Nations top DT hints at leader
Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley stud DeMario Pressley is the defensive tackle in the country this recruiting season and one of the Top 10 players overall in the country. Can North Carolina or NC State keep him at home?
"I've visited both UNC and NC State and both of them are great places," said the 6-foot-4, 285-pounder. "They're both right at the top of my list, but I haven't really narrowed things down much just yet."
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With more than 40 offers already, Pressley has been able to shorten his list of favorite schools as his senior season quickly approaches.
"UNC, NC State, NOtre Dame, Florida State, Oklahoma, Virginia, Georgia and Miami are my favorites," he said. "In addition to UNC and NC State, I've already visited Virginia and Georgia and both places were great. It's going to be tough to decide because everyplace I've been has been nice.
"It will come down to my official visits and how comfortable I feel."
What does he like about each school?
"UNC and NC State are close to home and that's nice, Notre Dame and FSU have great football traditions, Georgia and Miami are two of the top football programs in the country as is Oklahoma and Virginia is a team that's really coming up."
Pressley, who was double-teamed on nearly every play as a junior, made 97 tackles and registered 14 sacks. His combination of agility, quickness and tenacity make him an amazing prospect.
"DeMario is an absolute terror on the field,” head coach Victor Floyd said. “No two guys can block him. He has a nasty attitude on the field which is what you need."
Pressley is also remarkably nimble for his size.
"He has extraordinary quickness and flexibility," said Floyd. "He could walk in here right now with jeans on and do a split. He has the ability to dominate a game because he's so hard to handle."
So who has the early edge for the top defensive tackle in the country?
"I can't really say anyone leads because I'm going to wait until the very end to decide," he said. "But I grew up following North Carolina and Wake Forest for the most part. UNC is pretty high on my list."
Pressley's teammates, running back Jamaal Edwards and defensive back Martel Thatch, are also top prospects this recruiting year. All three players will go both ways this season for Dudley.
"I'm playing some offensive line this year so I had to change my number to 72," he said. "It's no big deal, I just love being on the field."
Pressley doesn't have any visits scheduled for this summer and will take most of his official visits following his season.
"I want to focus on winning first, then recruiting."
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