It’s been a busy few days on the recruiting trail for North Carolina’s FBS programs — with five of our state’s seven schools adding at least one 2026 commitment.
East Carolina picked up a pledge from Southern Durham offensive lineman Ja’Vaughn Hargett, the lone in-state player to commit to an in-state program over the weekend. Meanwhile, Appalachian State continues its June recruiting heater, adding three more commits to push its class to a Sun Belt-leading 17. UNC remains the top-ranked class in the state, while Duke, Wake Forest and ECU quietly made moves of their own.
Below is a rundown of where things stand after the latest wave of commitments.
🔁 UPDATE (June 21, 8:49 PM): Reagan High offensive line standout Eisa Evans has flipped his commitment from Charlotte to Appalachian State. Check the App State section for more details.
🏈 North Carolina FBS Team Recruiting Rankings (Class of 2026)
Per 247Sports | June 21, 2025 Snapshot
| School | 247Sports Rank | # of Commits |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 19th | 21 |
| Duke | 56th | 10 |
| NC State | 62nd | 8 |
| Appalachian State | 76th | 18 |
| Wake Forest | 80th | 12 |
| East Carolina | 96th | 6 |
| Charlotte | 98th | 9 |
🏈 North Carolina FBS Recruiting | Recent 2026 Commits
Appalachian State Mountaineers | 2026 Commits
Eisa Evans | Offensive Line | Committed 6/21/2025
Pfafftown, NC | Reagan HS | 6-6, 270
The Reagan High two-sport standout became Charlotte’s first in-state 2026 commitment when he pledged to the 49ers in April. Late Saturday night (June 21), Evans announced he has changed his mind. He is now committed to Appalachian State, the seventh offensive lineman to join Dowell Loggains impressive 2026 recruiting haul.
Evans also competes in track & field at Reagan. He had offers from East Carolina, Marshall and North Carolina A&T.
Heights and weights for the now 7 OL committed to App State for 2026 per 247Sports:
Evans: 6’6 270
Muskus: 6’5 270
Dover: 6’5 305
Glover: 6’4 295
Potts: 6’4 310
Kashubara: 6’4 285
Bankowitz: 6’3 295 — AppStateNews (@WestonScambler) June 22, 2025
Bryant Junius | Linebacker/Safety | Committed 6/21/2025
Hollywood, FL | Chaminade-Madonna HS | 6-0, 199
App’s staff beat out serious Power 4 competition for Junius, a three-star linebacker/safety ranked No. 161 in Florida and No. 133 nationally at his position. He helped lead his team to a state title in 2024, racking up 72 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 interceptions and 3 pass breakups. Junius held nearly 20 offers, including from Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and SMU among the Power 4.
Michael McClenton | Linebacker | Committed 6/20/2025
Ocoee, FL | Ocoee HS | 6-0, 225
McClenton was a ballcarrier magnet in 2024, finishing with a whopping 219 tackles (140 solo), 46 TFLs and 19 sacks, per MaxPreps. He also forced three fumbles and ranks among the national leaders in total tackles. Relentless and explosive, he fits the Mountaineers’ physical identity on defense. McClenton has 517 total tackles and 99 TFLs for his high school career, according to AppStateMania, the Mountaineers’ 247Sports site.
Tre Glover | Offensive Line | Committed 6/20/2025
Warner Robins, GA | Warner Robins HS | 6-5, 295
Glover, App’s sixth offensive line commit in the 2026 class, is a three-star prospect and all-region performer. He chose the Mountaineers over 25+ offers, including from ECU, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech and Pitt.
Charlotte 49ers | 2026 Commits
No reported commitments this weekend. The 49ers did have one decommitment — Offensive lineman Eisa Evans (Pfafftown | Reagan HS) has flipped to App State. See the Appalachian State section for more details.
Duke Blue Devils | 2026 Commits
Tyson Sanford | Cornerback | Committed 6/21/2025
Suwanee, GA | Peachtree Ridge HS | 5-11, 182
A three-star defensive back with 20+ offers, Sanford chose Duke after visits to Wake Forest, Michigan State and the Blue Devils campus in Durham. He’s a 3.65 GPA student with elite track speed (10.7 in the 100m). He has 61 career tackles, 2 INTs, and 6 total forced fumbles/recoveries.
East Carolina Pirates | 2026 Commits
Ja’Vaughn Hargett | Offensive Line | Committed 6/21/2025
Durham, NC | Southern Durham HS | 6-5, 260
Hargett, the Northern Lakes Offensive Lineman of the Year, is ECU’s third North Carolina 2026 prospect to pledge for the Pirates. A three-star prospect, he had Power 4 offers from Tennessee, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. He projects as a long-term tackle with high upside.
“A projectable offensive lineman with prototypical length, Hargett will need time to develop in a Division I weight room, but has the size and athleticism to be a factor as a true offensive tackle in time,” 247Sports scouts wrote in a recent report.
Southern Durham won 10 games a year ago and will play in the new Tobacco Road 6A/7A Conference this season as a 7A school.
David Coleman | Safety | Committed 6/21/2025
Kingsland, GA | Camden County HS | 5-10, 170
Coleman was a playmaker on defense and special teams in 2024, finishing with 48 tackles and three return touchdowns. A top-tier high jumper, he adds athleticism and versatility to the ECU secondary.
Chad Fairchild | Linebacker | Committed 6/16/2025
Hampton, GA | Lovejoy HS | 6-1, 215
Fairchild, a true inside linebacker with 24 offers, picked ECU over NC State, Marshall and Georgia Tech. Known as a smart, physical tackler, he diagnoses plays quickly and doesn’t shy from contact.
North Carolina Tar Heels | 2026 Commits
Will Conroy | Offensive Line | Committed 6/18/2025
Bradenton, FL | IMG Academy | 6-3, 285
UNC’s Bill Belichick and staff flipped an Oklahoma commitment, getting Conroy to pledge the Heels earlier this week. Conroy is a three-star prospect who predominantly plays center for IMG. He is considered the 23rd best 2026 interior lineman in the nation, per 247Sports.
Aveon Williams | Defensive Line | Committed 6/15/2025
Casa Grande, AZ | Casa Grande Union HS | 6-6, 245
Williams, a three-star prospect, picked UNC over schools in home state like Arizona State and Arizona, as well as over Oregon, Utah and Kansas State. He earned all-region honors as a tight end and defensive end, and brings length and athleticism to the defensive front.
NC State Wolfpack | 2026 Commits
Tyreek Copper | Wide Receiver | Committed 6/21/2025
Kinston, NC | Kinston HS | 6-2, 180
The speedy wideout entered the week with several offers but none from Power 4 programs. Copper then participated in a 7-on-7 event at NC State. The Wolfpack extended an offer after seeing him in person, a visit was hastily scheduled for the weekend and by Saturday night, Copper had pledged to the Pack.
👉 Read a more detailed story on Copper’s commitment journey HERE. Despite deep family ties with East Carolina, Copper will wear Raleigh Red and not purple in college.
Zykir Moore | Linebacker | Committed 6/21/2025
Pittsburgh, PA | Woodland Hills HS | 6-2, 220
The three-star prospect visited NC State earlier in the month and picked the Pack over Boston College, Syracuse, Maryland, UConn and others.
Moore had injury issues as a junior but had a banner sophomore campaign in 2023, racking up 99 tackles and scoring 13 times on offense.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 2026 Commits
Elijah Otieno | Wide Receiver | Committed 6/19/2025
Forney, TX | North Forney HS | 5-10, 175
Otieno brings speed and big-play potential, averaging 20.8 yards per catch in 2024 (39 receptions, 811 yards, 9 TDs). He also posted a 10.83 in the 100m during track season and had a dozen D1 offers.
📌 More 2026 Recruiting Coverage:
- 🔁 NC High School Commitment Tracker – Where top 2026 NC prospects are committing (in-state & out-of-state)
- 🎯 NC College Commitment Tracker – Find out everyone who’s heading to North Carolina college programs from the class of 2026
- 📊 NC Class of 2026 Player Rankings – Our composite 2026 player rankings based on 247Sports, Rivals, On3 & ESPN
