7 North Carolina players make 247Sports’ top 100 in the class of 2026

North Carolina’s 2026 class of high school football players is shaping up to be a special one.

247Sports released its first top 100 for the nation’s sophomores and seven players from the Tar Heel State made the cut. Most notably, Reidsville’s 6 foot-7 tight end Kendre Harrison is ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the county and on his way to a 5-star designation.

The biggest standout is the amount of offensive linemen from N.C. that made the list. South Garner offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko is ranked No. 22, Providence Day interior offensive lineman Leo Delaney is ranked No. 29, and West Forsyth offensive tackle Pierre Dean is ranked No. 46.

Hough cornerback Samari Matthews is listed at No. 65 in the country. Grimsley quarterback Faizon Brandon is the state’s second-highest offensive player at No. 75 nationally. Weddington linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. is the seventh player from North Carolina in the top 100 at No. 83.

Only Texas (14), Florida (11), Georgia (11), California (8), and Louisiana (8) have more players in the top 100.

There are a number of other sophomores with multiple Power 5 offers that make the cut, such as Myers Park wide receiver Brody Keefe and Weddington’s Harris twins on the defensive line.

North Carolina players in 247Sports’ 2026 Top 100

5. Kendre Harrison, Reidsville HS (Reidsville)

• 6-foot-7, 235 pounds
• Tight End
• HSOT All-State

22. Ekene Ogboko, South Garner HS (Garner)

• 6-foot-6, 300 pounds
• Offensive Tackle

29. Leo Delaney, Providence Day HS (Charlotte)

• 6-foot-6, 270 pounds
• Interior Offensive Line

46. Pierre Dean, West Forsyth HS (Clemmons)

• 6-foot-5, 305 pounds
• Offensive Tackle

65. Samari Matthews, Hough HS (Cornelius)

• 6-foot, 175 pounds
• Cornerback

75. Faizon Brandon, Grimsley HS (Greensboro)

• 6-foot-4, 175 pounds
• Quarterback

83. Thomas Davis Jr., Weddington HS (Matthews)

• 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
• Linebacker