Friday Recruiting Rundown: May 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The spring evaluation period ramped up this week, and there's a ton of movement on the recruiting trail. It's been nearly two months since we've written a Friday Recruiting Rundown, and this is a perfect time to jump back in. Let's get back into it. Here are some of the top recruiting storylines from across the state of North Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">May 1 Recruiting Rundown</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we're first and foremost a scouting site, we don't live in a world isolated from recruiting. In these pieces, we highlight offers, visits, and storylines on the college recruiting side of high school football. If you'd like to see our more traditional scouting and rankings pieces, our&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/">home page</a>&nbsp;is full of content.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Note: This is one of the busiest weeks on the recruiting trail that I can remember. There simply isn't room to mention every offer this week. Make sure to tag me on Twitter/X (@<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">whelms21</a>) in any visits, offers, or other newsworthy events to make sure I see them!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Movement at the Top of the Class</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll get to some recent offers below, but first, I want to acknowledge a few recent commitments. Top overall 2027 prospect in the state <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607779' first='Jaxon' last='Dollar']</strong> made his highly anticipated announcement on Thursday night, choosing Georgia over schools like Notre Dame and Miami.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That came a day after Seventy-First interior defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1408808' first='John' last='Archer']</strong> committed to South Carolina over the Bulldogs and others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of Rolesville stars started the week off with commitments, as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='946850' first='Marquis' last='Bryant']</strong> committed to Kentucky and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1222913' first='Anthony' last='Roberts']</strong> committed to Virginia Tech, both citing the new staffs as part of their excitement.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roberts is the second Hokie commit from the Tar Heel State, joining Jordan's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607844' first='Xavier' last='Perkins']</strong>, who committed earlier in April.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, Providence Day star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1608315' first='Moses' last='Poku-Kankam']</strong> pledged to Rutgers, a big get for the Scarlet Knights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Specific Colleges Prioritizing North Carolina</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rather than simply listing offers, I try to find themes from the week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FCS and Division-II schools often shift recruiting areas each year based on where staff members have connections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>D-II Concord University (W.V.) has been active in North Carolina this year, largely thanks to the addition of recruiting assistant Chris Hawk, who used to be at East Carolina. The Mountain Lions have been unafraid to send out first offers, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kings Mountain offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='772855' first='Samarion' last='Dawkins']</strong>, who we'll get to see at our <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2214/register/exposure-series-north-carolina">Prep Redzone Exposure Camp</a> on Friday, earned his first offer. So too did Hunter Huss edge rusher <strong>Kamari Falls</strong>. Shelby nickel corner <strong>Julius Brooks</strong> also earned an offer from the Mountain Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FCS Hampton University has a new coaching staff, and that staff is making North Carolina a huge priority. Not only did they register for our exposure camp, but they also sent multiple coaches throughout the state this week. Guys like Northwest Cabarrus standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1815391' first='Shane' last='Lucas-Walker']</strong> and Southeast Raleigh lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679959' first='Cody' last='Robinson']</strong> earned offers. This was Robinson's first offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/whelms21/status/2049858514768552155?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/whelms21/status/2049858514768552155?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Carolina hasn't landed anybody in-state yet, but this should be a big in-state cycle for the Pirates, who sent coaches all over the state this week. The Pirates dispensed an early offer to high-upside Marvin Ridge QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2198468' first='Levi' last='Kerr']</strong> and 2029 edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2003853' first='Kaiden' last='Okam']</strong> of Mallard Creek. They also offered West Charlotte offensive lineman <strong>Josiah Carr</strong>, keeping with the theme of young, high-upside Charlotte athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finally, Brown University Special Teams Coordinator Patrick Murphy spent a ton of time in the Tar Heel State this week, offering several impressive prospects. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He spent Wednesday in Charlotte, offering several prospects, some of whom just popped up on our radar. Charlotte Latin duo <strong>De'Jon Douglas</strong> and <strong>Zavious Dunson</strong> each earned offers. Tight ends <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1125763' first='Alex' last='Haywood']</strong> (Providence) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='718315' first='Hudson' last='Nolden']</strong>(Palisades) also received offers. Mooresville offensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678628' first='Mason' last='Holt']</strong> earned his first offer from the Bears.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then he went to the Triad. There, West Stokes offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1198259' first='Omari' last='Graham']</strong> earned an offer from the Ivy League school. So, too, did Reidsville edge rusher <strong>Kadence Pruitt</strong> and Williams H-Back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1665263' first='Braeden' last='Vetter']</strong>. Finally, West Forsyth receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671114' first='Braylen' last='Marrow']</strong> was given his second verbal offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other News and Notes</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>2028 No. 1 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651159' first='Braylon' last='Clark']</strong> stayed hot on the recruiting trail with offers from Oklahoma, Purdue, and Georgia Tech. The recent Providence Day transfer will be one of the top recruits in the country, regardless of position.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Several of Clark's new teammates earned offers. Talented interior offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2056052' first='Cooper' last='Hodson']</strong> is red-hot on the trail, with offers from the Citadel, Brown, North Carolina, Colgate, Navy, and Charlotte. Defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1292543' first='AJ' last='Barnes']</strong> and linebacker earned offers from Gardner Webb, while receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1332065' first='Ethan' last='Dempsey']</strong> earned an Elon offer. Finally, edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321326' first='Jace' last='Goodwin']</strong> earned a North Greenville offer, and 2028 defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='496368' first='Charles' last='Ibe']</strong> earned a Purdue offer.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Broughton 2028 edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606887' first='Darias' last='Johnson']</strong> stayed hot on the recruiting trail, earning offers from Temple and Alabama.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Millbrook 2029 offensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2072220' first='Amir' last='Daniels']</strong> has arrived as a major recruit, with offers from Georgia Tech, East Carolina, and Missouri, bringing his total to double digits.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lake Norman has had some big offers this week, with offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2198505' first='Sammy' last='Wooten']</strong> earning an Appalachian State offer, and 2028 defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2164529' first='Charlie' last='Jones']</strong> earning his first offer from North Carolina. Versatile defender <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318478' first='Mason' last='Hefner']</strong> earned offers from Maine, North Carolina Central, and Temple.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>UNC Pembroke offered talented East Forsyth WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2111283' first='Christian' last='Cepeda']</strong>. His teammate, promising defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1393949' first='Zion' last='Dobson']</strong> earned offers this week from North Carolina and Notre Dame.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Ambassador Christian corner <strong>CJ Deloatch</strong> earned offers from Austin Peay and Charlotte this week.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>This state is big, and it's easy to miss something, especially at this time of year. Want to keep us updated on your recruitment? Tag and/or DM me on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>) to make sure I know what's going on.</em><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->