Garner High School defensive back Maddox McDowell, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound rising senior, announced his commitment to Gardner-Webb on Sunday, July 20. McDowell had been on the Bulldogs’ radar for months and impressed coaches during GWU’s mega camp in mid-June.
McDowell has emerged as a long, physical presence in the secondary for Garner. He posted 53 tackles in 2024, averaging more than five per game, and now holds career totals of 78 tackles, one interception, and 11 pass breakups heading into his senior season.
His recruiting profile gained steam early. Duke offered in 2024, while Troy and Gardner-Webb followed with offers in the spring of 2025. The Bulldogs officially extended their offer in February and locked in his commitment this weekend.
Garner, coached by Deron Donald, competes in the new Neuse River 7A Conference, facing local rivals such as Clayton, Cleveland and Fuquay-Varina. The Trojans are a storied program in Triangle-area football, aiming to return to championship form after an 8–4 campaign in 2024.
McDowell becomes one of the earliest 2026 public commitments for Gardner-Webb, which continues to recruit heavily in-state under head coach Cris Reisert.
📌 More 2026 Recruiting Coverage:
- 🔁 NC High School Commitment Tracker – Where top NC prospects are committing (in-state & out-of-state)
- 🎯 NC College Commitment Tracker – Who’s heading to North Carolina college programs (from NC and beyond)
- 📊 NC Class of 2026 Player Rankings – Our composite rankings based on 247Sports, Rivals, On3 & ESPN
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