NC State landed a verbal commitment from Heritage High School linebacker Drake Thomas on Friday afternoon. This is perhaps the biggest pickup for Dave Doeren and his staff in the 2019 recruiting cycle so far. Thomas picked NC State over Alabama, Clemson, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.

.@PackFootball picks up stud LB Drake Thomas. @DrakeT32 is a hard hittin dude. pic.twitter.com/wGgE0jmR9n — Jeff Gravley (@jgravleyWRAL) June 1, 2018

Thomas is a consensus three-star recruit, but really all you need to know is that list of finalists to tell you how talented his is. If Alabama and Clemson are interested, you’re pretty good.

He’s listed at 6’1, 225 pounds by 247Sports, and has been clocked running a 4.6 40. As a junior at Heritage, he recorded more than 110 tackles and picked off three passes. He also played a bit of running back, but he’ll be playing on the defensive side in college.

Thomas is considered one of the top 25 prospects in North Carolina in this recruiting cycle.

His brother, Thayer, was a walk-on at NC State last season but has since been awarded a scholarship.