For the second time in a week, Wake Forest football has added an in-state quarterback to its 2026 recruiting class — and this one comes from the western side of the state.
East Lincoln signal-caller Grant Lawless, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound standout from Denver, committed to Wake Forest on Wednesday — roughly a week after he reported receiving a scholarship offer from the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest is getting a two-sports standout:
📊 Career Football Stats: 4,249 passing yards, 56 touchdowns, only 5 interceptions
🏀 Also All-Conference in Basketball: 13 points, 7.8 rebounds per game in 2024-25
The commitment came together quickly but wasn’t without groundwork. Lawless visited Wake’s campus for a spring practice in March and toured the facilities in February, per his social media. Since new head coach Jake Dickert took over last December, the relationship between Wake and Lawless steadily grew — culminating with the scholarship offer and commitment over the past week.
Lawless had previously drawn offers from Elon (his first), Gardner-Webb, Lenoir-Rhyne, Towson and Bryant. But Wake Forest marked his first Power Four offer — and it clearly struck a chord.
Over the past two seasons, Lawless has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in North Carolina. His combined stat line as a sophomore and junior is eye-popping: 284-of-454 for 4,249 yards, 56 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He averaged 193.1 passing yards per game and added nearly 400 rushing yards with three more scores on the ground.
He was named a Western Foothills 3A all-conference performer in football and East Lincoln’s Underclassman Athlete of the Year for 2024-25 — a nod to his work in both football and basketball. On the hardwood, Lawless averaged made 57 percent of his shots from the field. His rebound stats — nearly eight per game — demonstrate the hustle.
East Lincoln football finished 9-3 overall in 2024 under head coach David Lubowicz.
🔁 Two for 2026: Wake’s In-State QB Duo
Lawless is now Wake Forest’s second quarterback commit for 2026, joining Gannon Jones from Cardinal Gibbons in Raleigh. Jones, the 2024 CAP-6 Conference Player of the Year, committed on May 29.
Jones posted 3,194 yards and 35 touchdowns last season, leading Cardinal Gibbons to the 4A East Regional Final. Like Lawless, Jones is a smart, efficient passer with mobility and a knack for limiting turnovers.
With two of North Carolina’s most prolific quarterbacks now pledged to the Deacs, the 2026 class is beginning to take shape in Winston-Salem — and sending a clear signal that Wake’s staff is serious about keeping talent close to home.
Wake Forest Football Recruiting | 2026 Commits
| NAME | POS | HOMETOWN | SCHOOL | COMMITTED | DATE | STORY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kobe Adeleke | WR | Suwanee, GA | Peachtree Ridge HS | Wake Forest | 7/6/2025 | — |
| AJ Marks | CB | Bradenton, FL | IMG Academy | Wake Forest | 7/5/2025 | — |
| Isaac Nelson | SAF | Carmel, IN | Carmel HS | Wake Forest | 6/27/2025 | — |
| Elliot Demaine | OL | Oakdale, CT | St. Thomas More HS | Wake Forest | 6/25/2025 | READ |
| Dominick Barry | TE | Greenwood, IN | Center Grove HS | Wake Forest | 6/23/2025 | READ |
| Devin Goldston | WR | Raleigh, NC | Leesville Road | Wake Forest | 6/23/2025 | READ |
| Braxton Rembert | S/LB | Hoschton, GA | Mill Creek HS | Wake Forest | 6/23/2025 | READ |
| Dalton DeBoer | OL | Waukee, IA | Northwest HS | Wake Forest | 6/22/2025 | READ |
| Somad Eaddy | CB | Greer, SC | Riverside HS | Wake Forest | 6/22/2025 | READ |
| Elijah Otieno | WR | Forney, TX | North Forney HS | Wake Forest | 6/19/2025 | READ |
| Mahamadou Siby | CB | Trophy Club, TX | Bryon Nelson HS | Wake Forest | 6/16/2025 | — |
| Monroe Partin | LB | Daphne, AL | Bayside Academy | Wake Forest | 6/16/2025 | — |
| Christian Lawrence | RB | Thomasville, GA | Thomas County Central | Wake Forest | 6/15/2025 | — |
| Christian Harris | DT | Cincinnati, OH | Archbishop Moeller | Wake Forest | 6/15/2025 | — |
| Ryan Harrington | EDGE | Orchard Lake, MI | St. Mary's | Wake Forest | 6/13/2025 | — |
| Drake DeBaun | TE | Overland Park, KS | Shawnee Mission South | Wake Forest | 6/12/2025 | — |
| Jamarcea Plater | RB | Shreveport, LA | Captain Shreve HS | Wake Forest | 6/9/2025 | — |
| Eli Holbrook | OT | Arlington, TX | Arlington HS | Wake Forest | 6/8/2025 | — |
| Grant Lawless | QB | Denver, NC | East Lincoln HS | Wake Forest | 6/5/2025 | READ |
| Gannon Jones | QB | Raleigh, NC | Cardinal Gibbons | Wake Forest | 5/29/2025 | READ |
| Brady Shust | TE | Montvale, NJ | St. Joseph Regional | Wake Forest | 5/23/2025 | — |
✅ Commitment season is heating up for North Carolina Class of 2026. Explore our NC High School Football Commitment Tracker HERE.
✅ Find out which 2026 high school players are joining North Carolina college programs. Check out our NC College Commitment Tracker HERE.
