NC State football will start spring practices on March 18th, 3 weeks from today.

The Wilmington paper talks about what to watch for:

Competition is expected at quarterback between Daniel Evans and Russell Wilson, plus the Wolfpack will have tight end Anthony Hill and tailback Toney Baker back at practice after each suffered season-ending knee injuries. Hill missed the entire season. –StarNewsOnline.com

Popularity: 84% [?]

The Wolfpack have released their 2008 football schedule:

Aug. 28 at South Carolina (Thurs.)
Sept. 6 WILLIAM & MARY
Sept. 13 at Clemson
Sept. 20 EAST CAROLINA
Sept. 27 SOUTH FLORIDA
Oct. 4 BOSTON COLLEGE
Oct. 16 FLORIDA STATE(Thurs.)
Oct. 25 at Maryland
Nov. 8 at Duke
Nov. 15 WAKE FOREST
Nov. 22 at North Carolina
Nov. 29 MIAMI

Starting Monday, February 11th, season tickets will be available for Wolfpack Club Members and faculty/staff members who were 2007 season ticket holders.

Popularity: 22% [?]

A strong performance in the home state of North Carolina propels NC State to the #20 overall recruiting class in the U.S. according to ESPN.com (#29 by Scout.com; #31 by Rivals.com.)

“We wanted to recruit this state and recruit it hard,” O’Brien said. –Fayetteville Observer

And recruit the state hard, he did. Out of State’s 26 recruits who signed yesterday, 13 were from within the borders of North Carolina. Including 3 of the top 5; and 7 of the top 20 in-state recruits. Supplementing the class of course was the #3 rated pro-style QB Mike Glennon from Virginia. Glennon has drawn comparisons to Boston College’s Matt Ryan who is expected to be a first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

“Our biggest emphasis is always going to be in North Carolina and in the immediate area. I think that’s got to be where we have to do well year in and year out in recruiting,” said O’Brien –News & Record

Not bad for a coach who only has one year of in-state recruiting experience under his belt.

Popularity: 35% [?]

Video of NC State QB Mike Glennon in action during the Under Armour All-American High School Football game.

Popularity: 45% [?]

Today is signing day, here are your new Pack players:
(# is the overall recruit ranking at their position according to ESPN)

#3 QB
Mike Glennon
6-6 194
Westfield H.S. (VA)

#8 ATH
Brandon Barnes ATH
6-0 185
Bunn H.S. (NC)

#9 TE
Mario Carter
6-5 231
Independence H.S. (NC)

#28 ATH
Tobias Palmer
5-10 170
Northwood H.S. (NC)

#21 OT
R.J. Mattes
6-6 259
J. M. Robinson H.S. (NC)

#33 OLB
Terrell Manning
6-3 210
Scotland H.S. (NC)

#53 WR
T.J. Graham WR
6-0 180
Wakefeld H.S. (NC)

#19 ILB
William Beasley
6-0 236
Milton H.S. (FL)

#25 DT
Marty Everett
6-4 300
South Sumter H.S. (FL)

#34 S
Roy Mangram
6-2 195
Glynn Academy (GA)

#49 OT
Andrew Wallace
6-5 258
Olympic H.S. (NC)

#36 ILB
Dwayne Maddox
6-1 222
Crest H.S. (NC)

#67 ATH
C.J. Wilson
5-11 175
Lincolnton H.S. (NC)

#10 FB
Colby Jackson
6-2 225
Trinity Christian School (GA)

#97 ATH
Earl Wolff
6-0 190
Hoke County H.S. (NC)

#86 OG
Zach Allen
6-2     304
Tift County H.S. (GA)

unranked OT
Sam Jones
6-6     275
Hargrave Military Academy

unranked CB
Dominique Ellis
5-11     180
East Wake High School

unranked DT
Kyle Linney
6-2     295
Hargrave Military Academy

unranked CB
Gary Grant
6-0     180
Dr. Krop H.S. (FL)

unranked OL
Ahmad Jaradat
6-4     290
Central Catholic (CAN)

unranked ILB
Sterling Lucas
6-2     220
Orangeburg Wilkinson H.S. (SC)

Popularity: 29% [?]

LeRoy Burgess DT
6-1 300 Columbia, SC
Georgia Military College

Clem Johnson CB
5-11 190 Carlisle, PA
Valley Forge Military College

Thomas Locust DT
6-3 320 Riviera Beach, FL
Cerritos College

Shea McKeen DE
6-4 260 Princeton, NJ
Nassau Community College

Popularity: 35% [?]