NC State lands commitment from Toombs County safety Alex Scott

NC State football added to its defensive back recruiting class on Sunday, getting a verbal commitment from Lyons, Georgia, safety Alex Scott of Toombs County High. Scott’s commitment gives Dave Doeren’s staff another young piece for the secondary, and it comes with the kind of consistency that recruiting battles often reward in the ACC, where roster needs and up-tempo offenses keep safety play in constant demand.

Scott, listed at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, told On3 he picked NC State because of how the program stayed engaged throughout the process. He said, “They made me feel like a real priority,” highlighting what he viewed as steady communication rather than sporadic recruiting. On3’s report also described the Wolfpack offering during the previous football season and continuing to pursue him after the initial offer.

The recruitment was not a one-visit decision. On3 reported that Scott visited Raleigh three times, including a game-day visit when NC State hosted North Carolina, plus a spring trip and an official visit. The official visit, the report said, confirmed what Scott believed beforehand, with NC State’s culture and the comfort he felt among players and coaches playing a central role in his decision.

Defensive backs coach Charlton Warren was a major part of Scott’s pitch, according to On3. Scott pointed to Warren’s development work and preparation for the next level, and he also noted Doeren’s involvement with recruits, saying the head coach made time to meet with recruits directly rather than keeping that interaction limited to office staff. For an ACC program building depth behind its starters, those are the details prospects often use to separate “recruiting interest” from a real plan.

Scott’s decision also closes the loop on what had become a multi-program race. On3 reported that Scott picked NC State over Louisville and “a host” of other schools after receiving over two dozen scholarship offers. The Cardinals’ presence matters in ACC recruiting not just because of geography, but because Louisville, like NC State, tries to keep talent flowing into its secondary to match the league’s blend of spread passing attacks and vertical routes.

Off the field and on the field, Scott’s profile has been built around versatility and production. ScoreAtlanta, writing ahead of the 2025 season, described him as a playmaker for Toombs County who recorded 83 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception during his sophomore season, while also contributing as a runner on offense with 338 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. That kind of two-way impact can translate to defensive value in college football through improved angles, faster recognition, and willingness to contribute on special teams early.

Now the next step is the formal recruiting timeline. Verbal commitments still have to become signed commitments, and players can still change course as coaches and recruits navigate visits, academics, and the late stages of the recruiting cycle. For NC State, the immediate watch items are how quickly the commitment is confirmed publicly and how the staff continues to fill out the defensive back group in this recruiting window, especially as the Wolfpack looks to keep pace with conference rivals in defensive talent acquisition.