14 class of 2026 NC players make On3's Top 300, including 5 in the top 26 spots
The recruiting service On3 released its first On300 list of the top prospects in the country for the class of 2026. Of the initial top 300 players, 14 are from North Carolina.
No other state has more prospects in the top 26 than the Tar Heel State. North Carolina has five players between No. 11 and No. 26 in the national rankings. On3 has only given the top three players a 5-star designation so far, but in 2024, the services's top 32 players ended up with a fifth star.
In total, 14 players from North Carolina made the On300. Only Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Ohio have more. On3 has given a fourth star to the top 150 players, of which North Carolina has 10.
There are two players from Weddington High School and Myers Park High School apiece.
11. Kendre Harrison | Reidsville High School
- Tight End
- 6-7
- 240
- HSOT All-State
Harrison has already been given a fifth star by other recruiting services in both football and basketball. After having led Reidsville to a state championship in football and basketball this school year, he is arguably the best athlete in North Carolina right now regardless of age. In fall 2023, Harrison had 62 receptions for 930 yards (15.0/rec, 62.0/game) and16 touchdowns on offense. On defense, he had 70 tackles (5.0/game),17 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, 30 quarterback hits, seven pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles.
12. Faizon Brandon | Grimsley High School (Greensboro)
- Quarterback
- 6-3.5
- 185
- HSOT All-State
Ranked as the No. 1 overall quarterback by On3, Brandon was awesome in his first year as a starter for Grimsley. He completed 69% of his passes for over 3,000 yards, 36 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also rushed for over 500 yards and nine touchdowns. Brandon could be the best quarterback in North Carolina regardless of age.
22. Aiden Harris | Weddington High School (Matthews)
- Defensive Lineman
- 6-3
- 240
- HSOT All-State
One half of the duo of Harris twins, this is the first time either have been given a significant national ranking. In the fall, Aiden had 97 tackles (6.5/game), 23 tackles for a loss, six sacks, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a blocked punt in the 4A state championship game.
24. Ekene Ogboko | South Garner High School
- Offensive Tackle
- 6-6
- 285
- HSOT All-State
Ogboko's older brother Nnamdi is now a defensive tackle at the University of Georgia, so some of the nation's top programs have know about him for a while. Ogboko has prototypical size for the offensive tackle position as he boasts an 85.5 inch wingspan.
26. P.J. Dean | West Forsyth High School (Clemmons)
- Interior Offensive Lineman
- 6-3.5
- 304
- HSOT All-State
Dean is also the younger brother of a current Georgia player: Jared Wilson. Dean has a body type that lends more to a guard position than tackle, much like his brother. He is not as tall as someone like Ogboko, but the power in the lower half of his body is special.
53. Rodney Dunham | Myers Park High School (Charlotte)
- EDGE
- 6-4
- 215
Dunham is a blossoming prospect that had 55 total tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, 20 quarterback pressures, and three interceptions in nine varsity games for Myers Park in 2023. He's also quite good as a baseball player.
78. Zavion Griffin-Haynes | Rolesville High School
- EDGE
- 6-6
- 220
Griffin-Haynes is an athletic and long edge rusher prospect that has colleges buzzing. He was credited with 4.5 sacks and led the Rams in tackles for a loss with 27 in 2023. His numbers should see a big jump this fall.
98. Leo Delaney | Providence Day School (Charlotte)
- Offensive Tackle
- 6-5
- 275
- HSOT All-State
Along with class of 2025 5-star David Sanders, Delaney is a part of the state's best duo of linemen. Delaney made it at No. 98 on On3, but has been ranked in the top 50 on other sites.
119. Samari Matthews | Hough High School (Cornelius)
- Cornerback
- 6-0
- 172
- HSOT All-State
Matthews is a long, sticky cornerback at Hough who has the gained offers from upwards of 30 programs, including SEC heavyweights like Alabama and Tennessee. Other services like Rivals have previously ranked Matthews higher.
136. Thomas Davis Jr. | Weddington High School (Matthews)
- Linebacker
- 6-2
- 195
- HSOT All-State
The son of a Panthers great had a strong fall 2023 but really turned it on during Weddington's run to a 4A state championship. He had 92 tackles (5.8/game), 13.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
187. Elijah Littlejohn | West Charlotte High School
- EDGE
- 6-3
- 215
- HSOT All-State
Littlejohn was a stud for West Charlotte during his sophomore season, making 86 tackles (7.2/game) 33 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, one pass breakup, and three forced fumbles. Littlejohn's very first offer came from Michigan, if that tells you anything.
216. Javaughn Hargett | Southern Durham High School
- Offensive Tackle
- 6-5
- 260
Hargett is a name that first popped up on radars when Tennessee offered him last month. He has a nice frame in terms of height but is just scratching the surface in terms of the amount of muscle he can add.
263. Trashawn Ruffin | North Duplin High School (Calypso)
- Defensive Lineman
- 6-3
- 303
The big defensive tackle played immediately as a freshman at North Duplin. Ruffin has been credited with 83 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble before his junior year.
266. Brody Keefe | Myers Park High School (Charlotte)
- Wide Receiver
- 6-2
- 185
Keefe is a strong route runner and dominant in contested catch situations. He drew the attention of college programs after his freshman year and could be one of the state's top receivers statistically this fall.
