A senior defensive back in North Carolina has transferred from one powerhouse to another to close out his high school football career.



On Friday afternoon, safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/kd-cotton-181002/">KD Cotton</a> announced via social media that he’s transferred from <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/west-charlotte-charlotte-nc-5931/">West Charlotte</a> to <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/weddington-matthews-nc-7654/">Weddington</a>. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder provides a jolt in the secondary to a Weddington defense that already features some serious firepower. 



“Thank you to the West Charlotte community for all that you have helped me become, I will always have nothing but love for everyone I’ve connected with in these past years. With that being said for my senior year I will be transferring to Weddington High School,” <a href="https://x.com/KianthonySmith/status/1966561144174170603">Cotton wrote</a>.



Cotton, who committed to <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/duke-blue-devils/">Duke</a> on June 26, will not suit up for the Warriors’ game at <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/crest-shelby-nc-25126/">Crest</a> on Friday night, <a href="https://x.com/JoelBryantHSOT/status/1966570075231498743">according to HighSchoolOT’s Joel Bryant</a>.



Cotton leaves West Charlotte, which is off to a 1-2 start following a 10-7 loss to <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/south-pointe-rock-hill-sc-18053/">South Pointe</a> (S.C.) last week. The Lions, who currently rank as the No. 10 team in North Carolina per the Massey Ratings, take on <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/providence-charlotte-nc-2304/">Providence</a> on Friday.



Weddington enters this week at 2-1. The Warriors, now the No. 5 team in the state, defeated <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/monroe-monroe-nc-9506/">Monroe</a> 49-7 last week and are favored to defeat Crest. 



The Weddington defense already features twin four-stars in defensive lineman <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/aiden-harris-176429/">Aiden Harris</a> and EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/andrew-harris-176438/">Andrew Harris</a>, both of whom are committed to South Carolina. Four-star linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/thomas-davis-jr-154534/">Thomas Davis Jr.</a>, a Notre Dame commit, also headlines.



The Duke pledge will also likely provide a spark on offense, too. As a junior for West Charlotte last season, he caught 30 passes for 449 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for 10 additional scores, per <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/nc/charlotte/west-charlotte-lions/athletes/kd-cotton/football/stats/?careerid=kmi55kpc5os66">MaxPreps</a>.



Cotton is the No. 129 safety and No. 53 player in North Carolina in the 2026 cycle, according to the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/industry-player/football/2026/">Rivals Industry Ranking</a>, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He checks in as the No. 1,363 prospect overall.



He committed to Duke over offers from the likes of NC State, Wake Forest, Miami, Ole Miss and Indiana. Cotton is one of three in-state commits for the Blue Devils this cycle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-follow-north-carolina-high-school-football">How to Follow North Carolina High School Football</h2>



For high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the Tar Heel State, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/scores/football/california/">Rivals High School Scoreboard</a>. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the state, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the country.

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Duke safety commit KD Cotton transfers to Weddington (N.C.)

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