Peach State Products Headed To N.C. State

Perhaps the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic has picked up another convert in N.C. State. Despite losing to Tennessee to open up the 2012 season, the Wolfpack may have the last laugh as the program picked up a pair of prized recruits from the Peach State over the weekend. Championship quarterback Bryant Shirreffs revealed Friday that he would be heading to Raleigh next season and taking his dual-threat ability with him for the chance at early playing time. N.C. State has just two scholarship signal callers on the current roster, so Shirreffs could see the field soon in new head coach Dave Doeren’s offense. Last season, Shirreffs passed for 2,404 yards and 18 scores while running for an additional 1,383 yards and 21 touchdowns. In the Class AA championship game against Calhoun, Shirreffs ran for 139 yards and three scores and was an efficient 14-for-18 for 188 passing yards in the 31-14 victory.

Shirreffs will have a huge target in JuMichael Ramos, who flipped from Georgia Tech to the Wolfpack during a weekend visit. Ramos, 6-foot-4, hauled in 933 receiving yards and six scores last season on a loaded Lovejoy offense that advanced to the Class AAAAAA finals.

Score 44 running back Josh Mercer out of South Effingham is the third Peach State product expected to sign with the Wolfpack tomorrow. Last season, N.C. State signed ML King’s Kenderius Whitehead and Jarnor Jones as well as Liberty County back Shadrach Thornton and the Lassiter duo of Niles Clark and Charlie Hegedus.

Ole Miss has been one of the hottest programs on the recruiting trail this year, but the good news took a bit of a hit over the weekend when Milton running back Peyton Barber dropped his commitment to the Rebels in favor of Auburn. Scout.com reported that Barber, who took a visit to the Plains over the weekend, committed Sunday night after returning from the trip. He took an official visit to Ole Miss last weekend.