Zero Offers, 55 Touchdowns: Kinston’s Tyler Jones is the Best Unsigned QB in North Carolina

Kinston’s Tyler Jones: The State’s Most Productive Quarterback Still Waiting on His First Offer

KINSTON – As the NCHSAA 3A eastern regional final approaches, one name dominates the North Carolina passing stats—and cracks the top 20 nationally: Tyler Jones.

The 6’3”, 215-pound senior has put together one of the greatest single seasons in state history, yet his recruitment page remains empty.

Through 14 games in 2025, Jones has completed 231 of 344 passes (67.2%) for 3,879 yards, 51 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions. Those numbers currently lead the entire state of North Carolina in both passing yards and passing touchdowns. Nationally, he ranks 16th in passing yards (7th among seniors) and 15th in touchdown passes.

Over the last two seasons as Kinston’s starter, Jones is 452-of-726 (62.3%) for 6,948 yards and 89 total touchdowns against only 23 interceptions.

And he’s done it while throwing to NC State commit Tyreek Copper, one of the top wideouts in the class of 2026.

“His confidence, his swagger is different,” Copper said of his quarterback. “That’s my dog.”

The numbers are video-game level, but the poise might be even more impressive. Former NFL receiver Terrance Copper, who coached Jones this spring and summer on his nationally-ranked 7-on-7 squad Team Copper, rattles off traits like he’s reading a pro scouting report:

“He’s accurate. Very poised. You can never tell if he’s rattled; he’s always even-keeled. Learns from mistakes, responds to adversity, extremely coachable. He’s an all-weather quarterback; cold, rain, wind, it doesn’t matter. Strong arm, great touch, tough as nails, and a worker. A lot of his qualities can’t be taught. They’re the same qualities every great college and NFL quarterback has.”

Head coach Ryan Gieselman saw this explosion coming.

“The sky’s the limit for him,” Gieselman said before the season. “The work Jones put in during the offseason; weight room, private QB coaching, spring ball, 7-on-7 with Team Copper, and summer workouts; has turned potential into production.

Jones himself stays humble about the gaudy statistics.

“I’m just grateful to be in this position,” he said after tying the school record with 7 touchdown passes in a single game. “It’s just fun having something to try to achieve every week.”

He’s also the kind of teammate college coaches dream about. A few weeks ago, Jones drove all the way to Greenville before school to buy his entire offensive line Krispy Kreme donuts.

“I told them to come to my truck before the bell,” Jones laughed. “When they turned the corner and saw the boxes, their faces just lit up. If they keep playing like this, I’ll be making that drive a lot more.”

Now riding back-to-back road playoff wins, Kinston heads to Warsaw to face four-time state champion James Kenan with a berth in the 3A state championship on the line. The Vikings believe they have the pieces; and the quarterback; to bring home a title back to Kinston.

Jones grew up splitting time between football and travel baseball, playing all over the southeast. But once his family moved to Kinston, he put all his eggs in one basket.

“I still love baseball,” he admits, “but football is where my heart is. I want to play college football. That’s the goal.”

With a 3.8 GPA, a cannon arm, pinpoint accuracy, rare poise, and numbers that stack up with any quarterback in America, Tyler Jones has done everything a high school senior can do to earn that opportunity.

College coaches looking for a proven, tough, big-bodied pocket passer who can lead a program for the next four years need to pull up the Kinston film; quickly.

Because the best quarterback in North Carolina nobody is talking about is two wins away from a state championship ring… and still very much available.