The early summer recruiting frenzy has waned, but college commitments continue for North Carolina high school standouts as well as players from out-of-state choosing North Carolina college programs.
North Carolina Central landed a pair of intriguing commitments in recent days. Wake Forest added an Alabama defensive back. Army and schools from the Ivy League continued to pluck prospects from the Old North State. We even have our second known 2028 commitment to report.
Here’s a roundup of recent recruiting news from across the state:
🦅 NCCU lands pair of defensive standouts
North Carolina Central continued to build its 2027 recruiting class with commitments from versatile North Carolina athlete Braylen Marrow and Virginia linebacker Jayce Bigelow. Marrow starred on both sides of the ball for West Forsyth, while Bigelow arrives with one of the most productive junior seasons of any linebacker in the region.
NCCU now has eight known commitments from the Class 2027, with five coming from North Carolina high school teams.
Braylen Marrow | WR/DB/ATH | West Forsyth (NC)
- Committed: July 13, 2026
- Size: 5-10, 180
- What stands out: Versatile playmaker who scored on offense and defense while helping West Forsyth win a conference championship.
- Offers: East Carolina, Brown
- Junior stats (2025): 28 catches, 455 yards, 6 TDs; 217 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 4 interceptions
- Academics: 4.18 GPA
Jayce Bigelow | LB | Huguenot (VA)
- Committed: July 18, 2026
- Size: 6-0, 215
- What stands out: Highly productive linebacker with reported Power Four offers before choosing the Eagles.
- Offers: Pitt, Syracuse, West Virginia, East Carolina, Connecticut, Coastal Carolina and others
- Junior stats: 100 tackles, 30 TFL, 15 sacks
- Honors: All-state, all-region, all-metro
👉 View the North Carolina Central Football Recruiting tracker for more information on commitments to the Eagles.
🛡️ Army lands another North Carolina standout
Army continued its success recruiting North Carolina by securing a commitment from Davie County linebacker Elijah Chaffin. One of the state’s most productive defenders, Chaffin combines size, production and academics. He is the second Army commitment from 2027, joining Hough High safety Jackson Heath, who made his pledge in June.
Elijah Chaffin | LB | Davie County (Mocksville, NC)
- Committed: July 13, 2026
- Size: 6-4, 220
- Why he matters: A three-time all-conference linebacker who produced on both sides of the ball while earning more than 15 Division I offers.
- Offers: Navy, App State, East Carolina, Marshall, Campbell, Elon, Youngstown State and others
- Junior stats: 171 tackles, 17 TFL, 3 forced fumbles, 5 touchdowns
- Honors: Two-time High School Football America Academic All-American; 4.6 GPA
🎓 Ivy League programs tap North Carolina talent
A pair of standout student-athletes announced commitments to Ivy League schools in recent weeks, with Mountain Heritage’s Foster Calloway choosing Dartmouth and Charlotte Catholic kicker Aidan Flynn committing to Columbia.
Foster Calloway | DL/TE | Mountain Heritage (Burnsville, NC)
- Committed: July 18, 2026
- Size: 6-2, 265
- Why he matters: Productive two-way lineman coming off a breakout season for a conference championship team.
- Offers: Ferrum, Lenoir-Rhyne, UVA Wise, Wesleyan, Middlebury, Missouri S&T, Minot State
- Junior stats: 81 tackles, 15 TFL, 3 sacks; 5 receptions, 92 yards, 3 TDs
- Academics: 4.314 GPA
Aidan Flynn | K | Charlotte Catholic (Charlotte, NC)
- Committed: July 11, 2026
- Size: 5-9, 160
- Why he matters: One of North Carolina’s top kicking prospects chose Columbia shortly after receiving his offer.
- Junior stats: 29-of-31 PATs, 5-of-7 field goals, long of 45 yards
- Honors: NSCAA Strength & Conditioning All-American; Friday Night Lights Charlotte Comeback Player of the Year finalist
- Academics: 4.29 GPA, 1350 SAT
🌲 Wake Forest adds Alabama playmaker
Wake Forest reached outside the state for defensive back Elijah Lanier, an Alabama all-state selection who excelled both on the football field and the track. Lanier helped Anniston reach the Alabama 4A state championship game and owns multiple state track titles.
The Demon Deacons now have a 32-player recruiting class for 2027, by far the largest among in-state schools. 247Sports ranks the class inside its top 50 nationally.
Elijah Lanier | CB | Anniston (Anniston, Ala.)
- Committed: July 3, 2026
- Size: 6-0, 170
- Why he matters: Athletic defensive back with ball skills and elite speed developed through championship-level track competition.
- Offers: App State, Liberty, Tulane, South Alabama, FIU, Wofford, Chattanooga and others
- Junior stats: 45 tackles, 4 INTs, 2 pick-sixes, 8 PBUs
- Honors: First-team Alabama 4A All-State; multiple state track champion
👉 View the Wake Forest Football Recruiting tracker for more information on commitments to the Demon Deacons.
🐾 Davidson adds South Carolina lineman
Davidson continued to build its 2027 recruiting class by adding offensive lineman Luke Thayer from South Florence High School in South Carolina. Thayer brings size and strong academics to the Wildcats after announcing his commitment on July 16.
Luke Thayer | C/T | South Florence (Florence, S.C.)
- Committed: July 16, 2026
- Size: 6-4, 280
- Why he matters: Versatile offensive lineman who gives Davidson another addition up front from a neighboring state.
- Offers: The Citadel
- Academics: 4.64 GPA
👉 View the Davidson Football Recruiting tracker for more information on commitments to the Wildcats.
🐔 South Carolina strikes early in the 2028 class
The Class of 2028 recruiting cycle is just beginning, but South Carolina already has one of North Carolina’s top rising juniors on board after landing Southeast Alamance receiver Joseph Gibbs.
His commitment is the second known commitment from the Class of 2028, joining Northeastern High receiver Te’Vaughn Bell, who chose NC State in late June.
Joseph Gibbs | WR | Southeast Alamance (Haw River, NC)
- Committed: July 8, 2026
- Class: 2028
- Size: 6-1, 187
- Why he matters: One of North Carolina’s earliest 2028 commitments after impressing South Carolina coaches with a reported 4.37-second 40-yard dash at camp.
- Offers: Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, NC State, UNC, Wake Forest, App State, Elon, NCCU and others
- Sophomore stats: 6 catches, 159 yards, 2 TDs
- Recruiting: Four-star in the 247Sports Composite; ranked No. 10 in North Carolina at the time of his commitment
👉 We’re just starting to fill out North Carolina’s Class of 2028. Visit and bookmark our 2028 North Carolina high school commitment tracker more information on this emerging class.
🔗 Keep up with the latest commitments
- 2027 North Carolina College Commitment Tracker: View who’s coming to North Carolina college programs
- 2027 North Carolina High School Commitment Tracker: See where North Carolina high school prospects have committed for college.
