Welcome to the USA Today Network’s recruiting ladder, a statewide feature by reporter Joe Hughes highlighting top prospects and outstanding performances throughout the 2026 North Carolina high school football season.
Anyone is eligible for consideration, whether it be an unranked player who had a career game, a recruit with mid-level offers, or four- and five-star talents adding to their personal highlight reel.
Do you have a player to recommend? Feel free to submit their name, position and graduation class, as well as other relevant information (statistics, scholarship offers) to jhughes@gastongazette.com or X (@JoeLHughesII)
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Jayden Adams
Cherryville | Jr., QB
Adams and the Cherryville offense were clicking on all cylinders against East Gaston, finishing with 658 total yards in a 52-18 win.
The Ironmen quarterback had a particularly memorable night, completing 16-of-25 passes for 438 yards and five touchdowns. Three of his TD passes went to senior wideout Enijahe Whitworth, who had seven receptions for 195 yards in a winning effort.. Elijah Proctor, Jackson Heavner and Narian Hopper also had TD receptions.
Adams has thrown for 1,452 yards and 21 TDs this season, helping Cherryville move closer to its first winning season since 2018.
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Trevorus Cooper
Hunt | So., LB
Cooper tallied a team-high 23 tackles (one for a loss) in Week 8, helping Hunt hold off Southern Nash, 43-35.
It was the sophomore linebacker’s fourth game with double-digit tackles. Through seven games this fall, he has 87 tackles (10 for a loss), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Such comes following a 2025 campaign in which he was credited with 136 tackles (16 for a loss), in addition to two sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception, helping Hunt to the NCHSAA 5A East title.
Hunt is again on the short list of teams capable of winning a 5A state title. The Warriors are 7-0 (3-0 Big East 5A/6A) ahead of a Week 9 clash with Northern Nash.
Antonio Draughn Jr.
Tarboro | Sr., RB
Draughn went off in an Oct. 9 matchup with Farmville Central, rushing for 288 yards and three touchdowns in a 75-27 victory.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back had TD runs of 60, 70 and 50 yards. It was the fifth time in six games that Draughn had 100+ rushing yards. Only Southwest Edgecombe held him below the century mark, a 76-yard, two-TD output in a 34-9 Tarboro victory.
Following a 2025 campaign in which he rushed for 506 yards and six TDs, Draughn has more than doubled that output through seven games this fall. He has 1,239 rushing yards and 14 TDs, He is presently averaging 10.4 yards per carry for a Tarboro team which is 6-1 (2-0 Eastern Plains 2A/3A) and in pursuit of a 10th consecutive state final and third NCHSAA title in a row.
King Kalama
Reagan | Sr., DL
Kalama took a wrecking ball to R.J. Reynolds’ offensive game plan during their Week 8 matchup.
The 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman tallied a season-high 11 tackles (seven for a loss), along with 2 ½ sacks and three passes defended in a 39-0 win.
A Duke football recruit, he has 55 total tackles (22 for a loss), seven sacks and 21 quarterback hurries. He also has two forced fumbles and three passes defended.
Kalama is nearing 200 career tackles, with 62 ½ of those takedowns behind the line of scrimmage. He also has 21 ½ career sacks, four fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Reagan is 6-1 overall (2-0 Central Piedmont 7A/8A).
Cam Simpson
Corvian Community | Sr., ATH
Simpson’s fourth game with 100+ receiving yards played a big role in a Week 8 Corvian win over Langtree Charter.
The Cardinal wideout corralled six passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns in a 65-13 victory. It was his second-most receiving yards in a game this season, trailing only the 161 yards he earned in a 33-14 win over Lake Norman Charter.
Through seven games, he has 38 receptions for 709 yards and seven TDs. He’s also played a significant role in the Corvian defense’s success, nabbing six passes this season and defending three more passes.
Corvian is 6-1 overall, 4-0 in Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A.
JaRon Ward
Hendersonville | Sr., QB
Ward completed 11-of-15 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns, in addition to 63 rushing yards and a TD in a 56-24 win over Owen. In the Bearcats’ win, Ward set a new Hendersonville High school record for touchdown passes (74).
This fall, he has completed 67% of his passes for 1,708 yards and 18 TDs, along with 327 rushing yards and two TDs.
Over the course of 36 career games, the 6-foot, 195-pound quarterback has thrown for 6,427 yards and 74 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 783 yards and 15 TDs.
Hendersonville is 7-0 (3-0 Western Highlands 2A/3A) this season.
Holton Westbrook
Northern Nash | Sr., DL
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive lineman finished with a season-high eight tackles (two for a loss), two sacks and a forced fumble in a 62-0 Northern Nash win over Southern Wayne.
An Army football recruit, he has 24 total tackles (nine for a loss), nine sacks and two forced fumbles. He has four games with two sacks or more.
Over the past three seasons, he’s tallied 80 tackles (18 for a loss) and 16 sacks. He also has three forced fumbles.
Northern Nash is 5-2 this season, including a 3-0 mark in Big East 5A/6A play going into a matchup with Hunt.
Devaunh White
West Rowan | Jr., RB
White added to an impressive 2026 campaign with his latest showing against rival East Rowan.
The 5-foot-7, 165-pound back rushed for a season-high 217 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-29 victory. White had TD runs of eight, three, 17 and 19 yards.
It was his third game with 100+ rushing yards, including performances against North Rowan (177 yards) and Carson (143 yards). Through seven games, he has 780 rushing yards and 17 TDs. This comes on the heels of a season in which he rushed for 1,150 yards and seven TDs.
West Rowan is 6-1 overall (4-0 South Piedmont 4A/5A).
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What NC high school football standouts' stock rose in Week 8?
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