ALBEMARLE — Over the weekend, NC State’s football program gained an important commitment to its class of 2021.
West Stanly running back and defensive back Jordan Poole, a four-star recruit, announced Saturday afternoon that he has decided to play for the Wolfpack after finishing his upcoming senior season with the Colts.
Poole chose NC State over Virginia Tech and South Carolina, his top three choices from the 13 schools he received offers beginning last June. His commitment was originally planned for July 1 before he elected to postpone it until August.
Poole told SCJ on Monday that multiple factors led to his final choice to play college football in Raleigh.
“It’s a great location for my next four years,” Poole said. “They have a great coaching staff and family atmosphere. Wolfpack Nation is a crazy fan base and you can’t go wrong with it.”
Regarded as one of the top prospects in the state, Poole is ranked by 247Sports as the fourth-best overall athlete in the nation and the No. 5 statewide prospect out of the class of 2021. The 6-foot-0, 225-pound Oakboro native is projected to play as a linebacker at the collegiate level.
Aside from his explosive running style, recruiters have been impressed with Poole’s speed and agility (his 40-yard dash is clocked at 4.6 seconds).
The rising senior has been a key component for West Stanly’s offense since his freshman season where he rushed for 730 yards and seven touchdowns. As a sophomore, he improved to 869 yards and nine scores.
His junior season was his true breakout campaign with 21 rushing touchdowns and 1,534 yards on the ground. He also recorded 36 tackles and an interception as a defensive back. In a matchup against Southwestern Randolph, Poole — who earned 2019 All-Rocky River 2A/3A Conference honors — carried the ball only 13 times but managed to rack up 267 rushing yards.
“He’s been a guy that has worked hard, and he’s done a tremendous job of being a good teammate,” West Stanly head coach Brett Morton told SCJ on Monday. “From carrying the ball to playing defense, anything we’ve asked him to do, he’s done to the best of his ability. His maturity and ability have been steadily building, and then last year, he really exploded on the scene and did a tremendous job of taking that next step.”
Poole’s collegiate decision furthers a Stanly County-NC State pipeline that includes fellow West Stanly graduate and current New York Giant B.J. Hill as well as Poole’s cousin, C.J. Clark, an NC State defensive tackle who graduated from North Stanly.