was quickly tested, but Reagan remained firm in his decision.
I guess NC thinks just cuz my head coach got fired yesterday that if they call me today and offer me ill bail from state #IdontThinkso
— Tylar Reagan #66 (@Treag66) November 26, 2012
North Carolina had fair warning, as earlier, Reagan had tweeted this:
I can't speak for the rest of my recruiting class but I was raised that when you say your gunna do something you do it I'm 100% committed
— Tylar Reagan #66 (@Treag66) November 25, 2012
Duke commit firm, but accepting visitors: Two weeks ago, CB Evrett Edwards (5-11, 175, Woodbridge, Va.) was being pursued by several teams but remained committed to Duke. Edwards spent the week entertaining visits from coaches and seemed to be enjoying himself.
Best part of the recruiting process is getting called out of class and visits
— Evrett Edwards (@EE21_Era) November 26, 2012
He also mentioned visits from three teams other than Duke.
Oregon just left! #Ducks
— Evrett Edwards (@EE21_Era) November 28, 2012
and
Bill O'Brien came to school to see me, being evaluated by him was real cool
— Evrett Edwards (@EE21_Era) November 28, 2012
and
#UNC and #Duke here to see me at the same time lol. #AwkwardMoment
— Evrett Edwards (@EE21_Era) November 29, 2012
We contacted Edwards online and asked about his commitment to Duke and other teams he's heard from. “Yes, I'm still committed,” he said. “I'm hearing from Illinois, Penn St., Pitt, UNC, Maryland, Arizona State, Purdue and Vanderbilt.”
A week ago, Duke coach David Cutcliffe lost a verbal commitment WR/DB Darren Andrews (5-10, 160 pounds, La Puente, Calif.), who switched from Duke to UCLA. At a press conference two days later, Cutcliffe said, without mentioning anyone in particular, “In this era of the word decommit -- That just means you weren't committed in the first place.”
But Edwards said that the coaching staff hasn't made an issue of his continued communication with other programs. “I tell the coaches at Duke about everything that's going on,” Edwards said.
Cavaliers recruit has brief flirtation with Terps: LB Micah Kiser (6-2, 210, Gilman, Md.) chose Virginia seven months ago, but this week, he briefly considered other options. Kiser told 247Sports that he would take an official visit to Maryland. “I just want to make sure, at the end of the day, I have no regrets,” he said. Later in the week, Kiser cancelled plans for the visit and reaffirmed his commitment to the Cavaliers.
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from ACC bloggers Shawn Krest and Sean Bielawski, follow @CBSSportsACC.
