2nd football recruit leaves UNC for NC State

Football Recruiting46

The Larry Fedora era at UNC-CH seems to be starting with a bang!! Just a couple of days after a player who had verbally committed to ECU switched over to UNC, Fedora has experienced his second recruiting defection to NC State.

Sanderson High football defensive end Desmond Owino has switched his college choice from the University of North Carolina to N.C. State.

“Desmond had some questions after the coaching change at North Carolina,” said Sanderson football coach Tony Lewis. “He said he wanted to look at some other options and visited N.C. State.

“He decided that’s where he wants to go to school. There is nothing negative about Carolina, he just decided he liked State better.”

The fast 6-foot-5, 235-pound Owino had never played football before last fall. He came to the United States last spring from Kenya, where is played rugby. Sanderson coach Tony Lewis encouraged Owino to play football last season.

Owino quickly caught the attention of college coaches throughout the southeastern United States. The recruiting process was new to him and he said it was overwhelming at times.

As a reminder, highly rated offensive lineman, Bryce Kennedy switched his commitment from UNC to NC State on the day of the Wolfpack’s Belk Bowl victory over Louisville.

A lot of football recruiting being discussed as the local programs now shift into ’2012 mode’. Of course the huge local news this week came a few hours before NC State’s bowl win when highly rated offensive lineman, Bryce Kennedy switched his commitment from UNC-CH to NC State. Kennedy is 6’2″, 285 lbs, and the 41st ranked OG in the country (according to ESPN) out of Southern Pines.

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Football Recruiting

46 Responses to 2nd football recruit leaves UNC for NC State

  1. Prowling Woofie 01/18/2012 at 11:50 AM #

    Already ranked as a 3-star recruit after only playing the sport for one season. This kid has tremendous upside and will turn out to be another diamond in the rough for TOB and staff !

  2. Bowlpack 01/18/2012 at 12:02 PM #

    I think we can expect a reasonable amount of drop off in “star-power” in Chapel Hill unless Fedora wins a bunch of games. They were consistently in the Top 25 of classes with Butch at the helm with not much to show for it aside from a couple of 8 win seasons, some bad publicity and potential for NCAA penalties.

    In terms of our success, one could argue that this year’s class is shaping up to be much better than last years with some more marquee in-state players and a couple of out of state surprises. We still don’t have the pull for the big name recruits and frankly, I often wonder what it would be like if we started to get the attention of some of the 4 and 5 star guys.

    I know we often harp on the fact that TOB recruits good players that will fit his system regardless of their star rating. That may be the case, but it has always seemed like a bit of a cop out to me as I’m sure he would gladly welcome the top guys if we could get them out of high school. The fact is, the program is on the rise, but still has to do something noteworthy on a national scale before we can start to reel in top classes again – and I’m not talking about Amato’s “island of misfit toys” type of classes where we’d have 7 6-star WR’s/CB/ATH’s and no offensive lineman, but complete teams that will round out the depth chart for 4-5 years.

  3. STLPack01 01/18/2012 at 12:37 PM #

    Speaking of recruiting, does anyone know what our QB situation is after Glennon leaves?

  4. hpack 01/18/2012 at 12:51 PM #

    My guess is that Fedora put a stop to (or was not able to sell) the bold face lies about NCAA sanctions that were being spread by the previous coaching regimes.

    Will be interesting to see how the recruiting battles pan out over the next several years.

  5. sundropdrinker13 01/18/2012 at 12:53 PM #

    STLPack, Brosius is his backup, and we have 2 QBs in this class, though one might be moved to another position.

  6. logarithm 01/18/2012 at 12:59 PM #

    Hopefully his rugby background means he has good hands. That’s great for a DE but might we end up working him out at OLB if he’s fast enough and can learn pass coverage? After only one season playing the game he can’t have learned much technique and got to 2-3 stars with physical gifts alone. That could mean he’s 100% moldable clay or it could mean he’s developed bad habits without extensive coaching.

  7. lawful 01/18/2012 at 12:59 PM #

    “There is nothing negative about Carolina, he just decided he liked State better.”

    Nothing??? Really??? I don’t think the NCAA (or any of us) can agree w/that.

    Are they leaving w/metronome regularity?

  8. STLPack01 01/18/2012 at 1:19 PM #

    Yes but is Brosius legit starting material? I just haven’t heard much about him.

  9. Bowlpack 01/18/2012 at 1:38 PM #

    What about Brian Taylor from Harnett? Everything I’ve read about Summers, though, is that he’s the real deal. He’ll most likely redshirt this coming season and hopefully be ready to challenge for the job following that.

  10. runwiththepack 01/18/2012 at 1:42 PM #

    Brian Taylor is still on the roster, i hope. QB from Harnett Co. who red-shirted this year. Maybe a Russell Wilson type of all-round-athlete, since he is also very good at baseball and maybe basketball in high school. If he’s gone or changed positions, i missed it. Tough and smart, shorter than you might want a qb, and a running threat. Sounds familiar.

  11. JasonP 01/18/2012 at 1:43 PM #

    STL – I’m no scout by any means but I saw Brosius play in some garbage time this past season. I have no doubt about him filling in at QB when Glennon leaves. He won’t impress you with his physique, but he’s got a strong and accurate arm. When he learns how to read defenses he’s going to be dangerous.

    Great to see these types of pick ups. A 3* recruit with one year of playing experience and a rugby background means this guy is an athlete.

  12. runwiththepack 01/18/2012 at 1:52 PM #

    Glennon was virtually an unknown until he started. He worried me some the first few games, (or, maybe i should say the entire offense worried me). But now i think he’s pretty darned good and i can’t wait to see him next year. What an arm! His heaves are things of beauty.

    I don’t understand why second string qb’s don’t get more quality playing time. It seems to me that it would be quite valuable. I suppose the coaches know what they’re doing, but it sure makes me nervous wondering if our mysterious backups are capable of accomplishing when all we see of them is a few mop-up jobs here and there.

    We have been pretty lucky, over-all, with qb’s staying healthy for 12 years now. The glaring exception to that, of course, is the RW concussion, which probably cost us a very good bowl game his freshman year.

    We have been lucky, in general, with quarterbacks for decades. I would be interested to know why subs don’t get more playing time.

  13. runwiththepack 01/18/2012 at 1:57 PM #

    I would love for Brosius to become a “Tebow-style” qb. I love a good running quarterback, even if they aren’t hot commodities by NFL scouts. Wouldn’t that be awesome if he developed Taylor Gentry-esque strength?

  14. Bowlpack 01/18/2012 at 2:03 PM #

    I think foot speed may be an issue with Brosius. Is he quick enough to be mobile? He doesn’t appear to be that athletic, but I’m basing that from seeing him on the sidelines…

  15. STLPack01 01/18/2012 at 2:17 PM #

    Thanks for the feedback everybody. When RW was the starter we knew we had a highly touted back up waiting in the wings, thus there was no doubt who the QB was going to be when RW left the program. I would think that now is the time to go out there and get another program type QB. He could redshirt next year and learn from Glennon, then take the reigns the following year.

    Any rumors on QB’s we may be looking at for this class?

  16. TruthBKnown Returns 01/18/2012 at 2:45 PM #

    Holes are no doubt blaming these deflections on simple coincidence as they continue to keep their heads in the sand regarding their upcoming NCAA sanctions.

    I’m sure this had NOTHING to do with their NCAA troubles. Right.

  17. wolfpack15 01/18/2012 at 3:10 PM #

    Don’t mean to be off topic but does anyone know anything about the new apparel deal? Please share…….

  18. NCStatePride 01/18/2012 at 3:28 PM #

    runwiththepack says…

    “I don’t understand why second string qb’s don’t get more quality playing time. It seems to me that it would be quite valuable.”

    John Bunting tried it at Carolina and did terrible. Several other coaches have tried to “two quarterback system” with questionable results. I’m sure someone could mention some successes with it, but typically when you run two quarterbacks, you take away your starter’s ability to get into a rhythm.

  19. WolfBlood 01/18/2012 at 3:44 PM #

    That Summers kid is very athletic and said he would like to remain playing QB but that State might use him at other positions. TOB likes the pocket passer types so not sure if he is in our QB plans or not.

  20. Pack1997 01/18/2012 at 3:50 PM #

    I agree with Pride and will also note confidence is very important to playing the position. If you play a backup qb you are shaking the confidence of the starter unless it is garbage time. I am not concerned in regards to QB and our roster. They average one QB per class which is quite impressive. I also read that Bible doesn’t just see these kids play but actually tests them during his visits for football IQ. Glennon state during his recruitment he was the only coach to do that.

    As for our recruiting, we need someone young who can relate to these kids in order to start getting the bigger prospects. It has worked quite well for Beamer as his son is cleaning house compared to their normal recruits. Plus in football the stars just do not mean as much unless you are a 5 star recruit.

  21. coppertop 01/18/2012 at 3:55 PM #

    “He decided that’s where he wants to go to school. There is nothing negative about Carolina, he just decided he liked State better.”

    I love this. I like the rugby background, and think it will serve him well as a foundation. I see him as someone who will benefit greatly from a TOB system of growing players.

  22. state73 01/18/2012 at 4:10 PM #

    I disagree with the comment that Glennon was a virtual unknown before he started. He is the only 5 star QB recruit NCSU has ever signed. He was being heavly recruited early in his high school career by several big time football schools.

  23. TOBtime 01/18/2012 at 4:41 PM #

    Desmond is about the same weight ( a little heavier) and height as Carl Reeves. Carl was one of the fastest off-the-line DE’s I have ever seen. I can remember thinking he was going to take a handoff he was there so quickly. If Desmond comes anywhere close to Carl we got a real keeper.

    Welcome to the Pack Mr. Owino!

  24. PackFamily 01/18/2012 at 4:52 PM #

    “I disagree with the comment that Glennon was a virtual unknown before he started. He is the only 5 star QB recruit NCSU has ever signed.”

    As good and highly recruited as he was, he was only a 4*. It has surprised me how few 5* there are (35 or so for all positions).

    As for the coach’s comments:
    “He decided that’s where he wants to go to school. There is nothing negative about Carolina, he just decided he liked State better.”

    They have to keep good relationships with all of the schools to help their kids with recruiting. I wonder if that was a factor.

  25. tuckerdorm1983 01/18/2012 at 4:58 PM #

    any word out of Indianapolis???

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