North Carolina
4-Star North Carolina Safety JaDon Blair commits to Notre Dame
On Friday, 4-Star safety JaDon Blair gave his public commitment to Notre Dame Football ind its 2025 recruiting class.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety JaDon Blair has Committed to Notre Dame, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’4 198 S from Winston Salem, NC chose the Fighting Irish over Michigan, Penn State, & South Carolina
“Got a point to prove, always had a chip on my shoulder!”… pic.twitter.com/ZFj4o5kIpt
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 5, 2024
The 6’4” 200 pounder from Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem North Carolina, chose the Irish over a long list of suitors that included the Michigan Wolverines, Penn State Nittany Lions, Florida State Seminoles, LSU Tigers, and more.
Even though Marcus Freeman was vacationing in Alaska with his family — he was absolutely dialed in to the announcement ceremony and Blair’s hat game.
Scouting report from 247:
Enormous safety prospect that can deliver crunching blows or wrap-and-lift as a tackler. Owns one of the more unique frames in the 2025 cycle having measured just over 6-foot-4, 195 pounds summer before senior season. Has operated primarily out of a two-deep posting at the prep level, but future might be as a box safety or nickel linebacker given the growth potential. Eyes and instincts allow him to charge forward and prevent YAC. Sinks into zone coverage with ease and does a commendable job of feeling out routes, but doesn’t have a ton of experience in man coverage. However, has the size and athleticism to match large tight ends and shrink windows. Must improve at getting off blocks and anticipating cuts on the perimeter, but projects as a potential impact defender at the Power Four level with his rare traits. Could be deployed in a variety of different ways and fit into a multitude of different schemes while earning his fair share of special teams work. Build likely to draw the attention of NFL scouts one day.
Scouting report from Irish Sports Daily:
Any safety with a frame like his is going to get compared to Kyle Hamilton, but I think that’s an unfair comparison for anyone. Hamilton was simply at a different level when it came to instincts, fluidity as an athlete, and ability to do just about everything at a high level.
I don’t think Blair can play as a single high safety or man up on slot receivers the same way Hamilton could. He is closer to Hamilton in the other areas of his game, though.
The player Blair reminds me of is former Florida State safety Hamsah Nasrildeen. He was a big body with a similar frame and was highly productive for the Seminoles (192 tackles as a sophomore and junior). He had double digit havoc plays in 2019 and was drafted by the New York Jets despite missing almost all of the 2020 season with an injury.
JaDon Blair is the 22nd commitment for Notre Dame’s 2025 recruiting class. The class is now represented by 14 states and is currently ranked #3 in the country according to the 247 Composite Team Rankings.
2025 Notre Dame Football Commits (22)
| POSITION | PLAYER | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | On3 | On3 Consensus | COMMIT DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POSITION | PLAYER | STATE | HT | WT | RIVALS | ESPN | 247 SPORTS | 247 COMPOSITE | On3 | On3 Consensus | COMMIT DATE |
| DL | Davion Dixon | FL | 6’2″ | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 04/21/23 |
| RB | Justin Thurman | FL | 6’0″ | 180 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 08/01/23 |
| QB | Deuce Knight | MS | 6’5″ | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/18/23 |
| RB | Daniel Anderson | AR | 5’11” | 195 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/23/23 |
| DL | Joseph Reiff | IL | 6’5″ | 230 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 09/24/23 |
| TE | James Flanigan | WI | 6’5″ | 220 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10/21/23 |
| LB | Dominik Hulak | IL | 6’3″ | 225 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/10/23 |
| CB | Cree Thomas | AZ | 6’1″ | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 11/21/23 |
| S | Ivan Taylor | FL | 6’0″ | 175 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/01/23 |
| OL | Will Black | CT | 6’7″ | 295 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 12/10/23 |
| EDGE | Christopher Burgess | IL | 6’4″ | 240 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 01/06/24 |
| S | Ethan Long | CT | 6’2″ | 185 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 01/08/24 |
| LB | Ko’o Kia | HI | 6’2″ | 210 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 01/15/24 |
| OL | Owen Strebig | WI | 6’8″ | 295 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/08/24 |
| WR | Elijah Burress | NJ | 6’1″ | 170 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/10/24 |
| OL | Matty Augustine | CT | 6’7″ | 290 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 02/20/24 |
| WR | Jerome Bettis Jr. | GA | 6’3″ | 185 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 03/17/24 |
| LB | Anthony Sacca | PA | 6’4″ | 230 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 03/30/24 |
| CB | Dallas Golden | FL | 6’0″ | 175 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 04/28/24 |
| DL | Gordy Sulfsted | OH | 6’5″ | 235 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 05/19/24 |
| CB | Mark Zachery | IN | 6’0″ | 160 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 05/25/24 |
| S | JaDon Blair | NC | 6’4″ | 200 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 07/05/24 |
The Irish now have three safety commitments — just as they have done during the last two recruiting cycles.
2025 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
| Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th/6th Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th/6th Year |
| Quarterback | Deuce Knight | C.J. Carr | Kenny Minchey | Steve Angeli | – |
| Running Back | Daniel Anderson, Justin Thurman | Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young | Jerimiyah Love | Jadarian Price, Gi’Bran Payne | – |
| Tight End | James Flanigan | Jack Larsen | Cooper Flanagan | Eli Raridon | Mitchell Evans, Kevin Bauman, Davis Sherwood |
| Wide Receiver | Elijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr. | Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate | Jaden Greathouse, Kaleb Smith, Jordan Faison | – | Deion Colzie |
| Center | – | – | – | Ashton Craig | – |
| Guard | – | – | Sam Pendleton, Joe Otting, Chris Terek | Billy Schrauth | Rocco Spindler, Pat Coogan |
| Tackle | Will Black, Owen Strebig, Matty Augustine | Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert | Sullivan Absher, Charles Jagusah | Ty Chan, Aamil Wagner | – |
| Defensive Tackle | Joseph Reiff, Davion Dixon | Sean Sevillano | Brenan Vernon, Devan Houstan | Tyson Ford, Donovan Hinish | Gabe Rubio, Jason Onye |
| Defensive End | Christopher Burgess, Gordy Sulfsted | Cole Mullins, Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas | Boubacar Traore, Armel Mukam | Joshua Burnham, Aiden Gobaira, Junior Tuihalamaka | Kahanu Kia |
| Linebacker | Dominik Hulak, Ko’o Kia, Anthony Sacca | Teddy Rezac, Bodie Kahoun, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa | Drayk Bowen, Preston Zinter, Jaiden Ausberry | Jaylen Sneed | – |
| Safety | Ivan Taylor, Ethan Long, JaDon Blair | Kennedy Urlacher, Taebron Bennie-Powell, Brauntae Johnson | Adon Shuler, Ben Minich, Luke Talich | – | – |
| Cornerback | Cree Thomas, Dallas Golden, Mark Zachery | Karson Hobbs, Leonard Moore | Christian Gray | Jayden Mickey, Benjamin Morrison | Chance Tucker |
| Specialists | – | – | – | Bryce McFerson (P) | – |
| Totals | 22/85 (22) | 35/85 (23) | 57/85 (22) | 74/85 (17) | 84/85 (10) |
This is a huge commitment for Notre Dame for its future — and its present. The Irish are loading up in the secondary which is only getting more and more important, and it’s also continuing a trend of beating other big Midwestern schools head-to-head for blue-chip talent out of the region.
WELCOME TO ND JaDON!
North Carolina
2026 primary turnout report released for eastern NC counties; see your county’s numbers
Here are the voter turnout numbers for the 2026 primary election, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Hyde County had the highest voter turnout, while Onslow County had the lowest turnout. Check out what the voter turnout in your county was below:
BERTIE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
31.85% (3,911 out of 12,280)
CARTERET COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
29.06% (16,543 out of 56,931)
CRAVEN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
18.63% (14,119 out of 75,778)
DUPLIN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
21.93% (6,981 out of 31,832)
EDGECOMBE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
18.16% (6,428 out of 35,396)
GREENE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
19.70% (2,147 out of 10,900)
HYDE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
37.27% (1,123 out of 3,013)
JONES COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
25.91% (1,805 out of 6,966)
LENOIR COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
16.73% (6,251 out of 37,371)
MARTIN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
17.61% (2,858 out of 16,228)
ONSLOW COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
11.44% (14,816 out of 129,537)
PAMLICO COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
24.03% (2,446 out of 10,180)
PITT COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
15.71% (19,429 out of 123,705)
TYRRELL COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
30.49% (723 out of 2,371)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
28.66% (2,312 out of 8,067)
WAYNE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
21.49% (16,408 out of 76,358)
North Carolina
Statewide tornado drill has NC schools and workplaces practicing safety
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 6:41PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina schools and businesses took part in a statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
The National Weather Service led the drill at 9:30 a.m., broadcasting it on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System. Schools, workplaces and households across the state were encouraged to join in.
The National Weather Service didn’t issue a follow up alert to mark the end of the drill. Instead, each school or business wrapped up once they felt they had practiced the procedures thoroughly.
Wednesday’s drill also replaced the regular weekly NOAA Weather Radio test.
SEE | New warning for parents amid new ‘fire-breathing’ social media trend
Make sure to download the ABC 11 Mobile App ABC11 North Carolina Apps for Connected TV, Mobile News, Echo
Copyright © 2026 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
North Carolina
North Carolina Rep. Valerie Foushee holds narrow lead over challenger Nida Allam
Nida Allam in 2022; Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) in 2025.
Jonathan Drake/Reuters; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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Jonathan Drake/Reuters; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee holds a narrow lead over challenger Nida Allam in the Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional district as ballots continue to be counted.
In a race seen as an early test of whether Democratic voters desire generational change within the party, Foushee holds a lead of just over 1,000 votes with 99% of results in so far, according to the Associated Press.
Under state law, provisional votes will be counted in the coming days in a district that includes Durham and Chapel Hill. If the election results end up within a 1% margin, Allam could request a recount.
Successfully ousting an incumbent lawmaker is often extremely difficult and rare. However, there have been recent upsets in races as some voters are calling for new leaders and several sitting members of Congress face primary challengers this cycle.
Allam, a 32-year-old Durham County Commissioner, is running to the left of Foushee, 69, framing her candidacy as part of a broader rejection of longtime Democratic norms.
On the campaign trail, Allam ran on an anti-establishment message, pledging to be a stronger fighter than Foushee in Congress, both in standing up against President Trump’s agenda and when pushing for more ambitious policy.
“North Carolina is a purple state that often gets labeled red, but we’re not a red state,” she told NPR in an interview last month, emphasizing the need to address affordability concerns. “We are a state of working-class folks who just want their elected officials to champion the issues that are impacting them.”
She drew a contrast with the congresswoman on immigration, voicing support for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Foushee has declined to go that far, advocating instead for ICE to be defunded and for broader reforms to the federal immigration system.
Allam also clashed with Foushee over U.S. policy towards Israel. As a vocal opponent of Israel’s war in Gaza, Allam swore off campaign donations from pro-Israel lobbying groups, such as AIPAC, and repeatedly criticized Foushee for previously accepting such funds.
Though Foushee announced last year that she would not accept AIPAC donations this cycle, she and Allam continued to spar over the broader role of outside spending in the race.
Their matchup comes four years after the candidates first squared off in 2022, when Allam lost to Foushee in what became the most expensive primary in the state’s history, with outside groups spending more than $3.8 million.
However, this year is poised to break that record. Outside groups have reported spending more than $4.4 million on the primary matchup, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
WUNC’s Colin Campbell contributed to this report.
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