NC State Early Signing Day Tracker: Every Player Coming to the Program in 2026
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Follow along as NC State builds its 2026 recruiting class during the Early Signing Period. This real-time tracker features every official signee, individual breakdowns, position group insights, and how the class stacks up nationally.
After already receiving nearly two dozen hard commits, the Wolfpack's 2026 recruiting class ranks 51st in the nation, according to 247 Sports.
Full List of 2026 Hard Commits and Early Signees
Name | Position | Measurables | High school | Hometown | Star rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amiri Acker | Wide receiver | 6-foot-2/186 pounds | Crescent | Iva, South Carolina | 3-stars, No. 11 in S.C. |
Tyreek Cooper | Wide receiver | 6-foot-2/180 pounds | Kinston | Kinston, N.C. | 3-stars, No. 23 in N.C. |
Zykir Moore | Linebacker | 6-foot-2/215 pounds | Woodland Hills | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 3-stars, No. 17 in Pennsylvania |
D'Various Surratt | Safety | 6-feet/ 185 pounds | Crest | Shelby, N.C. | 3-stars, No. 29 in N.C. |
Koby Sarkodie | Safety | 6-foot-3/195 pounds | Milford Mill Academy | Gwynn Oak, Maryland | 3-stars, No. 19 in Maryland |
Markel Aguirre | Safety | 6-feet/185 pounds | Luella | Locust Grove, Georgia | 3-stars, No. 83 in Georgia |
William Vaughn | Tight end | 6-foot-3/225 pounds | Kings Mountain | Kings Mountain, N.C. | 3-stars, No. 32 in N.C. |
Tristen Hill | Safety | 5-foot-10/190 pounds | Peachtree Ridge | Suwanee, Georgia | 3-stars, No. 101 in Georgia |
Jordyn Best | Cornerback | 5-foot-11/180 pounds | Ridge View | Columbia, S.C. | 3-stars, No. 20 in S.C. |
Brody Smith | Offensive tackle | 6-foot-5/265 pounds | Maryville | Maryville, Tennessee | 3-stars, No. 42 in Tennessee |
Aiden Smalls | Wide receiver | 6-feet/175 pounds | Clayton | Clayton, N.C. | 3-stars, No. 41 in N.C. |
Jordan Moreta | Linebacker | 6-feet-2/215 pounds | Paramus Catholic | Paramus, N.J. | 3-stars, No. 31 in N.J. |
Jaire Richburg | Wide receiver | 6-foot-3/180 pounds | East Forsyth | Kernersville, N.C. | 3-stars, No. 43 in N.C. |
Elijah Satchell | Defensive lineman | 6-foot-2/230 pounds | Eastside | Camden, N.J. | 3-stars, No. 33 in N.J. |
Dylan McCoy | Running back | 5-foot-11/185 pounds | Buford | Buford, Georgia | 3-stars, No. 151 in Georgia |
Noah Moss | Running back | 6-foot-1/205 pounds | St. Michael Catholic | Fairhope, Alabama | 3-stars, No. 61 in Alabama |
Carmelo McKenzie | Defensive lineman | 6-foot-2/280 pounds | IMG Academy | Brandenton, Florida | 3-stars, No. 167 in Florida |
Jordan Jackson | Cornerback | 6-foot-1/165 pounds | Winter Park | Winter Park, Florida | 3-stars, No. 176 in Florida |
Stephen Brown | Athlete | 6-foot-7/205 pounds | Marist | Chicago, Illinois | 3-stars, No. 42 in Illinois |
Brady Sakowitz | Offensive tackle | 6-foot-6/295 pounds | Trinity Episcopal | Richmond, Virginia | 3-stars, No. 40 in Virginia |
Tre Aiken | Offensive tackle | 6-foot-3/286 pounds | Clinton | Clinton, South Carolina | 3-stars, No. 28 on S.C. |
Caleb Gordon | Linebacker | 6-feet/215 pounds | Ashbrook | Gastonia, N.C. | 3-stars, No. 61 in N.C. |
Jacob Smith | Quarterback | 6-foot-1/205 pounds | Reagan | Pfafftown, N.C. | 3-stars, No. 63 in N.C. |
Jacquay Fergus Jr. | Edge rusher | 6-foot-3/236 pounds | Northside Christian | St. Petersburg, Florida | 3-stars, No. 219 in Florida |
Position-by-Position Breakdown
10 of NC State's initial 22 commits were defensive players, with yet another emphasis on that side of the ball for Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. NC State suffered numerous injuries in the secondary during the 2025 season, but seemed to move toward adding depth at those positions with the 2026 recruiting class.
Offense
The Wolfpack did not feel the need to make major additions at the quarterback position, with just one signal caller set to join the roster in 2026. North Carolina product Jacob Smith, one of the 22 three-star recruits, is the lone quarterback of the class. Running back Noah Moss is one of the more intriguing commits, as he plays for NC State alum and NFL legend Philip Rivers and alongside Rivers' son, four-star 2027 quarterback Gunner Rivers.
NC State secured hard commitments from four wide receivers in the early recruiting period, with Amiri Acker headlining the group, coming from South Carolina. Acker flipped from Liberty University. Wide receivers coach Joker Phillips has proven he can work wonders with young receivers, with the 2025 NC State receiver corps being a prime example of his ability.
Defense
With some key members of the linebacker corps and the secondary on the way out, NC State needed to reload at those positions. The Wolfpack lined up four safeties with hard commitments over the last year, headlined by D'Various Surratt, a three-star from Shelby, North Carolina. It's hard to say if the Wolfpack will get any work for these players as freshmen, but with rosters becoming smaller, it's possible.
The Wolfpack secured commitments from a pair of linebackers in the early stages of the recruiting cycle. The third-highest rated commit in the class is Zykir Moore, a three-star linebacker out of Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh.
Top Commitments in the Class
Amiri Acker, wide receiver – Crescent, South Carolina - ★★★
- 6-foot-2/186 pounds
- No. 72 wide receiver
- Offers from Liberty, Appalachian State, Boston College
Tyreek Cooper, wide receiver – Kinston, North Carolina - ★★★
- 6-foot-2/180 pounds
- No. 79 wide receiver
- Offers from Army, Air Force, Bryant and Campbell
Recruiting Surprises, Flips & Misses
NC State protected the in-state talent with a signing day flip at the linebacker position. Three-star linebacker Caleb Gordon out of Gastonia, N.C., flipped from West Virginia to the Pack, staying in his home state.
Historical Context & Class Ranking
NC State's 2026 class is falling in line with the classes over the last few years. The class of 2025 finished as the No. 50 group in the nation according to 247Sports. However, it is a step down from the standpoint of four-star recruitment, as the Wolfpack did not secure a commitment from a single four-star. Offensive lineman Spike Sowells headlined that 2025 group and has gone on to become one of the key members of the NC State Wolfpack in 2025.
With so many starters likely leaving via graduation or the draft, NC State will more than likely utilize the transfer portal to rebuild on the fly.
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Tucker Sennett graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Journalism from the esteemed Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. A former basketball player, he has gained valuable experience working at Cronkite News and brings a deep passion for sports and reporting to his role as the NC State Wolfpack Beat Writer On SI.
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