Highly touted DE Hunter picks N.C. State

N.C. State's come-from-behind, 38-31 defeat of Pittsburgh on Saturday night helped deliver one of the top prospects in North Carolina.

Cary High senior Fre'Shad Hunter said Sunday that the Wolfpack's performance in the win helped him make the decision to commit to N.C. State after the game. He said N.C. State was one of the first teams to offer him a scholarship and has been his top choice throughout his recruitment.

"It's a dream come true," he said. "I grew up watching N.C. State, seeing all the fans, watching them on TV. Now I'm going to be playing for them. It's crazy."

The Charlotte Observer rates Hunter as the fifth-best prospect in North Carolina. He is 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds and is expected to play defensive end in college. Hunter also had Florida State, LSU and Tennessee among his finalists.

Hunter gives N.C. State three commitments among rivals.com's top seven prospects in North Carolina. Two of those top seven prospects remain uncommitted.

Athens Drive offensive lineman Robert Crisp and Southern Durham wide receiver Anthony Creecy are the other highly rated in-state commitments in the Wolfpack's class.

Ken Tysiac