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Coach Tom O'Brien

Feb. 1, 2012

Raleigh, N.C. -

2012 Signing Day Central (Bios & Highlights)

Twenty-three student-athletes will join the Wolfpack football program for 2012, including four who have been enrolled at NC State since January and a transfer from Colorado State, head coach Tom O'Brien announced today. The class includes players at every position on offense and defense.

"Our staff is very excited about the signing class of 2012," said O'Brien, who has led the Wolfpack to the third-best record in the ACC over the past two seasons. "We went into this recruiting year with the intention of adding talent at every position, on both sides of the ball. We are at the point now where we are signing to build a team, not rebuild a position, and we are adding quality depth."

The class includes six defensive linemen, three linebackers, four defensive backs, four offensive linemen, two wide receivers, one tight end, one running back and two quarterbacks.

"It's a long, tall, very athletic class," O'Brien continued. "Many of these young men were team captains and team leaders, which means they are the type of selfless players who will come in here with a goal of winning a championship. Seven of the signees attended our camp, so we have really had a chance to get to know them and their character."

The majority of the class hails from State's traditional recruiting footprint, with eight signees from North Carolina high schools, six from Georgia and others from South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

NC State will open spring practice on March 23 and will conclude on April 21 with the annual Kay Yow Spring Game at 1 p.m.

Here is NC State's 2012 signing class:

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown	Last School	Time Signed
Deylan Buntyn	DT	6-4	330	Havelock, N.C.	New Mexico Military Institute	Enrolled
Bryce Kennedy	OL	6-4	285	Southern Pines, N.C.	Pinecrest HS	Enrolled
Quincy McKinney	OL	6-4	300	Columbus, Ga.	Fork Union Military Academy	Enrolled
Manny Stocker	QB	6-3	200	Coatesville, Pa.	Coatesville Area HS	Enrolled
Pete Thomas	QB	6-5	225	El Cajon, Calif.	Colorado State	Transfer
Josh Sessoms	DB	6-3	185	Bailey, N.C.	Southern Nash HS	7:10
Xavier Griffin	WR	6-3	185	Newark, Del.	Newark HS	7:41
David Grinnage	TE	6-5	230	Newark, Del.	Newark HS	7:42
Joe Wright	DE	6-7	235	Greenville, N.C.	Rose HS	7:51
Desmond Owino	DE	6-5	235	Nairobi, Kenya	Sanderson HS	7:55
Marchez Coates	DB	5-11	172	Pomfret, Md.	McDonough HS	8:10
Drew Davis	LB	6-3	230	Raleigh, N.C.	Broughton HS	8:10
Niles Clark	DB	5-10	173	Marietta, Ga.	Lassiter HS	8:15
Charlie Hegedus	WR	6-2	195	Marietta, Ga.	Lassiter HS	8:28
k'Hadree Hooker	DT	6-2	285	Deep Run, N.C.	South Lenoir HS	8:05
Shadrach Thornton	RB	6-1	200	Hinesville, Ga.	Liberty County HS	9:00
Eddie Gordan	OL	6-2	305	Boiling Springs, S.C.	Boiling Springs HS	8:46
M.J. Salahuddin	LB	6-2	192	Fayetteville, N.C.	Jack Britt HS	7:30
John Tu'uta	OL	6-2	325	Fredericksburg, Va.	Fork Union Military Academy	8:15
Tyler Knox	DE	6-4	225	Myrtle Beach, S.C.	Myrtle Beach HS	10:04
J.J. Jones	DB	6-4	205	Lithonia, Ga.	Martin Luther King HS	9:30
Robert Caldwell	LB	6-3	235	Twentynine Palms, Calif.	College of the Desert	10:50
Kenderius Whitehead	DE	6-4	220	Lithonia, Ga.	Martin Luther King HS	8:58

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