As good as the basketball scene is in North Carolina, it’s hard to ignore just how good the high school football landscape in the state has gotten in recent years.
From elite quarterbacks to skill position players who seemingly always make the biggest plays on the grandest stage, North Carolina is a haven for elite high school talent.
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One look at the 2027 cycle shows that nearly half of the state’s top 10 prospects rank in the top 100 nationally.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the top 10 players from the Tar Heel State in the 2027 class.
1. Jaxon Dollar, East Lincoln (Denver)
Position: Tight End
Height: 6-5
Weight: 222
Commitment: Georgia
Football recruiting notes: Dollar was a touchdown-scoring machine in 2025, totaling 20 TDs on 54 passes to go along with 1,190 yards. It was a massive recruiting win for Georgia when he announced his commitment to the Bulldogs.
2. Joshua Dobson, Hough (Cornelius)
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6-1
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Weight: 185
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: Dobson is a newcomer to the North Carolina high school football season after transferring in from Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge. His summer schedule consists of official visits to Texas A&M (June 5), LSU (June 12) and South Carolina (June 19).
3. Xavier Hasan, Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh)
Position: Cornerback
Height: 5-11
Weight: 195
Commitment: Notre Dame
Football recruiting notes: Notre Dame’s done well recruiting cornerbacks out of North Carolina and Hasan appears to be the next one up. He didn’t record many tackles last season but did finish the year with three interceptions.
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4. AJ Randle Jr., Garner
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-3
Weight: 210
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: Garner had multiple defensive standouts last year and Randle was right up there at the top. He totaled 84 tackles, six tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and a sack.
5. Rashad Streets, Millbrook (Raleigh)
Position: EDGE
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230
Commitment: Oregon
Football recruiting notes: Oregon is getting a true game-wrecker in Streets. One of four players on Millbrook, he finished with over 100 tackles, tallying 103 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and five forced fumbles.
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6. John Archer, Seventy-First (Fayetteville)
Position: Defensive Lineman
Height: 6-4
Weight: 315
Commitment: South Carolina
Football recruiting notes: Archer will be the Falcons’ top returning defensive standout and he’s a great prospect to build the defense around. In 2025, he totaled 44 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and a sack.
7. Davion Jones, Hough (Cornelius)
Position: Safety
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: Jones will join an already loaded Hough defense after transferring in from West Charlotte after his junior year. During his junior season, he recorded 50 tackles, four pass breakups, and four interceptions.
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8. Marquis Bryant, Rolesville
Position: Safety
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190
Commitment: Kentucky
Football recruiting notes: Bryant may not have put up the massive numbers other players on this list did last season, but he showed colleges more than enough to prove he’s a future college safety. Last season, he recorded 28 tackles and six interceptions.
9. Quinton Cypher, Millbrook (Raleigh)
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
Commitment: Ohio State
Football recruiting notes: Cypher proved himself to be one of the best players on a team that made it to the state championship. He recorded a ridiculous 181 tackles, 48 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
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10. Jalaythan Mayfield, Lincolnton
Position: Linebacker
Height: 6-1
Weight: 215
Commitment: Uncommitted
Football recruiting notes: What Mayfield did last season seemed more like a video game than real life. He finished his junior year tallying 152 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, six sacks and six forced fumbles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: North Carolina high school football shines again in recruiting game
