To his coaches at Irmo, Mustafa Greene's potential as a running back was clear from the beginning.

He returned a kickoff for a touchdown the first time he touched the football in a game.

Wednesday, Greene wound up where Yellow Jackets’ staff always believed he would: signing a National Letter of Intent. Greene will play for N.C. State University.

"I always imagined myself on the field doing well, but I didn't see me sitting in front of an audience signing scholarship papers," said Greene.

Division 1 coaches did not begin pursuing heavily until early in his senior season.

"The calls started coming in on Sept. 11. That's when I really knew that I was going to make it," he said. The next day he rushed for 278 yards in a game against Summerville, and in the weeks that followed, Greene collected over a dozen scholarship offers.

"I actually just made a list and there were a lot of pros for N.C. State," said Greene, who turned down Rutgers and announced his commitment to the Wolfpack last week.

"N.C. State recruited him as well any staff I've seen," Irmo coach Bob Hanna said. "They did a really good job of developing a relationship with him, and that's good for them because he is somebody that can contribute immediately."

Hanna said Greene "has courage, strength, balance and vision as a running back" that will help N.C. State develop a much stronger program.

Greene amassed 5,270 yards in his career despite missing 11 games in his junior and senior seasons due to injuries.

"Without those injuries, he would have had a great senior season, because I really believe he is the best running back in the state," Hanna said.

Greene missed five and a half games this season but still rushed for 1,367 yards, averaging 9 yards per carry, and 18 touchdowns and played in Shrine Bowl.