Christmas has arrived in February for college football programs across North Carolina. Today (Wednesday) marks National Signing Day, the first day of the February signing period, as high school prospects and college transfers officially cement their 2025 gridiron plans.
From the early morning hours, our social media feeds have been buzzing with announcements, commitments and signing day celebrations.
Much of the work has been done for Division I teams, thanks to the early signing period in December. But today is a huge day for NCAA Division II squads, as well as FCS teams restocking their rosters for the year ahead.
There will be a lot to unpack from the latest National Signing Day, which we’ll do over the weeks ahead. Here are some early NSD2025 headlines. Check back later this afternoon and evening for more instant reaction:
🚨 FCS Signing Day Headlines & Instant Reaction
Florida ties run deep for Western Carolina
Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell has deep Florida roots, from his playing days as a quarterback with the Florida Gators to being an assistant coach with the Gators and USF to being head coach at Trinity High in Ocala and Jacksonville University. Bell continues to build a pipeline from the Sunshine State to Cullowhee and this year’s high school class is no exception.
- The Catamounts announced 22 signees on Wednesday, with 17 coming from Florida. Bell has landed another prolific quarterback prospect: Jordan Durham from Jacksonville (Zarephath Academy). Durham led Florida prep football in passing yards (6,047) and touchdowns (62) in 2024.
- Nassor Ashenafi, a defensive back from Charlotte’s Mallard Creek High, is the lone announced signee from North Carolina. Ashenafi committed to WCU in September. Cole Craddock, a tight end/middle linebacker from 1A state champion Tarboro, posted his commitment to WCU on social media today (Wednesday).
Playmakers, physical linemen headline NC Central’s latest additions
North Carolina has finished at or near the top of the MEAC for several years running. The Eagles signed 14 new players on National Signing Day, bringing their total class to 19. Head coach Trei Oliver focused on versatility, depth and high-upside playmakers to keep NC Central in the hunt for another title in 2025.
- Playmakers on the Outside – The Eagles loaded up at wide receiver, signing five new targets. Joshua Crabtree (6’3, 205) returns home from Murray State after starting his career at NC State, while RJ Lancaster (14 total TDs in 2024) and Refeno Vengates (JUCO standout with nine TDs last season) bring proven production.
- Building for the Future at QB – NC Central added two quarterbacks, including three-star recruit Chanston Crosby (Bamberg-Ehrhardt HS, SC), who threw for 6,700+ yards and 51 TDs over the past two seasons, and Carter Merck (Wakefield HS), a multi-sport athlete.
- Revamping the Defensive Front – The Eagles reinforced their DL and LB corps with Carl Fulmer (6’4, 280, Dutch Fork HS, SC), a three-time state champion, and Khareem Thompson (6’6, 236, Lenoir-Rhyne transfer). Darryl Veal Jr. (99 tackles, 10 sacks) and Emmanuel Hill (all-area selection, from Colorado) add versatility at linebacker.
- Strengthening the Secondary – NC Central landed four defensive backs, highlighted by Lionel Burns III (26+ offers, Norcross HS, GA) and Anthony Fisher (UVA/Bluefield State transfer), an all-state selection and conference player of the year in high school.
- Reinforcing the Offensive Line – The Eagles added four linemen, including Victor Goree (6’2, 275, South Pointe HS, SC), who racked up 202 career pancake blocks, and Jalen Morris (6’3, 310, West Forsyth HS, NC), an all-state standout with 60 pancakes as a senior.
Campbell puts exclamation mark on 2025 signing class
The Camels added six more players to its 2025 haul this week, including four from North Carolina.
- Running back De’Von Thomas from Rolesville (Rolesville HS) is a major coup for Braxton Harris and the Camels. Thomas finished his career with more than 4,700 rushing yards and 59 rushing TDs. He reported multiple offers from FBS schools, including East Carolina, Charlotte, Liberty, Boston College and Marshall among others. He exploded for 2,308 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns in 2023.
- Campbell signed two defensive standouts from Seventy-First High in Fayetteville, Donovan Frederick (LB) and DeAndre Nance (S). Both have been four-year starters. Both played on both sides of the ball, with Nance putting up eye-popping numbers on the offensive side of the ball at quarterback: 9,352 passing yards, 141 touchdowns over 59 games, according to The Fayetteville Observer.
Gibbs’ first class at NC A&T beefs up offensive line, QB room
New North Carolina A&T coach Shawn Gibbs assembled a 19-player class, as announced Wednesday. It is heavy on transfers and offensive linemen.
- Tyson Moorer starred on the OL at Charlotte’s Providence Day and comes to the Aggies via East Tennessee State and Gardner-Webb. Fellow lineman Phinnell Marshall played at West Charlotte High and Gardner-Webb.Gibbs added two high school quarterbacks with this class, Jy’Arie Wells from Pittsburgh (Central Catholic) and Nelson Layne from Highland Springs, Va. (Highland Springs HS). Wofford transfer running back Jedidiah Smith started for four years at Hough High, rushing for 1,694 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior.
—> READ more about NC A&T’s 19-player signing class
Elon adds all-American punter to latest class
The Phoenix had the best punter in FCS football this past season, Jeff Yurk. Coach Tony Trisciani hopes to keep that kind of special teams pipeline going, inking kicker/punter Carter Stimson from Alexandria, Va. this week.
- Stimson played for St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School. He made a school-record 54-yard field goal. This past season, he averaged 49 yards per punt. Kohl’s Kicking named Stimson a first-team All-American as a punter. He has been all-state as a punter and kicker multiple times.
- Elon added three total players from the high school ranks on National Signing Day. The other two are tight end Brendan Hester from Cumming, Ga. (Denmark HS) and defensive back CJ Hector from Suwanee, Ga. (Collins Hill HS).
🚨 D2 Signing Day Headlines
Wingate’s 2025 Signing Class: Reloading for Another SAC Title Run
The reigning South Atlantic Conference champions are restocking after a strong 2024 campaign. Coach Rashaan Jordan inked a 50-player class focused on replacing key losses, including All-American defensive end Marquise Fleming (eligibility exhausted), quarterback Brooks Bentley (transfer to New Hampshire) and wide receiver Evan McCray (transfer to UAB).
- Heavy Focus on Skill Positions – The Bulldogs signed 12 wide receivers and nine defensive backs, addressing depth in the passing game.
- Rebuilding the Trenches – Wingate added multiple defensive linemen, including Deshawn Wilks (Independence HS), Zion Burden (Mallard Creek HS), Eli Lipscomb (Kings Mountain HS) and Joshua Corry (Gaffney HS, SC).
- Quarterback Competition Incoming – With Bentley’s departure, Wingate brought in three QBs to contend for playing time, including transfer Luke McPhail, who has played at Syracuse and Utah Tech. High school prospects include Zach Dilworth (Forest Hills HS) and Florida’s Preston Wright (Chaminade Madonna Prep).
- Charlotte Pipeline Stays Strong – Ten signees from the Charlotte metro footprint continue the Bulldogs’ emphasis on local recruiting.
Lenoir-Rhyne inks 41 newcomers, including 10 offensive linemen, 3 QBs
Lenoir-Rhyne had the most wins of any college football team in the state in 2025, finishing 10-3 and advancing to the second round of the D2 playoffs under first-year coach Doug Socha. The Bears announced a 41-player class on Wednesday evening. Here’s a breakdown:
- Lenoir-Rhyne’s haul included 27 high school players, 11 mid-year transfers and two spring transfers.
- Socha reeled in 13 players from North Carolina, eight from Georgia, seven from Florida and four from South Carolina.
- The Bears went heavy in two position groups, signing 10 offensive linemen and nine defensive backs. The recruiting class also includes seven linebackers and defensive linemen.
- Socha inked two players with ACC experience, wide receiver Elijah Tillery (NC State | Valdese) and tight end Nick Roebas-Bass (Florida State | Stuart, Fla.).
- Three quarterbacks join the fold, including Youngstown State transfer Max Blanc. High school prospects Chase Cromartie from Peachtree City, Ga. (McIntosh HS) and Wells Bettenhausen from De Funiak Springs, Fla. (Walton HS) also will compete to fill the void left by Jalen Ferguson, who is now at Campbell.Linebacker Isaac Ubaka will give the Lenoir-Rhyne roster an international flair. He hails from London and was part of the NFL Academy in the UK.
—> Read the full release on Lenoir-Rhyne’s 2025 signing day class
UNC Pembroke loads up, lands hometown star
The Braves have been rolling out a class of 30+, a mix of North Carolina and out-of-state talent on both sides of the ball.
- Linebacker Charles Wilkes amassed 291 career tackles while at Purnell Swett High School in Pembroke, just down the road from UNCP campus. He’s been on all-conference teams three times.
- Defensive back Kaleb Staton from Rocky Mount (Northern Nash HS) had eight career interceptions. He earned Big East all-conference honors twice and tallied 151 tackles. Charlotte’s Jyron Tosi (Palisades HS) earned all-conference honors twice, recording 211 tackles.
- Running back Jermaine White from Ocala, FL (Vanguard HS) rushed for more than 6,000 yards in high school with 31 TDs. He was all-county four times. Garner’s Devyn Grant is another first-team all-conference back.
- Wideout Damarius McKoy from Clayton was offensive player of the year at Clayton High. Wide receiver Javon Barber caught 14 TD passes and made all-conference twice for Weddington High, winning a 2023 state title with the Matthews school.
- Transfer wide receiver Jordaan Bailey played for Hall at Chowan when the Hawks won the 2022 CIAA Northern Division. Bailey was on the All-CIAA rookie team.
- The Braves have announced one quarterback with this class, Tyler Walker, an all-conference signal caller from Cary’s Panther Creek High.
Catawba mines North Carolina talent with latest class
Tyler Haines, prepping for this third year as coach of the Catawba Indians, unveiled a class of 22 players on Wednesday. Seventeen hail from the Old North State.
- Catawba inked two offensive lineman from Marvin Ridge High in Shelby, Beau Gerrard and Montgomery Edwards.
- The Indians featured one of the best running backs in the state in 2024, LJ Turner, a D2Football.com Elite 100 player. Catawba added running back Cameron Johnson from 1A runner-up Corvian Community. He rushed for more than 2,500 career yards, including 1,488 yards and 25 TDs during Corvian’s run to the championship game.
—> Read Catawba’s full National Signing Day release
Mars Hill reaches across southeast to build latest recruiting class
Mars Hill’s 15-member class, introduced on social media Wednesday, featured five North Carolina prospects and 10 from six southeastern states.
- The Lions picked up players in pairs: linebacker Trathan Gragg and defensive end Carson Gunnell-Beck from Watauga High; wide receiver Nahledge Jones and offensive lineman Noah Debruhl from Topsail High, and Hasani Jackson and Ja’quez Pool from North Jackson High in Alabama.
New Elizabeth City State coach unveils first class
Adrian Jones and staff have been buzzing on social media the past few weeks as Elizabeth City State assembled its 2025 signing class. The Vikings announced 15 new players on Wednesday. Jones took over the ECSU program in January after spending several seasons at CIAA rival Shaw.
- The Vikings inked two in-state running backs: Aidan Turner from 3A state champion West Charlotte and Ameil Braswell from Durham Hillside. Braswell enjoyed a 1,000-yard season, with 12 total TDs. Turner rushed for 559 yards and 11 TDs during West Charlotte’s title run.
- Nine of Elizabeth City State’s prospects play on the defensive side. Ny’Quaveon Davis also had state championship pedigree, playing for 1A Tarboro’s rececnt dynasty.
Fayetteville State Broncos load up on defense
Fayetteville State missed out on the CIAA championship game for the first time in six seasons in 2024. The Broncos will build for future conference title runs around a signing class loaded with defensive talent.
- Of the 16 signees FSU announced by mid-afternoon on Wednesday, 13 play on the defensive side of the ball, including five D-linemen and four linebackers.Four of the defensive linemen hail from North Carolina: Ja’quez Dixon (Farmville Central HS), Kadein Porter (Concord HS), Tyler Richmond (Southern Durham HS) and Andre Hill (Grimsley). Hill played on a 4A state championship team in 2024, recording 43 tackles.
🚨 FBS Recruiting Update: Duke Leads The State, Belichick Closes Strong
- Duke: It looks like the Blue Devils will secure the top-ranked recruiting class in North Carolina, landing at No. 30 nationally (247Sports and Rivals). Headlined by four-star edge rusher Bryce Davis (Grimsley HS), who flipped from Clemson, Duke’s 27-man class ranks sixth in the ACC.
- UNC: Bill Belichick’s first recruiting class at North Carolina climbed the rankings late, holding onto top in-state QB Bryce Baker (East Forsyth) despite coaching turnover. The Tar Heels’ class is ranked 43rd nationally (247Sports), 49th (Rivals), and 58th (On3).
- NC State: Coach Dave Doeren has added some nice offensive pieces, including running back Deandre Desinor, wide receiver Je’Rel Bolder and dual-threat quarterback Will Wilson. The Wolfpack aren’t that far behind Duke in the national team rankings (between 34-44).
- Wake Forest: Despite a late coaching change, Wake Forest managed to put together a solid class, ranking between 56-62 nationally. New coach Jake Dickert retained DE Cole Funderburk, a disruptive pass rusher, and landed quarterback Elijah Oehlke, who ESPN dubbed a high-upside sleeper with a strong arm and mobility.
- East Carolina: The Pirates had the strongest class among the state’s Group of Five teams. The Pirates rank as high as 69th (On3). Despite a midseason coaching change, the Pirates retained key commitments and even regained a few lost pledges after Blake Harrell was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach.
- Appalachian State/Charlotte: In terms of team rankings, the Mountaineers and 49ers – who both underwent coaching changes at the end of 2024 – find themselves out of the top 100. App State has the 11th best class in the Sun Belt (15 commits) per 247Sports, while Charlotte is listed 12th in the American Athletic.
FAQs: National Signing Day 2025 in North Carolina
📌 What is National Signing Day?
National Signing Day 2025 marks the start of the February signing period, allowing high school football prospects and college transfers to formally commit to their college programs.
- NCAA Division I and II athletes now sign an Athletic Financial Aid Agreement, which replaces the National Letter of Intent (NLI).
- NCAA Division III, NAIA, and NJCAA athletes do not sign a binding agreement but may sign celebratory forms or school-specific letters.
📌 When is National Signing Day for college football?
For this phase of the 2025 recruiting cycle, National Signing Day is Wednesday, February 5, 2025—the first day prospects can officially sign.
📌 How long does the signing period last?
- NCAA Division I Football: February 5 – April 1, 2025
- NCAA Division II Football: February 5 – August 1, 2025
While February 5 is the official start date, athletes can sign at any time during their respective signing periods.
📌 What happened to the National Letter of Intent (NLI)?
The NCAA Division I Council eliminated the NLI in 2024. Athletes now sign a written offer of athletic aid directly from their school, ensuring their commitment and preventing other schools from recruiting them after signing.
📌 Can players sign after National Signing Day?
Yes! National Signing Day is just the first day players can sign. The signing period remains open for months, allowing later commitments.
📌 Where can I find a full list of signees from North Carolina?
Some schools announce their signings immediately on National Signing Day, while others wait weeks or even months to release their full classes (and some keep us guessing until the official rosters are posted over the summer). We’re tracking Class of 2025 signings as they become available, compiling updates from official releases, social media and other sources.
We’ll provide as much detail as possible in the coming days and weeks. Follow NC Football News for updates and analysis.
