Recruiting Trends: Who is up, down and holding steady in ACC?
CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | State | Position | Team
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Recruiting trends are always interesting to follow, especially for programs that don’t end up getting as much attention as the bluebloods. This week, we will look at each Power Five conference and discover some teams trending up, down and remaining remarkably consistent. We continue today with the ACC.
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report
RELATED: Recruiting trends in the Big Ten | SEC
POSITIVE
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NC STATE
Recent class rankings: No. 53, No. 34, No. 28
Coach Dave Doeren has quietly put together a very good run in Raleigh since his hiring in 2012. Producing five consecutive winning seasons, going 18-8 in the last two seasons and winning three bowl games since 2014, NC State has used all of this momentum to improve its recruiting success. After a somewhat disappointing No. 53 class in 2017, the Wolfpack have finished at No. 34 and then No. 28 over the last two years. Another nine-win season in Raleigh could lead to even bigger things for the Wolfpack in 2019 and beyond.
Farrell’s take: I like the way NC State has recruited, especially when it comes to in-state players, and now Doeren and company will need to step it up even more with Mack Brown at UNC and recruiting well. NC State has also done a good job spot recruiting states like Florida, New Jersey, Virginia and Georgia. The 2020 cycle is off to a very solid start as well, with a top 20 recruiting class.
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WAKE FOREST
Recent class rankings: No. 74, No. 61, No. 60
The Wake Forest program may not get an overabundance of national attention, but the Demon Deacons have established a winning culture under coach Dave Clawson. After a rough first two seasons in Winston-Salem, Clawson and the Demon Deacons have gone 22-14 since 2016 and have won three consecutive bowl games. And while the recruiting improvement has not been monumental, going from 74th, to 61st, and most recently 60th, the winning on the field should help this positive pattern to continue.
Farrell’s take: Wake doesn’t get many four-stars and it has disadvantages when it comes to academic standards, facilities and other areas, but the Demon Deacons have done a good job evaluating talent and recruiting many different areas. The improvements haven’t been huge when it comes to the team rankings, but they are getting some high-caliber impact guys such as Nolan Groulx and Shamar McCollum. The landscape in North Carolina is more competitive than ever, so they will continue to work other areas as well.
