This week brings the Early Signing Period for prospects in North Carolina’s 2026 high school football recruiting class. There is plenty of buzz across the state as prep players make verbal commitments and prepare to make college choices official.
Some notable North Carolina high school players have announced commitments over the past few weeks, with NC State, Wake Forest, East Carolina, North Carolina A&T and Gardner-Webb among the schools picking up in-state talent. Here are updates:
🏈 Who’s Committed to North Carolina College Football Programs? Find out which players from the Class of 2026 have pledged to our state’s D1 programs
TE William “Tex” Vaughn, Kings Mountain, Kings Mountain HS
Verbal commitment: NC State 11/30/2025
The 6-3, 225-pounder made news this past spring when he picked Boston College from a number of Division I offers. But Vaughn decommitted from the Eagles in mid-November and flipped his pledge to NC State on a weekend when the Pack beat its biggest football rival, UNC.
“It just feels like a big family,” Vaughn told Pack Pride, a 247Sports site that covers NCSU athletics.
Vaughn had a big senior season for Kings Mountain as a pass-catching tight end and receiver. He made 43 catches for 713 yards and 11 touchdowns. 247Sports lists Vaughn as a three-star prospect and the No. 32 recruit in North Carolina’s 2026 class.
In all, Vaughn reported two dozen D1 offers. He visited Boston College this past June and took his official to NC State over the weekend. His 2024 stat line included 45 catches for 994 yards and six TDs.
DL Ben Boulware, Winston-Salem, Oak Grove HS
Verbal commitment: North Carolina A&T 11/30/2025
This is a notable pick-up for North Carolina A&T, which continues to build under coach Shawn Gibbs. Boulware (6-5, 305) is considered a three-star prospect by 247Sports and the No. 19 overall 2026 recruit in North Carolina.
Boulware reported major Power 4 offers, including from Michigan, Georgia, Southern Cal, Auburn, Florida and Florida State. In-state schools to offer included North Carolina, East Carolina, Charlotte and Appalachian State.
Per MaxPreps, Boulware recorded 50 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks this past season. In Oak Grove’s regular season finale, a 46-9 win over North Davidson, Boulware picked off a pass, earned three TFLs and logged six total stops.
For his career, Boulware has 167 total tackles, 24 tackles-for-loss and nine sacks. He started getting on the radar of Division I teams after a solid sophomore season. Oak Grove finished 9-4 in 2025, winning two playoff contests before getting knocked out by Jay M. Robinson.
DB Micah Bright, Cornelius, Hough HS
Verbal commitment: Wake Forest 11/18/2025
Bright (6-0, 185) is considered a three-star safety by 247Sports and the No. 70 overall prospect in North Carolina’s Class of 2026. He initially pledged to South Florida in June, but took an official visit to Wake Forest in mid-November and committed to the Deacs a few days later.
Bright joins a large Wake Forest recruiting class (30+ players) that comes on the heels of the Demon Deacons’ eight-win season under first-year coach Jake Dickert. The Wake Forest class is currently ranked No. 41 nationally by 247Sports.
Bright has four interceptions on the season, including two against Independence back in August, which included a pick-six.
Hough improved to 13-0 with a 24-0 home playoff win over West Charlotte on Friday. The Huskies will face Millbrook on Dec. 11 in the 8A state championship game.
OL Brooks Culp, Statesville, South Iredell HS
Verbal commitment: East Carolina 11/30/2025
A multi-year all-conference performer on the interior line, Culp (6-4, 315) announced his commitment to ECU over the weekend. He was given a preferred walk-on opportunity after visiting in early November.
“He is a road-grader and plays to the whistle,” said Mike Farrell, a national recruiting analyst for Mike Farrell Sports. “He’s a beast!”
From scouting reports, Culp has the work ethic, discipline and physicality to make a positive contribution to the Pirates offense in the future.
“Ready to work, earn my place in the OL room, and represent Pirate Nation the right way!” Culp wrote on social media this week.
I am blessed to announce my commitment to East Carolina University to play football. Grateful for everyone who believed in me, my family, coaches, and teammates. Ready to work, earn my place in the OL room, and represent Pirate Nation the right way!! @OLCoachMattox @RyanMcManus15… pic.twitter.com/3UIGYGO7ZM — Brooks Culp 3 ⭐️ C/OL (@brooks_culp) November 30, 2025
OL Keegan Davis, Gastonia, Ashbrook High
Verbal commitment: Gardner-Webb 11/20/2025
The 6-4, 280-pound senior has been a part of Ashbrook High’s football program since 2022. The Greenwave posted a 12-1 record this past season, earned a conference championship and won two playoff games before falling to Northern Guilford this past Friday.
Davis has played guard and center. Gardner-Webb offered in mid-November, and Davis announced his commitment on social media shortly thereafter. Davis camped at Gardner-Webb this past summer.
DB/WR Caden Vann, Durham, Southern Durham HS
Verbal commitment: North Carolina A&T 11/27/2025
The Aggies offered in late November, and Vann jumped at the chance to join A&T’s latest recruiting class a few days later. Vann played both ways for Southern Durham this past season, recording 19 catches for 617 yards and 7 TDs on the offensive side, and 22 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups on the defensive end.
For his high school career, Vann has 1,384 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as 41 tackles and two interceptions, per MaxPreps.
LB Caleb Gordon, Gastonia, Ashbrook HS
Verbal commitment: West Virginia 11/24/2025
The three-star prospect decommitted from Arkansas in September as the Razorbacks began the process of moving on from head coach Sam Pittman. He committed to West Virginia heading into Thanksgiving week, but it will be interesting to watch signing day activities this week: Gordon took a visit to NC State on Saturday, according to 247Sports. Are the Wolfpack still in play?
OL Cooper Helman, Charlotte, Myers Park HS
Verbal commitment: Hampden-Sydney 11/30/2025
The 6-0, 250-pound senior standout played center for a Myers Park team that finished 9-3 and advanced to the second round of the 8A playoffs.
Super excited and blessed to say that I am committing to Hampden-Sydney College! Thank you to my coaches and family for making this possible. Roll Tigers 🐅 @coachjames29 @myersparkfball @Coach_Luvara @ZachZullinger @HSCFBRecruiting pic.twitter.com/hkw7Vjxm5M — Cooper Helman (@cooper_helman) December 1, 2025
