Fre'Shad Hunter, Cary High's exceptional defensive lineman, is not expected top sign a national letter of intent today.

Hunter had committed to N.C. State, but had dropped off the Cary High team during the season to concentrate on his academics.

"He is not going to sign with State," said Cary coach Ben Kolstad. "Right now, it is a little up in the air. I expect he'll go to a prep school or to a junior college."

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end is ranked No. 13 on The Charlotte Observer's Top 25 list.

Fre'Shad Hunter, Cary High's exceptional defensive lineman, is not expected top sign a national letter of intent today.

Hunter had committed to N.C. State, but had dropped off the Cary High team during the season to concentrate on his academics.

"He is not going to sign with State," said Cary coach Ben Kolstad. "Right now, it is a little up in the air. I expect he'll go to a prep school or to a junior college."

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end is ranked No. 13 on The Charlotte Observer's Top 25 list.

Cary coach Ben Kolstad suspended a number of starters before last week's 34-5 loss to Middle Creek. One of them was his most highly-touted player, offensive/defensive lineman Fre'Shad Hunter.

However, Hunter will not be returning to the team. While other starters were suspended for missing practice, Hunter broke an undisclosed team rule.

Hunter’s mother and Kolstad met, and decided it would be best for Fre’Shad to sit out the rest of the year.

“What happened is, there were some team rules broken, and it kind of became a mutual decision between me and his mom that he was going to focus on academics and nothing else,” Kolstad said.

The senior ranks among the best players in the state and recently committed to N.C. State. He projects as a defensive lineman at the next level, and is ranked by major recruiting databases Scout.com and Rivals.com as a four-star player.

“It’s probably not easy for him, but he’s doing fine,” Kolstad said. “This is something that we’ve been talking about for awhile anyway. It’s not that sudden of a thing for him. He’s handled it well I think.”

The Imps are 4-4 (2-3) heading into this Friday's game at home against Lee County. Hunter, meanwhile, will spend his time readying himself for college.

“He’s just preparing for next year,” Kolstad said. “And this gives him a chance to work on his academics and get himself prepared physically and mentally for next year.” 

Highly touted N.C. State football recruit Fre'Shad Hunter has been suspended for the remainder of the high school season.

Cary High School has suspended the 6-foot-5, 245-pound lineman, who is projected to play defensive end in college, for undisclosed reasons. He was among a number of starters suspended last week. Before verbally committing to State last month, Hunter was also considering Florida State, LSU and Tennessee, among other schools.

Cary coach Ben Kolstad suspended a number of starters before last week's 34-5 loss to Middle Creek.

One of them was his most highly-touted player, offensive/defensive lineman Fre'Shad Hunter.

However, Hunter will not be returning to the team. The senior ranks among the best players in the state and recently committed to N.C. State.

It's not known why Hunter was kicked off the team. The Imps are 4-4 (2-3) heading into this Friday's game at home against Lee County.

Cary senior Fre'Shad Hunter has committed to play for N.C. State next season. He made his decision shortly after N.C. State's win over Pitt on Saturday.

Hunter, who's playing primarily offensive line this year for the Imps, is ranked as one of the nation's top defensive ends by both Rivals and Scout.com. The 6'4 245-pound senior totaled 60 tackles and six sacks last year in his first year at the position.

Fre'Shad Hunter, senior, Cary football

Cary senior Fre'Shad Hunter has committed to play at N.C. State next season. This coming after N.C. State's win over Pitt on Saturday.

Hunter, who's playing primarily offensive line this year for the Imps, is ranked as one of the nation's top defensive ends. He totaled 60 tackles and six sacks last year in his first year at the position.

Cary coach Ben Kolstad said the move to offensive line was based on team need. Cary's defense remains one of the best groups in the conference even without Hunter, allowing just 15.7 points per game.

"We moved him to offensive tackle just because he gives us some really good things at offensive tackle. It's really hard to play both ways," Kolstad said. "We just needed a boost down the stretch and he's a good athletic player, so we'll see what he can do."

"We're just trying to be a better team, and he's doing what we need." 

In Friday's 21-14 loss to Holly Springs, however, Hunter did make some spot appearances on defense during the game's final minutes. In those limited opportunities, he made two tackles and a half-tackle for loss.

He displayed a good nose for the ball, and figures to return to the defensive side of the ball in college.

In the Tri-Nine Conference alone, there are three N.C. State football commitments. The other two, Pete Singer and Rob Crisp, are with Athens Drive. Cary plays host to Athens Drive in a "Future Wolfpack Bowl" on Oct. 9th. 

Cary Imps

Last year: 4-8 (4-3 lost to Southeast Raleigh 34-14 in the first round of the 4-A playoffs)

All-Conference players graduated: OL/DL Eloheim Palma, DB/RB/KR/SPEC Bryan Wilson

All-Conference players returning: P/K William Gilfillan (Tri-Eight Specialist of the Year), DE Fre'Shad Hunter, (honorable mention) DT Phillip Ochieng, (honorable mention) RB/LB Ralph Chapman

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After talking with Cary defensive end Fre'Shad Hunter (and look for a story on him in this week's TCN sports section) today, I learned that he was leaving this afternoon for Knoxville, Tenn. along with Sanderson wide receiver/tight end Matt James.

The two are driving out to a football camp at the University of Tennessee.

According to Rivals.com, Hunter has an offer from Tennessee and seven other schools and James does not hold an offer from Tennessee, but does from eight other schools.

As far as in-state schools are concerned, Hunter holds offers from N.C. State (which he said was the first to offer) and East Carolina (which he said impressed him a lot on his visit there), while James has offers from ECU and Wake Forest.

I wonder if Lane Kiffin will trash-talk any of those in-state schools to either Hunter or James. Didn't work so well last time..