PALM COAST — Commitment wasn't on Colby Cronk's mind when he arrived at North Carolina State University last week.
Plans were hastily changed to observe how Wolfpack coaches interacted with players during spring training and in two closed position group meetings.
“Just like they watch film, they watch it over and over again to make sure they understand what (North Carolina State defensive line coach Charlie Wiles) is talking about and what he's trying to teach them. “We do,” Cronk said. “I think that’s really important.
“Obviously I went there because I was interested in the program, but I didn’t get to see their campus, see them practice off the field and coach in the film room, and sit with one of their engineering professors. Everything was really great.''I have a big role to play. ”
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Cronk, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end, may be ready to make history in the Flagler-Palm Coast football program. Founded in 1974, the school has never directly produced a Power Four football signee. Several players have recently gone to major universities, including Marquis Gilbert (Auburn) and Doug Ladson Subtil (Arizona State), but they chose the JUCO path first.
Then again, rewriting the FPC sports history books is nothing new for the Cronk family. Colby's older sister, Mikayla, won seven FHSAA swimming championships during her four-year career, then blossomed into an All-American at the Florida Games, where last week the Gators won the 800-meter freestyle relay national championship for the first time since 1989. contributed to. .
Meanwhile, Colby recorded 61 solo tackles, 12 sacks and 27 tackles for loss this fall, earning him All-Area honors for the first time on the football field. He is also Florida's leading shot putter, setting a new personal best last month with a distance of 16.54 meters, which ranks fifth in the entire state this spring, according to track and field database MileSplit.
“He's everything you could want as a student-athlete and as a person,” said Bulldogs second-year football coach Daniel Fisch. “His biggest characteristic is his athleticism. He plays with constant effort. … No matter the situation, no matter what the score is, he's going to give 100%. He gives everything he has. I intend to dedicate it to you.”
Cronk is the first defensive player in North Carolina State's 2025 recruiting class and is currently ranked No. 46 in the 247Sports Composite Team Standings, but the staff notes that he primarily focuses on the 4i technique, or the inside of opposing offensive tackles. He added that he imagines himself standing next to him. He is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked 46th among edge defenders nationally and 99th among high school players in Florida.
Cronk's offer list also included Duke, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Houston, Iowa State, Liberty, Massachusetts, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Western Michigan. However, he has no plans to visit other locations at this time and plans to return to Raleigh over the weekend of June 7th-9th.
“Right now it's a shutdown situation, so (North Carolina) is the right place for me,” Cronk said. “I’m really excited to be a part of the Wolfpack.”
Derry Norris books three official visits, gets several SEC offers
March was a productive month for Spruce Creek junior defensive lineman Derry Norris Jr. In the span of four weeks, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound player has played at Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas, Michigan State, LSU and, most recently, Florida.
Norris said he is enjoying the sudden jump and is motivated to work even harder. He joined teammates Tony Kinsler, Freddie Wilson and Denali Campbell for an early morning workout Wednesday in the midst of spring break across Volusia County.
He also plans official visits next summer, including Georgia Tech (May 31-June 2), Miami (June 7-9), and Minnesota (June 14-16). I have confirmed my visit to. In addition to his relationships with their respective coaching staffs, Norris said he is looking into schools where he can earn a degree in civil engineering.
Miami and Minnesota emerged as early options for Norris, who recorded 13 TFL, 91/2 sacks and 20 QB pressures during his junior season. Spruce Creek graduate and Minnesota linebacker Maverick Baranowski has reached out to Norris and is actively trying to get him on board.
“He's definitely part of it,” Norris said. “He gives a real picture of what the coach is like and what his daily life is like there. I think it's pure love.”
As for Miami, Norris likes the idea of returning the Hurricanes to glory.
“They're trying to make it like the old Miami days,” Norris said of Mario Cristobal's staff. “I know they’re trying to build something special, not something temporary.”
According to 247Sports, 30 oral offers are on the horizon, but Norris has not yet set a timeline for curating his list of potential suitors or making a final decision. However, he plans to sign in December, graduate in the winter, and enter college in time for the spring semester.
“I'm going to follow my heart, and if I feel like that's where I need to be, I'm going to give it my all,” Norris said.
Christian Hudson scheduled for official visit to UCF, Maryland
Christian Hudson, who starts at left guard and defensive tackle and is an essential piece of the mainland state championship puzzle, has been touring the country to find potential candidates. He began an unofficial visit last Saturday in Louisville, spent this weekend at Iowa State and Iowa State, and will play in April at UCF, Miami, Tulane, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan State and Maryland. I'm planning on stopping in the states.
Hudson (6-1, 280) recorded 72 tackles and 29 tackles for loss as a junior and was credited with handing out more than 40 pancake blocks. He is the No. 78 defensive line recruit in the nation and the No. 111 player in the state of Florida in the 2025 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.
Hudson's summer schedule is starting to fill up, too. He announced his intention to visit UCF the first weekend in June and told the News Journal he would head to Maryland two weeks later.
Spruce Creek's Tony Kinsler visits Pitt in June
After posting a 1,000-yard receiving season at Spruce Creek, Kinsler became a prime target for several Division I programs. Earlier this week, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound junior took an important first step in sorting out his offer list by booking an official visit to Pittsburgh.
Kinsler is considered the No. 89 wide receiver in the nation in 2025 and the No. 81 player in the state of Florida. He received offers from Marshall, Indiana and Buffalo within the last month.
