3-star linebacker Zane Williams signs with NC State
NC State’s recruiting class has it all. There are the four-star athletes, but there are also the ones that flew under the radar. The Wolfpack has both in this year’s class, and linebacker Zane Williams falls into the latter category.
Williams, a three-star linebacker from Wake Forest High, was offered after his standout performance at one of NC State’s camps over the summer. He committed shortly after. Now, he made it official by signing with the red and white on Wednesday, college football’s national signing day.
Williams is coach Dave Doeren’s first signee from nearby Wake Forest High during his 11-year tenure at the helm of the Wolfpack.
Position: Linebacker
School: Wake Forest High
Height/Weight: 5-11, 220
Other offers: Colgate, Harvard, Lenoir-Rhyne, UNC-Pembroke, Wingate
Senior year stats: Over his first 9 games, he had 96 total tackles, including 45 solo, 24.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, 1 blocked field goal and 8 defended passes.
How Williams ended up at NC State
Williams arrived at NC State for a camp over the summer, and at one point during the drills he was pulled off the practice field — Doeren wanted to see him in the Murphy Center.
Doeren and the staff were impressed with Williams, and wanted to extend an offer to him. It did not take long for Williams to accept the offer following a visit to campus a couple days later.
“I was in complete shock, and I was so thankful for it and just very excited for the opportunity because it’s a huge thing,” Williams said.
Williams was familiar with the Wolfpack since his older brother, Seth, was a walk-on linebacker that earned a scholarship at NC State in 2019. Now, it is Zane Williams’ turn to suit up for the Pack.
Why Williams picked NC State
“As soon as they offered me, I knew it was home,” Williams said.
