North Carolina Central football recently landed two productive wide receivers from winning programs in Virginia — 2026 prospects Damon McDaniel Jr. of Maury High in Norfolk and Zy’Dar’Eyus Wynn of King’s Fork High in Suffolk.
McDaniel committed to NCCU and coach Trei Oliver after helping lead Maury to a perfect season and the Virginia Class 5 state championship in 2024. He caught 35 passes for 518 yards and three touchdowns, and also intercepted three passes on defense. His commitment graphic quickly gained attention on social media — a stylized AI image of McDaniel walking hand-in-hand with Jesus under the phrase “God’s Plan,” surrounded by cheering fans.
1000% Committed!! @NCCU_Football @CoachTOliver @CoachMattLeone @CoachSewellNCCU @ErikHighsmith @CoachMatt_NCCU pic.twitter.com/G4KxgURJUq
— Damon McDaniel Jr (@DamonMcDaniel_) July 3, 2025
Wynn, a speed threat from King’s Fork, caught 26 passes for 475 yards and 10 touchdowns, and added three punt return scores during the 2024 regular season. His team finished 11-2 and reached the Region 5B championship game, with Wynn playing a major role in their playoff run.
North Carolina Central beat out three Virginia HBCU rivals for Wynn’s commitment. He had offers from Hampton (CAA), Howard (MEAC) and Norfolk State (MEAC).
The story gets even more interesting: McDaniel’s Maury team defeated Wynn’s King’s Fork squad in the third round of the playoffs, a 34-14 win that helped Maury advance on its path to the state title. Starting in 2026, the two will become teammates.
Together, McDaniel and Wynn bring production, versatility and winning pedigree to a wide receiver room that could benefit from fresh playmakers. While Virginia hasn’t been a major recruiting focus for NCCU in recent years, the addition of two dynamic pass-catchers from the Tidewater region could open the door to more opportunities in the future.
North Carolina Central will be the first team in our state to kick off the 2025 college football season. The Eagles will face Southern University in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff in Atlanta on Saturday, Aug. 23 — one weekend before the rest of our state’s Division I teams launch their seasons.
