Tennessee football has once again plucked an elite quarterback out of North Carolina’s high school ranks. Lake Norman rising junior quarterback Kaden Craft announced his commitment to join the Volunteers’ 2028 class on Monday, Aug. 17.
Craft becomes Tennessee’s first commit for 2028. The 6-4, 205-pound dual-threat signal caller follows in the footsteps of former Grimsley star quarterback Faison Brandon, who pledged to Tennessee’s 2026 class and is now battling for the starting job as a true freshman.
Craft is a four-star prospect from both 247Sports and Rivals and is considered the No. 9 quarterback nationally by both outlets. Rivals ranks Craft as the No. 4 overall prospect from North Carolina for the 2028 class, while 247Sports lists him at No. 5.
Heading into the 2026 high school season, which starts this Friday, Craft has already collected 26 offers, including from multiple SEC, Big Ten and ACC programs.
Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Florida and LSU also were considered among his favorites. He has visited Tennessee three times unofficially and camped with the Vols in May.
“Every time I visited Tennessee, the coaches made me feel like a priority, and it really felt like home,” Craft told 247Sports after committing to the Vols. “You can ask my dad, it just felt different for me. It was like, why am I waiting?”
Craft broke into Lake Norman’s starting lineup as a freshman in 2024. The Wildcats went 5-3 with Craft at the helm that season. He completed 69-of-117 passes for 1,171 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed 109 times for 266 yards and scored four TDs.
Last season as a sophomore, Craft completed 126-of-210 passes for 1,739 yards, 17 touchdowns and four interceptions – showing improvement across the board. Lake Norman used him more in the run game and he finished with 13 TDs on the ground.
Craft certainly has the measurables and has been clocked at 4.51 in the 40-yard dash per 247Sports. Craft has an extensive athletics background, including wrestling, track and basketball. He competed in BMX racing as a youth.
Tennessee keeps landing North Carolina’s elite
Tennessee hasn’t necessarily recruited North Carolina in bulk under coach Josh Heupel. But when the Volunteers have ventured into the state in recent cycles, they’ve landed some of its very best prospects.
Quarterback Faison Brandon was considered the top quarterback in the nation during his recruiting cycle, leading Grimsley to state titles in 2024 and 2025 before joining the Vols for the spring semester.
Offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. from Providence Day and defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell were considered two of the crown jewels of Tennessee’s 2025 class.
Sanders was the No. 1 player in North Carolina and Campbell was No. 2 in 2025. Sanders garnered five-star status and ranked as the No. 3 tackle and No. 11 overall prospect nationally. North Meck defensive lineman Charles House, the No. 11 player in North Carolina, also was a part of Tennessee’s haul in 2025.
Tennessee currently has one commitment from North Carolina for 2027 – Marvin Ridge kicker Ford Fehling, who pledged to the Vols back in June. Fehling has a three-star rating from 247Sports and a 4.5 star rating from Kohl’s Professional Camps.
North Carolina’s 2028 Class Is Already Taking Shape
Recruiting is still in its formative stages for much of this year’s junior class. Craft becomes the third elite prospect from North Carolina’s 2028 class to announce a commitment.
He joins Southeast Alamance receiver Joseph Gibbs (South Carolina) and Northeastern tight end Te’Vaughn Bell (NC State) to make the college choices official before their junior high school seasons.
Track the class: Our 2028 North Carolina High School Football Commitment Tracker will follow every in-state prospect who announces a college commitment through signing day.
