Hough High’s 2026 football roster is already attracting plenty of attention on the recruiting trail.
Four rising seniors with ties to the Huskies announced college commitments this week, headlined by three-star quarterback Ethan Royal, who pledged to Marshall after leading Hough to the first 8A state championship in NCHSAA history last fall.
Royal was joined by safety Jackson Heath (Army), interior offensive lineman Nori White (James Madison) and defensive back Sincere Daye (Campbell) during a special event at the school on Thursday, June 25.
White and Daye are both set to join Hough on the gridiron this season after transferring from Independence and West Charlotte, respectively.
Elsewhere in 2027 North Carolina football recruiting, Community School of Davidson offensive lineman Matthew Worley committed to Davidson on June 26 after earning an offer following the Wildcats’ National Academic Camp earlier this month. Campbell also picked up a commitment from West Stokes two-way lineman Omari Graham, who announced his decision Thursday after reporting roughly a dozen Division I scholarship offers.
Elon, meanwhile, added two more in-state commitments:
- Providence Day School linebacker Justin Abanquah, a two-time all-state and all-conference performer for the reigning NCISAA champions.
- Providence High tight end Alex Haywood, an all-conference performer who scored six touchdowns in 2025, including a game-winner in the final minutes of a playoff contest.
These announcements this week pushed the number of known commitments from North Carolina 2027 high school prospects to 74 this recruiting cycle.
East Carolina continues to lead in-state programs with seven North Carolina pledges, followed by Campbell (6), NC State (5), Duke (4), Elon (4) and Wake Forest (4). Davidson now has two. James Madison now leads all out-of-state programs with three North Carolina commitments.
👉 NC Football News maintains a statewide database of known 2027 commitments from North Carolina high schools. View our North Carolina 2027 High School Football Commitment Tracker to see the full list of 2027s who have announced college decisions.
Here are more details on recent commitments:
Ethan Royal, QB, Cornelius, NC (Hough HS)
- Committed to Marshall on June 25, 2026
- 6-0, 205-pound dual-threat quarterback
- Three stars, the No. 41 player in North Carolina and the No. 60 quarterback nationally from 247Sports
- Led Hough High to a 14-0 record and the first 8A state championship in NCHSAA history in 2025.
- Named MVP of the 8A state championship game
- Conference Player of the Year
- Junior season stats (2025): Completed 152-of-261 passes for 2,272 yards, 29 TDs and 8 interceptions; Also rushed 97 times for 721 yards and 14 TDs.
- Sophomore season stats (2024): Completed 29-of-50 passes for 381 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT; Rushed 27 times for 113 yards, 4 TDs.
- Clinton, NC native
- Held more than 30 offers, including Arkansas from the SEC. In-state offers included Appalachian State, East Carolina, Charlotte, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central.
Some hear the hype. I HERD the thunder. Marshall, let’s work. 🦬 #AGTG #Committed @CoachTonyGibson @CoachRSmith1 @JonesMUFB pic.twitter.com/dZnEBJruAL
— Ethan Royal 2027 QB (@eforspeed) June 26, 2026
Jackson Heath, SAF, Cornelius, NC (Hough HS)
- Committed to Army on June 25, 2026
- 5-11, 185 free safety/strong safety
- Reported roughly a dozen offers in addition to Army, including East Carolina, Charlotte, Navy, Memphis, Coastal Carolina, FIU, Georgia Southern, North Carolina A&T, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina Central, West Georgia, Mercer
- Junior season stats (2025): 67 tackles (38 solo), 10.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, 1 interception (MaxPreps)
- Part of a region champion 4×100 relay team
Proud to announce my commitment to Army!! 💛🖤@CoachJeffMonken @coach_sloan @CoachPrince7 @ArmyWP_Football @SC_DBGROUP @DeShawnBaker25 @WRCoachThompson @ZGold_WP @nchssportspage @adamgorney @SJones6_ @mjbarnettjr @CoachDJ78 @BKKnightNation @American_Conf @CFL @USArmy @WestPoint pic.twitter.com/QIyLkKfciY — Jackson Heath (@Jackson_Heath3) June 26, 2026
Nori White, OL, Charlotte, NC (Hough HS)
- Committed to James Madison on June 25, 2026
- 6-5, 360-pound interior offensive lineman
- Three stars, the No. 48 player from North Carolina and the No. 109 interior offensive lineman nationally from 247Sports.
- Transferred to Hough High for 2026 after playing left tackle at Independence in 2025.
- Took a visit to UNC in late May but opted for James Madison after visiting the Dukes on June 19
- Offered by East Carolina and Charlotte heading into his freshman year at Independence in 2023. Other reported offers included Syracuse and Troy
Sincere Daye, DB, Cornelius, NC (Hough HS)
- Committed to Campbell on June 25, 2026
- 6-0, 180-pound defensive back
- Transferred to Hough for 2026 after playing at West Charlotte in 2025
- Junior season stats (2025): 38 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, 1 pick-six, 6 pass breakups; Also returned punts (8/198 yards).
- All-conference player in 2025
- Also reported offers from North Carolina A&T, Gardner-Webb, Maine, Sacred Heart, Charleston Southern, West Georgia
- 76-inch wingspan, 4.50 time in the 40-yard dash
Matthew Worley, OL/DL, Huntersville, NC (Community School of Davidson)
- Committed to Davidson on June 26, 2026
- 6-4, 285-pound versatile offensive lineman (guard, tackle)
- 4.0 unweighted GPA, 4.3 weighted GPA
- Also plays baseball and competes in shot put, discus during track & field season
- Participated in Davidson’s National Academic Camp in mid-June, received an offer following camp, committed to Davidson a few days later. Also reported offers from Washington & Lee, Kenyon College, Denison, Hampden-Sydney and Concord
Omari Graham, OL/DL, King, NC (West Stokes HS)
- Committed to Campbell on June 25, 2026
- 6-4, 295-pound offensive and defensive lineman
- All-conference on offense and defense in 2025
- 4.0 GPA
- Helped pave the way for a West Stokes offense that averaged 5.2 yards per rush. On defense, earned 36 tackles and recovered two fumbles.
- Campbell was the first D1 school to offer back in January. He reported roughly a dozen D1 offers, including NC A&T, NCCU, Elon, Hampton, Cornell, Fordham, Brown, Sacred Heart, Lafayette, Towson,
Justin Abanquah, LB, Charlotte, NC (Providence Day School)
- Committed to Elon on June 23, 2026
- 6-0, 220-pound middle and outside linebacker
- Two-time all-state and all-conference performer for the 2025 NCISAA state champions and 2024 runners-up
- Junior season stats (2025): 50 solo tackles, 100 total tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, 6.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 4 QB hurries
- Amassed 17 tackles, including 10 solo stops, in a September 2025 win over Charlotte Catholic. Finished with 10+ tackles three other games.
- Sophomore season stats (2024): 77 solo tackles, 126 total tackles, 16 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 15 QB hurries.
- Reported 12 Division I offers, including FBS programs like Akron, as well as Western Carolina, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina Central, West Georgia, East Tennessee State, Mercer, Charleston Southern, Cornell
- Former Providence Day head coach David Hickson on X: “Elon football is getting a big time LB. No doubt will be an immediate impact player on and off the field.”
- The eighth Providence Day School player from the 2027 class to announce a Division I commitment.
Alex Haywood, TE, Charlotte, NC (Providence HS)
- Committed to Elon on June 24, 2026
- 6-5, 230-pound tight end with an 80-inch wingspan
- All-conference as a tight end in 2025
- Junior season stats (2025): 36 catches, 360 yards, six touchdowns
- Scored the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of a playoff win over Ardrey Kell, catching a 12-yard pass from Luke Meador with 1:39 left
- Reported 16 Division I offers, including from Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, UMass, Gardner-Webb, Campbell, Charleston Southern, Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, Colgate, Brown, Penn, Fordham and Yale, Columbia.
- 4.23 GPA
- Clocked a time of 4.53 in the 40-yard dash.
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