Top NC football recruits make splash nationally

Yes, Texas, Florida and California have long been the most fertile grounds for high school football recruiting. But North Carolina has emerged as one of the richer states in recent years in terms of quality and quantity of talent.

The Old North State features top-five recruits nationally in both the 2025 and 2026 cycles.

Offensive tackle David Sanders from Charlotte’s Providence Day School has been listed as the No. 1 recruit in the entire 2025 class by Rivals.com and the No. 2 overall national recruit by 247Sports.

Tight end Kendre Harrison from Reidsville High School sits fourth among all recruits nationally in 247Sports’s 2026 rankings. He’s eighth in On3.com’s latest ’26 rankings.

–> NC HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROSPECTS: We’re tracking verbal commitments and signings. Please tag us on Twitter/X (@NCFootballNews) and we’ll help spread the good news.

Both Sanders and Harrison suited up for state championship teams in 2023. Providence Day won the NCISAA Division I title, while Reidsville collected the NCHSAA 3A trophy. Sanders was recently announced as the Gatorade Player of the Year for North Carolina.

Congratulations to Providence Day OL David Sanders @DavidLSandersJr on being named North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year!#PDFootballFamily#HardWorkWorks pic.twitter.com/tPjbyCfzQS

— Chad Grier (@ChadGrier_) February 14, 2024

NC Football News reviewed four of the top high school football recruiting outlets this week — 247Sports, Rivals, On3 and ESPN to gauge where North Carolina players stand in the national picture.

Sanders (6-6, 270) was North Carolina’s top 2025 recruit by all four services. He has not committed to a college program yet, and a recent story from 247Sports’ Anna Adams — found HERE — notes that the five-star prospect doesn’t seem in a hurry to make a decision. He has an official visit lined up at Clemson in June, per Adams’ reporting. Sanders has dozens of Division I offers, including from North Carolina’s FBS schools. Clemson appears to be among the leaders, along with Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and South Carolina.

Harrison (6-7, 235) is a monstrous presence for Reidsville’s football and basketball squads (this generation’s Julius Peppers?). Harrison played tight end and defensive end for the football Rams in the fall. He caught 57 passes for 845 yards and 14 touchdowns. On the defensive end, he made 70 tackles with 17 tackles-for-loss.

In two seasons on Reidsville varsity hoops squad, Harrison has averaged 20.2 points and 15.1 rebounds per contest. He also averages four blocks, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals per game. This past week, he broke a backboard during a Reidsville game (see below).

Break the rimmmmm pic.twitter.com/GnqgEZQL5y

— k̷e̷n̷d̷r̷e̷’̷ ̷h̷a̷r̷r̷i̷s̷o̷n̷ (@SupremeDre8) February 14, 2024

Three other North Carolina players are ranked in 247Sports’ top 100 nationally. Jordan Young, a safety from Monroe High, is listed 29th. Defensive lineman Isaiah Campbell from Southern Durham is 67th and edge Bryce Davis of (Greensboro) Grimsley High is 93rd.

Blessings ✝️🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/MxpJdcya1e

— Jordan Young (@Jordan_Young06) December 22, 2023

Rivals.com ranks Davis at No. 46 and Campbell at No. 98. Campbell gave a verbal commitment to Clemson in January.

Safety JaDon Blair from Winston-Salem (Mount Tabor HS) is ranked No. 28 nationally by On3. Young is 38th in On3’s national list.

The North Carolina Tar Heels have a verbal commitment from quarterback Bryce Baker of Kernersville (East Forsyth HS). Baker sits 148th in Rivals’ national rankings.

Long-time high school recruiting guru Tom Lemming was high on NC State commit Gus Ritchey, a tight end/defensive end from Pittsboro (Northwood HS): “(Ritchey is) one of the top athletes east of the Mississippi. Already invited to play in next year‘s US Army game he has great strength, strong hands 4.7 speed and is a precise route runner.”

The 2026 class looks strong in the Old North State as well.

247Sports puts seven NC prospects in its national top 100: Harrison, OT Ekene Ogboko of Durham (South Garner), OL Leo Delaney of Charlotte (Providence Day), OT Pierre “PJ” Dean of Clemmons (West Forsyth HS), CB Samari Matthews of Cornelius (Hough), QB Faizon Brandon of Greensboro (Grimsley) and LB Thomas Davis Jr. of Matthews (Weddington).

Class of 2025 Committed Players

Source: 247Sports, Rivals, On3

NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	HARD COMMIT
Isaiah Campbell	DL	6-4	260	Durham	Southern HS	Clemson 1/29/24
Bryce Baker	QB	6-3	185	Kernersville	East Forsyth HS	UNC 6/27/23
Gus Ritchey	ATH	6-3	230	Pittsboro	Northwood HS	NC State 8/12/23
Trey Blue	IOL	6-5	310	Cary	Cary HS	UNC 9/17/23
Dan Mahan	QB	6-2	180	Burlington	Williams HS	App State 11/16/23

Top 2025 North Carolina Players: 247Sports

RANK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	NAT. RANK	HARD COMMIT
1	David Sanders	OT	6-6	270	Charlotte	Providence Day	2
2	Jordan Young	S	6-0	184	Monroe	Monroe HS	29
3	Isaiah Campbell	DL	6-4	260	Durham	Southern HS	67	Clemson 1/29/24
4	Bryce Davis	EDGE	6-3	245	Greensboro	Grimsley HS	93
5	JaDon Blair	S	6-4	190	Winston-Salem	Mount Tabor HS	178
6	Shamarius Peterkin	WR	6-2	172	Winston-Salem	Mount Tabor HS	196
7	Traquin Watson	LB	6-4	203	Kenly	North Johnston HS	N/A
8	Taeshawn Alston	EDGE	6-4	205	Henderson	Vance County HS	N/A
9	Kaegan Chambers	ATH	6-1	150	Monroe	Monroe HS	N/A
10	Bryce Baker	QB	6-3	185	Kernersville	East Forsyth HS	N/A	UNC 6/27/23
11	Gus Ritchey	ATH	6-3	230	Pittsboro	Northwood HS	N/A	NC State 8/12/23
12	Trajen Odom	DL	6-5	265	Cary	Panther Creek HS	N/A
13	Nasir Newkirk	WR	6-2	185	Greensboro	Dudley HS	N/A
14	Trey Blue	IOL	6-5	310	Cary	Cary HS	N/A	UNC 9/17/23
15	Fonzy Smith	WR	6-2	175	Fayetteville	Trinity Christian	N/A
16	Dan Mahan	QB	6-2	180	Burlington	Williams HS	N/A	App State 11/16/23
17	Israel Hiraldo	WR	6-0	180	Providence, RI	Jireh Prep	N/A

Top 2025 North Carolina Players: Rivals

RANK	NAME	POS	HT	WT..	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	NAT. RANK	HARD COMMIT
1	David Sanders	OT	6-6	270	Charlotte	Providence Day	1
2	Bryce Davis	EDGE	6-3	245	Greensboro	Grimsley HS	46
3	Isaiah Campbell	DL	6-4	260	Durham	Southern HS	98	Clemson 1/29/24
4	Bryce Baker	QB	6-3	185	Kernersville	East Forsyth HS	148	UNC 6/27/23
5	Jordan Young	S	6-0	184	Monroe	Monroe HS	189
6	Shamarius Peterkin	WR	6-2	172	Winston-Salem	Mount Tabor HS	201
7	JaDon Blair	S	6-4	190	Winston-Salem	Mount Tabor HS	N/A
8	Fonzy Smith	WR	6-2	175	Fayetteville	Trinity Christian	N/A
9	Gus Ritchey	ATH	6-3	230	Pittsboro	Northwood HS	N/A	NC State 8/12/23
10	Trajen Odom	DL	6-5	265	Cary	Panther Creek HS	N/A
11	Tai Buster	OG	6-5	280	Kannapolis	Brown HS	N/A
12	Steven Murray	ATH	6-0	165	Gibsonville	Eastern Guilford HS	N/A
13	Je’Rel Bolder	WR	6-0	185	Marshville	Forest Hills HS	N/A
14	Taeshawn Alston	EDGE	6-4	205	Henderson	Vance County HS	N/A
15	Christopher Daley II	RB	5-11	180	Denver	East Lincoln HS	N/A
16	Jonathan Williams	ATH	5-10	149	Havelock	Havelock HS	N/A
17	Trey Blue	IOL	6-5	310	Cary	Cary HS	N/A	UNC 9/17/23
18	Kaegan Chambers	ATH	6-1	150	Monroe	Monroe HS	N/A
19	Jonathan Hinnant	WDE	6-3	199	Rolesville	Rolesville HS	N/A
20	Nasir Newkirk	WR	6-2	185	Greensboro	Dudley HS	N/A
21	Traquin Watson	LB	6-4	203	Kenly	North Johnston HS	N/A
22	Michael Gibbs	OG	6-4	265	Wilmingston	Hoggard HS	N/A
23	Charles House	DT	6-3	285	Huntersville	North Mecklenburg HS	N/A
24	Justin Rowe	ATH	6-3	190	Asheville	The Asheville School	N/A
25	Braxton Winston	CB	6-0	160	Charlotte	Providence Day	N/A

Top 2025 North Carolina Players: ESPN

RANK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	HARD COMMIT
1	David Sanders	OT	6-6	270	Charlotte	Providence Day
2	Jordan Young	S	6-0	184	Monroe	Monroe HS
3	Bryce Davis	EDGE	6-3	245	Greensboro	Grimsley HS
4	Isaiah Campbell	DL	6-4	260	Durham	Southern HS	Clemson 1/29/24
5	JaDon Blair	S	6-4	190	Winston-Salem	Mount Tabor HS
6	Trajen Odom	DL	6-5	265	Cary	Panther Creek HS

Top 2025 North Carolina Players: On3

RANK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	NAT. RANK	HARD COMMIT
1	David Sanders	OT	6-6	270	Charlotte	Providence Day	5
2	JaDon Blair	S	6-4	190	Winston-Salem	Mount Tabor HS	28
3	Jordan Young	S	6-0	184	Monroe	Monroe HS	38
4	Isaiah Campbell	DL	6-4	260	Durham	Southern HS	138	Clemson 1/29/24
5	Bryce Davis	EDGE	6-3	245	Greensboro	Grimsley HS	156
6	Shamarius Peterkin	WR	6-2	172	Winston-Salem	Mount Tabor HS	197
7	Bryce Baker	QB	6-3	185	Kernersville	East Forsyth HS	N/A	UNC 6/27/23
8	Taeshawn Alston	EDGE	6-4	205	Henderson	Vance County HS	N/A
9	Je’Rel Bolder	WR	6-0	185	Marshville	Forest Hills HS	N/A
10	Justin Rowe	ATH	6-3	190	Asheville	The Asheville School	N/A
11	Trey Blue	IOL	6-5	310	Cary	Cary HS	N/A	UNC 9/17/23
12	Braxton Winston	CB	6-0	160	Charlotte	Providence Day	N/A
13	Gus Ritchey	ATH	6-3	230	Pittsboro	Northwood HS	N/A	NC State 8/12/23
14	Tai Buster	OG	6-5	280	Kannapolis	Brown HS	N/A

Top 2026 North Carolina Players: 247Sports

RANK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	NAT. RANK
1	Kendre Harrison	TE	6-7	235	Reidsville	Reidsville HS	4
2	Ekene Ogboko	OT	6-6	260	Durham	South Garner HS	21
3	Leo Delaney	IOL	6-6	280	Charlotte	Providence Day	28
4	Pierre “PJ” Dean	OT	6-5	305	Clemmons	West Forsyth HS	45
5	Samari Matthews	CB	6-0	172	Cornelius	Hough HS	64
6	Faizon Brandon	QB	6-4	175	Greensboro	Grimsley HS	74
7	Thomas Davis Jr.	LB	6-2	205	Matthews	Weddington HS	82

Top 2026 North Carolina Players: Rivals

RANK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	NAT. RANK
1	Samari Matthews	CB	6-0	172	Cornelius	Hough HS	15
2	Kendre Harrison	TE	6-7	235	Reidsville	Reidsville HS	17
3	Ekene Ogboko	OT	6-6	260	Durham	South Garner	41
4	Thomas Davis Jr.	LB	6-2	205	Matthews	Weddington HS	67
5	Pierre “PJ” Dean	OT	6-5	305	Clemmons	West Forsyth	69

Top 2026 North Carolina Players: On3

RANK	NAME	POS	HT	WT	HOMETOWN	SCHOOL	NAT. RANK
1	Kendre Harrison	TE	6-7	235	Reidsville	Reidsville HS	8
2	Samari Matthews	CB	6-0	172	Cornelius	Hough HS	16
3	Ekene Ogboko	OT	6-6	260	Durham	South Garner	23
4	Pierre “PJ” Dean	OT	6-5	305	Clemmons	West Forsyth	39
5	Leo Delaney	IOL	6-6	280	Charlotte	Providence Day	63
6	Faizon Brandon	QB	6-4	175	Greensboro	Grimsley HS	68