Gardner-Webb Football Recruiting: Commits, Signing Day & Transfer Portal

This page serves as NC Football News’ recruiting hub for Gardner-Webb football, tracking commitments, recruiting news, signing day updates and transfer portal movement involving the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

Throughout the year, we’ll update this page with the latest additions to Gardner-Webb’s recruiting classes, incoming and outgoing transfers, player profiles and links to our recruiting coverage.

Bookmark this page and check back regularly as the future of GWU football continues to take shape.

🔄 Last Updated: July 1, 2026

Gardner-Webb 2027 Football Commits

Known Commitments: 10
North Carolina Commitments: 1
Offense: 6
Defense: 4

GWU 2027	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	HIGH SCHOOL	COMMITED TO	STATUS	NOTES
Ty’Quarius Shannon	WR	6-2	195	Winnsboro, SC	Fairfield Central HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 7/1/2026	928 yards, 16 touchdowns during breakout 2025 season
Kelvin “Tre” Brown III	DT	6-1	310	Richmond Hill. GA	Richmond Hills HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/27/2026	All-Region 6A first-team defense with 46 tackles, 8 TFLs in 2025
Dillon Hill	QB/WR/ATH	6-3	180	Charlotte, NC	Palisades HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/27/2026	Reported FBS offers from Kent State, Arkansas State
Aiden Hogg	LB/SS	6-1	208	McDonough, GA	Ola HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/23/2026	All-State honorable mention, averaged 12.4 tackles per game
Andrew Massey	OLB/SS	6-0	210	Hilton Head Island, SC	Hilton Head HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/24/2026	Region Defensive POY, 93 tackles and 14 TFLs as a junior
Cameron Perry	OL/DL	6-5	310	Hinesville, GA	Bradwell Institute	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/23/2026	First-team all-conference, HM all-state, National Honor Society
Keoni Guajardo	ATH/DB	5-10	175	Palm Bay, FL	Eau Gallie HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/21/2026	Junior season stats (2025): 3 INTs, 35 tackles
Devante Johnson	OL	6-5	310	Fort Walton Beach, FL	Choctawhatchee HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/21/2026	Multiple FBS offers, started on the OL for a state semifinalist
Bryce Davis	OL	6-3	285	Clermont, FL	East Ridge HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 6/15/2026	All-district OL, Named to Orlando Sentinel’s 2027 Super 60 prospects list
Levi McAbee	QB	5-9	170	Farmersville, TX	Farmersville HS	Gardner-Webb	Verbal 4/12/2026	2x All-District QB has thrown for 4,000+ yards over 2 seasons

Are we missing a commitment? Let us know by tagging NC Football News on X or send an email to eric@ncfootballnews.com

2027 Gardner-Webb Recruiting Snapshot

Recent Commitments

Ty’Quarius Shannon, WR, Winnsboro, SC (Fairfield Central HS)

Committed to Gardner-Webb on July 1, 2026
6-2, 195-pound wide receiver
Junior season stats (2025): 928 receiving yards, 16 touchdowns
Sophomore season stats (2024): 11 catches, 181 yards, 5 TDs (MaxPreps)
MVP of a 7-on-7/combine at Virginia Tech in June 2026, posting a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash.
Prep Redzone South Carolina: “While Shannon is still developing certain aspects of the receiver position, his raw talent is undeniable … Shannon has the tools to become an even more dominant playmaker at the next level.”
Reported offers from Campbell, The Citadel, Morgan State, East Tennessee State, Anderson and Erskine. Visited Gardner-Webb on June 20-21.

Kelvin “Tre” Brown III, DT, Richmond Hill, GA (Richmond Hill HS)

Committed to Gardner-Webb on June 27, 2026
6-1, 310-pound defensive tackle
All-Region 6A first-team defense
Junior season stats (2025): 46 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, one sack, eight quarterback hurries,
Also reported offers from Florida Atlantic, Samford

Dillon Hill, QB/WR/ATH, Charlotte, NC (Palisades HS)

Committed to Gardner-Webb on June 27, 2026
6-3, 180-pound quarterback, wide receiver and athlete
GPA: 3.4
Reported offers from Arkansas State, Kent State, Fordham, East Tennessee State, Campbell,
Also plays on Palisades basketball team

June 24 Update: GWU 2027 Class Grows After Visits, Camps

New head coach Kris McCullough and his staff have built significant momentum on the recruiting trail following a busy stretch of camps and campus visits. The Bulldogs’ first wave of public commitments spans four states, with prospects from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina joining the class alongside future additions from North Carolina as recruiting continues.

Early themes have already emerged, including size along the offensive and defensive lines, productive defenders from winning high school programs and several high-academic student-athletes. The class includes multiple all-state and all-region selections, players with FBS offers and prospects who helped lead their teams on deep playoff runs, offering an early glimpse into the type of roster McCullough is working to build in Boiling Springs.

April 2026 Update: Texas QB Levi McAbee Joins Class

Texas quarterback Levi McAbee became the first known commitment in Gardner-Webb’s 2027 recruiting class when he pledged to the Runnin’ Bulldogs following the program’s Spring Game and Junior Day in April. The Farmersville (Texas) standout has thrown for more than 4,000 yards during his high school career and earned first-team all-district honors in each of the past two seasons.

McAbee’s commitment also highlights new head coach Kris McCullough’s recruiting connections in Texas, where he spent the previous three seasons at UT Permian Basin. Landing an experienced quarterback early gives Gardner-Webb a foundation piece around which to build McCullough’s first full recruiting class in Boiling Springs.

Future Transfer Tracker

Transfer activity for the 2027 recruiting cycle will be added following the 2026 season and when the transfer portal opens again in January 2027.

Gardner-Webb’s 2026 transfer class reflects the priorities of a new coaching staff taking over a program in transition. New head coach Kris McCullough added more than 30 transfers, including five players from his previous stop at UT Permian Basin.

The Bulldogs placed a particular emphasis on the line of scrimmage and defensive backfield, adding six defensive linemen, five defensive backs and five offensive linemen through the portal. The class also features players from every level of college football, ranging from FCS programs such as Appalachian State transfers Tyshawn Sanders and A.J. Mebane to Division II standouts and junior college prospects, giving Gardner-Webb a blend of experience and developmental talent entering 2026.

To read more about 2026 transfer movement across North Carolina, explore our FCS Transfer Tracker