signing day football prospects North Carolina 2025

High school football is popping in North Carolina, with future college stars setting the tone in another competitive postseason as we head into the early signing period for college football.
With college football’s early signing period spanning Dec. 4-6, USA TODAY Sports Network reporters in the state have produced a ranking of top prospects.
USA TODAY Sports Network top high football prospects in NC
1 Faizon Brandon — Grimsley (Senior QB)
ESPN: 1
Rivals: 1
247Sports: 1
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds
Offers: Alabama, Boston College, Charlotte, Duke, East Carolina, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, Miami (Florida), Michigan, NC State, North Carolina, North Carolina A&T, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Syracuse, TCU, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Commitment: Tennessee
Numbers and notes: Brandon has completed better than 72% of his passes for 6,374 yards and 79 touchdowns during his career, against only nine interceptions. He also has 1,261 rushing yards and 21 TDs. Ranked as the nation’s top recruit in the 2026 class by 247Sports, Brandon led Grimsley to an NCHSAA 4A state title last fall. He injured his thumb in Week 1 of his senior season, but returned for the Whirlies’ 7A playoff run.
2 Rodney Dunham — Myers Park (Senior DE)
ESPN: 3
Rivals: 2
247Sports: 2
Height/weight: 6-4, 220
Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Duke, East Carolina, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, James Madison, LSU, Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Missouri, NC State, North Carolina, Northwestern, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USF, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Commitment: Notre Dame
Numbers and notes: In his first two seasons at Myers Park, he had 94 tackles (26 for a loss), 12 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He began the 2025 campaign as the nation’s 15th-ranked recruit.
3 Kendre Harrison — Reidsville (Senior TE)
ESPN: 2
Rivals: 3
247Sports: 3
Height/weight: 6-7, 243
Offers: Akron, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Charlotte, Colorado, East Carolina, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Liberty, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, NC Central, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCF, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia
Commitment: Oregon
Numbers and notes: In four varsity seasons, Harrison has 164 receptions for 2,568 yards and 46 touchdowns. More importantly, the Rams have gone 50-6 during the stretch, including the 2023 NCHSAA 2A state title. Also a top recruit in basketball, Harrison has helped Reidsville to 60 consecutive wins and two state titles.
4 Ekene Ogboko — South Garner (Senior OL)
ESPN: 4
Rivals: 4
247Sports: 4
Height/weight: 6-6, 280
Offers: Alabama, Appalachian State, Auburn, Bethune-Cookman, Charlotte, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, James Madison, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami (Florida), NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, USF, Virginia Tech, West Virginia
Commitment: Georgia
Numbers and notes: Recruited as an offensive tackle, Ogboko has proven effective on the defensive side of the football, with 60 tackles in each of the past two seasons (26 for a loss last year, 27 this year), seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for South Garner.
5 Aiden Harris — Weddington (Senior DL)
ESPN: 8
Rivals: 5
247Sports: 9
Height/weight: 6-4, 245
Offers: Just shy of 40 Division I schools are in pursuit of Harris, including Auburn, Boston College, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami (Florida), Michigan, Michigan State, NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and Virginia Tech.
Commitment: South Carolina
Numbers and notes: The nephew of NFL Hall of Fame outside linebacker Thomas Davis is credited with 229 tackles in his first three seasons — 62 of those in opponents’ backfield — along with 23 ½ sacks. Last fall, he had 82 tackles and 13½ sacks for a Weddington team that went 13-1, its only loss to eventual NCHSAA 4A state champion Grimsley.
6 Samari Matthews — Hough (Senior DB)
ESPN: 6
Rivals: 7
247Sports: 7
Height/weight: 6-1, 190
Offers: More than 40 schools are in pursuit of Matthews, including South Carolina, Florida State, Miami (Florida), Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Michigan, NC State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and Virginia Tech, among others.
Commitment: Texas
Numbers and notes: Matthews has tallied 104 career tackles along with 10 interceptions and six fumble recoveries. He is a 4-star prospect, according to 247Sports, and a top 15 recruit as his position.
7. Leo Delaney — Providence Day (Senior OL)
ESPN: 5
Rivals: 9
247Sports: 18
Height/weight: 6-6, 290
Offers: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Charlotte, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kentucky, Liberty, LSU, Maryland, Miami (Florida), Michigan, Missouri, NC State, Nebraska, North Carolina, NC Central, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Commitment: Clemson
Numbers and notes: A 4-star recruit, Delaney is ranked eighth among other prospects statewide and No. 6 in the nation among fellow interior offensive linemen. He’s helped Providence Day to a 34-4 record over the past three seasons, winning NCISAA state titles in 2023 and 2025.
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