North Carolina’s biggest college football programs may dominate the headlines, but some of the state’s most impressive individual statistics are coming from the smaller schools this fall.
Chowan quarterback Tyler Adkins leads the state in passing yards, Johnson C. Smith running back Fabian Duncan has surpassed 1,200 rushing yards and North Carolina Wesleyan receiver Tyson Resper is closing in on a 1,000-yard season.
Meanwhile, Fayetteville State defensive back ZyKing Patillo has emerged as the state’s runaway interceptions leader.
Those are among the highlights from the latest NC Football News statewide college football statistical rankings, updated after Week 8 games played Oct. 22-24.
Who leads North Carolina college football in passing?
Chowan senior Tyler Adkins leads all North Carolina quarterbacks with 2,249 passing yards and 18 touchdowns through eight games.
Western Carolina’s Lex Thomas ranks second with 1,959 yards, narrowly ahead of Wake Forest’s Gio Lopez (1,947) and UNC Pembroke’s Josh Ehrlich (1,940).
Ehrlich leads the state with 19 touchdown passes, followed by Adkins (18), Lopez (17) and Campbell’s Kamden Sixkiller (15).
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Two small-college running backs top 1,000 yards
Johnson C. Smith’s Fabian Duncan has rushed for a statewide-best 1,213 yards and nine touchdowns in eight games.
Elon freshman Kamerin McDowell-Moore is next with 1,080 yards, averaging an impressive 6.8 yards per carry.
Duke sophomore Nate Sheppard leads the state’s FBS programs with 875 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
Davidson quarterback Casey Bullock leads all players in rushing touchdowns with 10.
Division III receiver leads the state
NC Wesleyan senior Tyson Resper has amassed 887 receiving yards on 55 catches, averaging 126.7 yards per game.
Chowan’s Amir Alexander ranks second with 802 yards, followed by Wake Forest’s Carlos Hernandez with 720.
Four players share the statewide lead with seven touchdown receptions: Alexander, UNC Pembroke’s Malik Brown, Johnson C. Smith’s Brian Lane and NC Wesleyan’s Jimmie West III.
Defensive standouts making their mark
Gardner-Webb linebacker Tre Yanez leads the state with 84 total tackles, ahead of Elon’s Brodie Carroll (75) and North Carolina’s Derek McDonald (72).
UNC Pembroke defensive lineman Fred Giles leads with 14.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.
But perhaps the most eye-catching defensive number belongs to Fayetteville State freshman ZyKing Patillo, whose six interceptions are twice as many as any other player in the statewide rankings.
WCU, UNCP kickers piling up the points
Western Carolina’s Bryan McCollum and UNC Pembroke’s Jared Navidad share the statewide lead in kicker points. Both have 63. McCollum has booted 12 field goals and 27 extra points. Navidad has kicked nine field goals and 39 extra points.
Wake Forest’s Connor Calvert and App State’s James London are tied for third with 58 points apiece. London was the hero in Boone last week, booting a game-winner in overtime to beat previously unbeaten James Madison.
McCollum and London had the most made field goals on the season, 12 each. Navidad’s 39 PATs (with only one miss) is by far the most extra points. No one else has more than 28.
Shaw punter has hang time
Two punters are averaging better than 48 yards per kick through Week 8. Shaw’s Jethro Ommam leads the way in the state with a 48.4 yards-per-punt average across 25 punts.
ECU’s Elliot Huether has averaged 48.2 yards per punt since taking over duties in the UAB game earlier this month.
Explore the complete statewide rankings
These are just a few of the players making an impact across North Carolina college football this season.
Explore the complete 2026 North Carolina college football stat leaders page for updated passing, rushing, receiving, tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, interceptions, punting and kicking statistics from programs across the state.
The rankings are updated weekly throughout the season.
