Pack earns huge commitment

The month of December was big for NC State recruiting, and things just got a lot bigger with the verbal commitment from one of their top in-state targets.

"I committed to NC State today," said DeMarcus Tyler, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle from Fayetteville (N.C.) E.E. Smith. "I told Coach Cignetti today and he was excited."

Tyler is ranked by Rivals100.com as the No. 8 overall player in North Carolina and is one of the top 40 defensive tackles in the entire nation. He has tremendous strength and already has the frame to play in the ACC.

"It came down to NC State and Ohio State basically. I know I'll be wearing an NC State jersey in Columbus next year against the defending national champions and it will be even tougher because they were my second choice," he laughed. "NC State is close to home and I really like the coaches. Ohio State has great coaches too and I really got close to them. Both places are really special."

But what set NC State above the Buckeyes?

"The bottom line is, I want to win a national championship at NC State. I want to help bring it to Raleigh, and not some other school. I want football in this state to be big."