For Lake Norman, it all starts with Kaden Craft Kaden Craft 6'4" | 210 lbs | QB Lake Norman | 2028 State NC , the #1 quarterback in the Class of 2028 and one of the premier young signal callers in the country. There simply aren’t many holes in his game. Craft leads both vocally and by example, earning the respect of teammates and coaches alike while embracing coaching and development. On the field, he checks every box — elite deep ball touch, high football IQ, and game-changing speed that makes him dangerous inside and outside the pocket. The Under Armour Camp Charlotte QB MVP continues to see his stock rise, with Oregon becoming his latest offer. One of the top recruits in the area, Craft will be must-see TV all season long.

Checking in on our 2028 #1 quarterback here, who is also #1 in our rankings for quarterbacks in the metro area, he’s been a hot commodity on the recruiting trail here lately. Kaden’s latest offers have come from Ole Miss, Miami, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, and South Carolina, all since January. So basically half of the SEC! Kaden’s dual-threat ability at his size has been something special since his freshman year, when he burst on the scene for the Wildcats. With some talented receivers on the Lake Norman roster next season, I’m excited to see how the passing game continues to progress by the lake.

Craft is a big-framed quarterback with clear upward trajectory early in his high school career. At 6’4”, 200 pounds, he already has prototypical size for the position and shows comfort operating from the pocket. As a sophomore, he accounted for just under 1,200 total yards and 17 total touchdowns, flashing efficiency and playmaking ability when called upon. With the opportunity to step in as the full-time starter, Craft’s confidence, command, and production are all expected to take a jump. His size, arm talent, and room to continue developing make his future bright and position him as a quarterback to watch moving forward.

The dual-threat quarterback is our #1 quarterback in 2028, and ever since his midseason breakout last year, college coaches have been at Kaden’s door. Kaden has a special knack for making big plays at critical times, and a well-coached Porter Ridge defense will be a good early-season test to see how much Kaden has progressed since last season.

An immediate impact starter as a freshman, Craft doesn’t look like a youngster, in size or ability. Take one look at his freshman highlights and you’ll know his unbelievable ability. His ability to layer the ball, even under pressure and off-platform, is incredible and allows him to push the ball down the field regardless of the coverage or blitz package. He’s one we’re tracking as a potential top player in the class.

Taking over the starting quarterback position mid-season, Kaden showed talents beyond his years as a freshman, leading the Wildcats to the state playoffs. Kaden’s physical frame and dual-threat ability have already garnered the attention of several Division 1 college programs and some of those have offered Kaden, including North Carolina and Bill Belichick. It will be exciting to see how Kaden continues to progress in his second season with a good supporting cast behind him.

When your first-ever college football offer comes from new North Carolina Head Coach Bill Belichick, well it says you are doing something right. And Kaden definitely did a lot right in his first year in high school. Kaden came on in the middle of the season, helping his team come back and win a game in impressive fashion in the fourth quarter, coming off the bench. The rest you could say, is history. Kaden threw for nearly 1200 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for nearly 300 and another 4 touchdowns. Kaden has also been offered by Virginia Tech and Duke, and his future is a bright one. He will be someone we write about a lot over the next few years.