NC State recruiting predictions: Who’s next to commit?

NC State received more good news Thursday evening when Makhi Williams-Lee committed to the Wolfpack. The three-star defensive lineman from Atlanta, Georgia was a top priority prospect for the program.

Three-star running back Kentrell Rinehart will announce his decision Friday, picking from a long Power Four offer list that includes Kentucky, Missouri, Syracuse and Minnesota. Following his commitment, a couple other prospects will make their decisions in mid-July.

The Wolfpack’s 2025 class ranks No. 50 nationally and No. 12 in the ACC. If a few of these upcoming announcements go NC State’s way, those numbers should improve rapidly.

Three-star running back Kentrell Rinehart

Rinehart has been the Wolfpack’s No. 1 running back target for months. NC State made that very clear when he visited in March and again during his July 21-23 official visit. The Columbus (Ohio) Westland High running back will announce his decision Friday, July 5, at 5:30 p.m.. Syracuse, Minnesota and Missouri are also contenders. The Gophers were the only other school to host him on an official visit. NC State remains in a good spot with the dynamic running back.

Three-star offensive lineman Isaac Sowells Jr.

Isaac Sowells Jr. appears focused on NC State and Kentucky in the final weeks leading up to his July 18 decision. The Wolfpack held the momentum in his recruitment for the past couple of months and continued to build on those positive vibes during his official visit. Based on everything TheWolfpacker.com has heard, it sounds like he has the strongest connections at NC State.

Sowells is friends with a few of the commits, and he knows offensive line coach Garett Tujague extremely well. With that said, the allure of Kentucky, the in-state school for the Louisville (KY) Male High standout, is still worth monitoring. The Wildcats are definitely still in the picture here, but NC State has the edge.

Three-star defensive lineman Mykah Newton

Mykah Newton will also announce his decision July 18, picking between the Wolfpack, Michigan State and UCF. He officially visited each of those programs and spoke really highly of his June 7-9 trip to Raleigh. NC State picked up its third defensive line commit this week, but the staff will continue to prioritize the defensive end from Newberry (Fla.) High. UCF looks like the main other program to keep an eye on here, but the Wolfpack sits in a good spot.

Four-star safety Jontae Gilbert

Jontae Gilbert could be NC State’s first four-star commit of this class. The nation’s No. 133 overall recruit from Atlanta (Ga.) Douglass High recently narrowed his recruitment down to the Pack, UCF and Georgia. Keep an eye on the home-state Bulldogs, who might make a push over the next month leading up to his Aug. 10 decision. NC State really crushed his official visit and established itself as the team to beat for the four-star defensive back. TheWolfpacker.com submitted an RPM pick for the Pack this week.

Linebacker Donovan Darden

Donovan Darden is the surprise inclusion on this list. The linebacker from Havelock (N.C.) High officially visited NC State, Illinois and South Carolina in June after picking up an offer from the Wolfpack June 1. Even though the program entered his recruitment late, defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and the rest of the staff did a great job building a strong connection with the in-state prospect.

South Carolina looks like the team to beat, but the Gamecocks already hold commitments from four edge rushers and two linebackers while also trending for priority Pack prospect Jaiden Braker . NC State built some solid momentum behind the scenes last month, but Darden keeps his recruitment extremely quiet. He does not have a public commitment timeline.

The Wolfpack will likely take two linebackers this cycle and holds more momentum with Darden than anyone else on the board.

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