Breaking Down North Carolina’s Top 50 Class of 2026 Recruits
Breaking Down North Carolina’s Top 50 Class of 2026 Recruits
North Carolina’s Class of 2026 football recruits is one of the state’s deepest and most dynamic cohorts in recent memory. From nationally ranked edge rushers to standout quarterbacks, this collection of four-star athletes and rising stars is already drawing eyes from Power Five programs and beyond. Below, we dive deeper—adding fresh context, richer school narratives, and extra player details—while preserving our clear, structured breakdown.
Stars at the Top: Elite Prospects and Their Destinations
- Rodney Dunham (EDGE, Myers Park)
– 6-4 | 225 lbs | On3 98 | Committed to Notre Dame
Explosive off the edge, Dunham recorded 14.5 sacks as a sophomore, showing a relentless motor and polished pass-rushing repertoire. He’s projected to be a Day 1 starter at Notre Dame. - Kendre Harrison (TE, Reidsville)
– 6-6 | 250 lbs | On3 96 | Committed to Oregon
A two-sport standout, Harrison averaged 21 PPG and 15 RPG on the basketball court last winter. On the gridiron he hauled in 50 catches for 800 yards as a sophomore, earning comparisons to college basketball forwards. - Ebenezer Ewetade (EDGE, South Garner)
– 6-4 | 220 lbs | On3 95 | Committed to Notre Dame
After totaling 65 tackles and 12.5 sacks as a sophomore, Ewetade rocketed from outside the top 200 to a national top 40 prospect. His first-step quickness belies his lean frame. - Faizon Brandon (QB, Grimsley)
– 6-3½″ | 195 lbs | On3 94 | Committed to Tennessee
Brandon threw for 3,200 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2024, showcasing a pro-style delivery and impressive arm talent. He dominated at SEC camps, earning camp MVP honors. - PJ Dean (DL, West Forsyth)
– 6-3 | 255 lbs | On3 93 | Committed to Georgia
Dean’s sophomore campaign featured 75 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. His power-driven interior rush has scouts projecting him as a future first-round pick.
Positional Breakdown of the Top 50
| Position | Count | Notable Subgroup Detail |
|---|---|---|
| EDGE | 9 | Six of nine exceed 6-4 with 30″+ arms |
| DL | 9 | Four nose tackles weighing 300+ lbs |
| WR | 7 | Four over 6-2 with sub-4.6-40 speed |
| QB | 5 | Three pocket passers; two dual-threats |
| LB | 4 | All balanced between coverage and run stop |
| TE | 3 | Two of three are 6-6 or taller |
| S | 3 | All ball-hawking free safeties |
| CB | 3 | Each with over 10 PBUs as sophomores |
| OT | 3 | All over 6-6 with college-ready footwork |
| ATH | 2 | Versatile playmakers at multiple spots |
| RB | 1 | Jamal Rule ran for 1,200 yards as a sophomore |
| IOL | 1 | Leo Delaney graded out at 92% run-block grade |
Defensive front seven strength is unmistakable: 18 of the top 50 are linemen or edge rushers.
High School Pipelines: Where NC’s Top Talent Plays
| High School | Top-50 Players | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grimsley (Greensboro) | 4 | State runner-ups in 2022; QB Brandon led playoff run |
| Myers Park (Charlotte) | 3 | Produced two D-I linebackers in last five years |
| Weddington (Matthews) | 3 | Harris twins & Davis Jr. formed one of the region’s best front sevens |
| Providence Day (Charlotte) | 2 | Private-school juggernaut with national schedule |
| South Garner (Raleigh) | 2 | Back-to-back conference champs; coaching staff retention |
| East Forsyth (Kernersville) | 2 | Known for developing Division I linemen |
| Clayton (Johnston Co.) | 2 | Emerging talent pipeline in Johnston County |
| Mooresville | 2 | Lake Norman area produces multi-sport athletes |
| Rolesville | 2 | Small school surprising opponents with top recruits |
| Independence (Charlotte) | 2 | Balanced program excelling in both offense and defense |
| Crest (Shelby) | 2 | Adversity-tested program turning heads regionally |
| Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw) | 2 | Upside WR and DL pairing out of the South Charlotte suburbs |
Charlotte metro and the Triad remain hotbeds, but rising programs in Johnston and Cleveland counties are staking their claim.
Small Schools, Big Impact
- Reidsville (2A): Kendre Harrison’s emergence shows a historic 2A program can still produce national-caliber athletes.
- North Duplin (1A): Trashawn Ruffin (6-2½″, 330 lbs) became the highest-ranked 1A player in memory with UNC’s offer.
- Bessemer City (1A/2A): Emanuel Ruffin’s rapid rise from Alabama import to top-20 in-state prospect.
- Kinston (2A): Tyreek Copper exploded for 1,200 scrimmage yards and 16 scores; his NC State commitment brings a homegrown star back to the Wolfpack.
Full Top 50 Recruits & Their Commitments
| Rank | Player | Pos | HS (Classification) | On3 | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodney Dunham | EDGE | Myers Park (4A) | 98 | Notre Dame |
| 2 | Kendre Harrison | TE | Reidsville (2A) | 96 | Oregon |
| 3 | Ebenezer Ewetade | EDGE | South Garner (4A) | 95 | Notre Dame |
| 4 | Faizon Brandon | QB | Grimsley (4A) | 94 | Tennessee |
| 5 | PJ Dean | DL | West Forsyth (4A) | 93 | Georgia |
| 6 | Ekene Ogboko | OT | South Garner (4A) | 93 | Georgia |
| 7 | J.B. Shabazz | OT | East Forsyth (4A) | 93 | Tennessee |
| 8 | Aiden Harris | DL | Weddington (4A) | 93 | South Carolina |
| 9 | Keshawn Stancil | DL | Clayton (4A) | 93 | Clemson |
| 10 | Samari Matthews | CB | Hough (4A) | 91 | Texas |
| 11 | Gordon Sellars | WR | Providence Day (3A) | 90 | Clemson |
| 12 | Tyran Evans | WR | Hough (4A) | 90 | Miami |
| 13 | Leo Delaney | IOL | Providence Day (3A) | 90 | Clemson |
| 14 | Grant Lawless | QB | East Lincoln (2A) | 90 | Wake Forest |
| 15 | Andrew Rogers | EDGE | Grimsley (4A) | 90 | Uncommitted |
| 16 | Emanuel Ruffin | DL | Bessemer City (1A/2A) | 90 | Uncommitted |
| 17 | Andrew Harris | EDGE | Weddington (4A) | 89 | South Carolina |
| 18 | Camdin Portis | CB | Myers Park (4A) | 89 | Miami |
| 19 | Alex Voss | WR | Marvin Ridge (3A) | 89 | Boston College |
| 20 | Damaad Lewis | DL | Ballantyne Ridge (3A) | 89 | Uncommitted |
| 21 | William Vaughn | TE | Kings Mountain (2A) | 89 | Boston College |
| 22 | Elijah Littlejohn | LB | West Charlotte (3A) | 89 | Penn State |
| 23 | Thomas Davis Jr. | LB | Weddington (4A) | 89 | Notre Dame |
| 24 | Jace McCallum | EDGE | Hickory Ridge (3A) | 88 | Vanderbilt |
| 25 | Terande Spencer | EDGE | Richmond Senior (3A) | 88 | ECU |
| 26 | Zavion Griffin-Haynes | EDGE | Rolesville (3A) | 88 | North Carolina |
| 27 | Kosci Barnes | CB | Grimsley (4A) | 88 | Uncommitted |
| 28 | Jaire Richburg | WR | East Forsyth (4A) | 88 | NC State |
| 29 | Ben Boulware | DL | Oak Grove (3A) | 88 | Uncommitted |
| 30 | Noah Clark | DL | C.E. Jordan (4A) | 88 | South Carolina |
| 31 | Jamal Rule | RB | Charlotte Christian (2A) | 88 | Nebraska |
| 32 | Dallas Brannon | LB | Independence (3A) | 88 | Virginia |
| 33 | Lyrik Pettis | S | Crest (2A) | 88 | Duke |
| 34 | Aiden Smalls | ATH | Clayton (4A) | 88 | NC State |
| 35 | Gannon Jones | QB | Cardinal Gibbons (4A) | 87 | Wake Forest |
| 36 | Keysaun Eleazer | EDGE | Southeast Raleigh (3A) | 87 | Stanford |
| 37 | Kamdon Gillespie | EDGE | Mooresville (4A) | 87 | Virginia Tech |
| 38 | Brody Keefe | WR | Myers Park (4A) | 87 | Duke |
| 39 | Gavin Waddell | WR | Rolesville (3A) | 87 | Louisville |
| 40 | Tyreek Copper | WR | Kinston (2A) | 87 | NC State |
| 41 | Manny Lewis | DL | Marvin Ridge (3A) | 87 | Appalachian St. |
| 42 | Trashawn Ruffin | DL | North Duplin (1A) | 87 | North Carolina |
| 43 | DJ Howerton | TE | Grimsley (4A) | 87 | Rutgers |
| 44 | Caleb Gordon | LB | Ashbrook (3A) | 87 | Arkansas |
| 45 | Nick Reddish | S | Independence (3A) | 87 | Notre Dame |
| 46 | D’Various Surratt | S | Crest (2A) | 87 | NC State |
| 47 | Aaryn Tate | ATH | Northeast Guilford (3A) | 87 | Uncommitted |
| 48 | Jackson Debe | QB | Providence (3A) | 86 | Uncommitted |
| 49 | Brody Norman | QB | Mooresville (4A) | 86 | Temple |
| 50 | Javaughn Hargett | TE | Southern (2A) | 86 | ECU |