Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from North Carolina
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May 30, 2025
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Highest-rated Class of 2026 football recruits from North Carolina
The recruiting race for the Class of 2026 is already heating up — not just on the field, but in the increasingly complex ecosystem of modern college football, where NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals are reshaping how programs and players navigate early recruitment. For elite underclassmen, talent alone is no longer the only factor drawing attention; marketability, social media presence, and brand potential are now playing pivotal roles in how offers are extended and decisions are made. The top recruits in the 2026 cycle are not only physically advanced and highly skilled — they're entering high school with endorsement potential and media savviness.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest rated Class of 2026 football recruits from North Carolina using data from 247Sports. Here's the players from North Carolina set to dominate Saturdays (and potentially Sundays) for years to come.
- National rank: #378 (4 stars) - Position rank: #44 - College: not committed - Offers: California, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Minnesota - High school: Myers Park (Charlotte, NC)
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#19. Elijah Littlejohn (Edge)
- National rank: #372 (4 stars) - Position rank: #35 - College: not committed - Offers: NC State, Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Georgia - High school: West Mecklenburg (Charlotte, NC)
3 / 20
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#18. Camdin Portis (CB)
- National rank: #360 (4 stars) - Position rank: #28 - College: Miami - Offers: Miami, Akron, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College - High school: Myers Park (Charlotte, NC)
4 / 20
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#17. Andrew Harris (DL)
- National rank: #328 (4 stars) - Position rank: #41 - College: not committed - Offers: South Carolina, NC State, Auburn, Appalachian State, Florida - High school: Weddington (Matthews, NC)
5 / 20
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#16. J.B. Shabazz (OT)
- National rank: #322 (4 stars) - Position rank: #31 - College: not committed - Offers: Ohio State, Auburn, North Carolina, South Carolina, Appalachian State - High school: East Forsyth (KERNERSVILLE, NC)
- National rank: #282 (4 stars) - Position rank: #36 - College: not committed - Offers: NC State, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Virginia - High school: C.E. Jordan (Durham, NC)
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#14. Trashawn Ruffin (DL)
- National rank: #281 (4 stars) - Position rank: #35 - College: North Carolina - Offers: North Carolina, Alabama, Charlotte, Florida, Florida State - High school: North Duplin (Mt. Olive, NC)
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#13. Zavion Griffin-Haynes (Edge)
- National rank: #255 (4 stars) - Position rank: #24 - College: not committed - Offers: Florida State, Nebraska, Alabama, Arkansas - High school: Rolesville (Rolesville, NC)
9 / 20
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#12. Gordon Sellars (WR)
- National rank: #199 (4 stars) - Position rank: #31 - College: Clemson - Offers: Clemson, Appalachian State, Arkansas, Charlotte, Duke - High school: Providence Day School (Charlotte, NC)
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#11. Thomas Davis Jr. (LB)
- National rank: #189 (4 stars) - Position rank: #10 - College: Notre Dame - Offers: Notre Dame, Auburn, Boston College, Campbell, Charlotte - High school: Weddington (Matthews, NC)
- National rank: #152 (4 stars) - Position rank: #20 - College: not committed - Offers: NC State, Penn State, Miami, Georgia - High school: Clayton (Clayton, NC)
12 / 20
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#9. Ebenezer Ewetade (Edge)
- National rank: #135 (4 stars) - Position rank: #17 - College: Notre Dame - Offers: Notre Dame, Alabama, Appalachian State, Auburn, Campbell - High school: South Garner (Garner, NC)
13 / 20
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#8. Leo Delaney (IOL)
- National rank: #132 (4 stars) - Position rank: #6 - College: not committed - Offers: Michigan, Penn State, Clemson, Alabama, Arkansas - High school: Providence Day School (Charlotte, NC)
14 / 20
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#7. Ekene Ogboko (IOL)
- National rank: #69 (4 stars) - Position rank: #4 - College: not committed - Offers: Notre Dame, Georgia, Clemson, Florida, Alabama - High school: South Garner (Durham, NC)
15 / 20
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#6. Pierre Dean (DL)
- National rank: #68 (4 stars) - Position rank: #7 - College: not committed - Offers: Ohio State, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn - High school: West Forsyth (Clemmons, NC)
- National rank: #55 (4 stars) - Position rank: #6 - College: not committed - Offers: South Carolina, Texas, Florida State, Miami, Alabama - High school: Hough (Cornelius, NC)
17 / 20
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#4. Aiden Harris (DL)
- National rank: #52 (4 stars) - Position rank: #5 - College: not committed - Offers: NC State, South Carolina, Ohio State, Auburn, Boston College - High school: Weddington (Matthews, NC)
18 / 20
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#3. Rodney Dunham (Edge)
- National rank: #32 (4 stars) - Position rank: #5 - College: Notre Dame - Offers: Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina - High school: Myers Park (Charlotte, NC)
19 / 20
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#2. Kendre Harrison (TE)
- National rank: #20 (5 stars) - Position rank: #2 - College: Oregon - Offers: Oregon, Akron, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn - High school: Reidsville (Reidsville, NC)
20 / 20
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#1. Faizon Brandon (QB)
- National rank: #5 (5 stars) - Position rank: #2 - College: Tennessee - Offers: Tennessee, Alabama, Boston College, Charlotte, Duke - High school: Grimsley (Greensboro, NC)
