12 football players from NC to participate in this week's NFL Scouting Combine
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is here. And as always, a good number of former North Carolina high school football players were invited to showcase their talents and physical capabilities.
The entire NFL apparatus has already descended upon Indianapolis, IN. as many of the media aspects of the event start this afternoon.
Prospects go through a schedule that consists of an orientation, team interview, medical exams, media press conferences, body measurements, on-field workouts, and a bench press session.
Here is the full schedule of the event. You can watch practically all of the following on the NFL Network and most of the on-field workouts on ESPN.
Tuesday, February 27
- Media availability (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM): NFL Coaches/GMs
Wednesday, February 28
- Media availability (8:00 AM to 11:00 AM): Defensive Linemen/Linebackers
- Media availability (12:00 PM to 4:00 PM): Coaches/GMs
Thursday, February 29
- Media availability (9:00 AM to 12:00 PM): Defensive Backs/Tight Ends
- On-field workouts (3:00 PM): Defensive Linemen/Linebackers
Friday, March 1
- Media availability (8:00 AM to 11:00 AM): Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers
- On-field workouts (3:00 PM): Defensive Backs/Tight Ends
- Bench press: Defensive Linemen/Linebackers
Saturday, March 2
- Media availability (8:30 AM to 11:00 AM): Offensive Linemen/Specialists
- On-field workouts (1:00 PM): Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers
- Bench press: Defensive Backs/Tight Ends
Sunday, March 3
- On-field workouts (1:00 PM): Offensive Linemen/Specialists
- Bench press: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, and Wide Receivers
Monday, March 4
- Bench press: Offensive Linemen/Specialists
Combine Participants from North Carolina
Here are the former high school football players from North Carolina at the event, in order of where they rank in NFL Mock Draft Database's Consensus Big Board.
We will list the official combine heights and weights in our following pre-draft coverage.
Drake Maye is considered the No. 2 overall player in this year's class. The former University of North Carolina quarterback is widely viewed as having franchise leader upside. Maye had a big second season as the program’s starter. The Myers Park High School alum completed 269 of 426 passing attempts (63.1%) for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also rushed for 449 yards and nine touchdowns on 112 attempts. He was Second Team All-ACC. At Myers Park, Maye threw for 6,713 yards and 86 touchdowns in just two seasons as the Mustangs' starter. He also scored 693 points in two years on the varsity basketball team.
NC State's giant linebacker Payton Wilson was an instant legend to Wolfpack fans. He originally committed to UNC before flipping to NCSU. He became the program's best defensive player despite facing injury problems early. Wilson is ranked as the No. 54 overall prospect in the draft class. The Orange High School alum wrapped up his prolific career by finishing as a First Team All-ACC selection. Wilson recorded 138 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three interceptions, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He was PPF’s No. 5 linebacker in the country, finishing with a grade of 88.9.
Results: Payton Wilson measured in at 6-foot-4, 233 pounds, with 30.5 inch arms, and 9 inch hands. He led all linebackers in the 40-yard dash with a 4.43 official time and a 1.54 10-yard split. He had a 34.5 inch vertical jump and a 9-foot-11 broad jump.
In his short time playing for UNC, wide receiver Devontez Walker showed a lot to NFL teams. Walker managed to track in 35 receptions for 656 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games after the NCAA granted him eligibility. The West Charlotte High School graduate is ranked at the No. 56 overall prospect and is considered one of the best vertical threats in this year's class. Prior to UNC, Walker had 63 receptions for 1,045 yards and 12 touchdowns in two years at Kent State.
North Carolina is home to another one of this draft's top linebacker prospects. At No. 88 overall, former Ardrey Kell High School standout Cedric Gray looks like he will be a day two pick. Gray had an awesome career for UNC. In 2023, he was named First Team All-ACC after racking up 121 total tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, five sacks, one interception, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Gray recently stood out at the Reese's Senior Bowl. A good week at the combine could result in Gray rising even further up draft boards.
Results: Cedric Gray measured in at 6-foot-1.5, 234 pounds, with 32.5 inch arms, and 9 inch hands. He ran a 4.64 official 40-yard dash with a 1.59 10-yard split. He had a 35.5 inch vertical jump and a 10-foot broad jump.
A former dual-sport standout and state champion could be one of the first running backs taken this year. Will Shipley, from Weddington High School, declared for the draft after he racked up 3,350 yards from scrimmage and 33 total touchdowns over three seasons at Clemon University. Shipley is slotted at No. 112 overall on the NFL Mock Draft Database Big Board. His body type reminds me of former Dolphins and Texas rusher Lamar Miller. Miller measured in at 5-foot-11, 212 pounds, and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash in the 2012 combine. Shipley is reportedly 5'11, 210 pounds and should run decently fast.
A Southern Durham High School alum could be another one of the first running backs drafted in 2024. Jaylen Wright, a super-speedster from the University of Tennessee is ranked at #129 on the consensus big board. He was Pro Football Focus’ top-graded rusher among all SEC schools (91.0 grade) and set a school record for shortest time to 1,000 rushing yards in a season. He exceeded 22 miles per hour on breakaway rushes.
At No. 151 overall is West Mecklenburg High School alum Delmar Glaze, an offensive tackle. Glaze was not a heralded prospect out of West Mecklenburg. Glaze was ranked as the No. 63 prospect in North Carolina's 2020 class by 247Sports. He got in to Maryland University and steadily became one of the Big-12's best tackles. Bleacher Report is one of the highest outlets on Glaze, ranking him as the No. 103 prospect.
Weddington High School alum Malik Mustapha might turn some heads this weak as a very athletic safety prospect. Mustapha was named Second Team All-ACC as a safety in 2023. He was a team captain for Wake Forest University. The safety finished the season with 67 total tackles, five tackles for a loss, a half sack, one interception, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble. He is ranked as the No. 171 overall prospect. In two years on Weddington's varsity team, Mustapha recorded 132 total tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, one sack, and eight interceptions.
Both Shipley and Mustapha made plays in Weddington's 2019 3AA championship victory:
The 2024 NFL Draft's consensus top kicker is Western Alamance High School graduate Josh Karty. It is rare for kickers to get drafted, but Karty is well positioned to hear his name called as the No. 187 overall prospect. At Stanford University, Karty was a two-time First Team All PAC-12 selection. Last season, Karty made 23-of-27 field goal attempts with a long of 56 yards. At Western Alamance, Karty made 32 field goals and 137 PATs in his career.
A Dudley High School alum has NFL teams intrigued. Former UNC defensive tackle Myles Murphy received an invite to the combine despite not putting up crazy numbers with the Tar Heels. He appears to have the physical tools within his 6-foot-4, 312-pound frame that NFL coaches want to work with. In the fall, the former 4-star started all 13 games for the Tar Heels last fall and was named Honorable Mention All-ACC after compiling 24 total tackles, one sack, 4.5 tackles for a loss, and a fumble recovery. Murphy is ranked as the No. 222 overall prospect in NFL Mock Draft Database's Consensus Big Board.
Sam Hartman did not graduate from a North Carolina high school, but he is from this state. Hartman started at quarterback on Davidson Day's varsity team in 2015 and 2016. In those two years, he throw for 6,388 yards and 69 touchdowns. He finished his high school years at Oceanside Collegiate Academy in South Carolina and enrolled at Wake Forest University. Hartman started at Wake Forest for five seasons and transferred to the University of Notre Dame last year. He threw for 15,656 yards over his six years in college. He is ranked as the No. 223 overall prospect.
Considering that only 321 players received an invite to this year's NFL Combine, Corinth Holders High School graduate Jacob Monk's ranking as the No. 365 overall prospect on the consensus big board is probably underselling him. At Duke University, the interior offensive lineman was a two-year captain and was named First Team All-ACC as a guard in 2023.
