North Carolina
These North Carolina high school football alums could be drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft
The 2023 NFL Draft is lastly upon us. As at all times, there are quite a few former North Carolina highschool soccer gamers who’ve a great likelihood of getting the decision from an NFL crew. Here’s a breakdown of the gamers with the very best likelihood to have their identify referred to as.
Listed below are all the gamers to make CBS Sports activities’ newest NFL Draft Massive Board, with their total rating included. (Word: Did we miss somebody from CBS’ massive board? Ship us an electronic mail at HighSchoolOT@wral.com!)
HighSchoolOT will replace this checklist and ship out app alerts as these gamers are drafted all through the weekend.
42. Keion White (Garner Excessive College | Garner, N.C.)
Place: EDGE
Top: 6-4
Weight: 267
Excessive College Class: 2017
Faculty: Georgia Tech
White was not a big-time recruit popping out of highschool however he developed into one in all this draft courses’ prime edge rushers. White could also be ranked No. 42 on CBS’ massive board, however he was one in all 17 prospects the NFL truly invited to attend the draft ceremony in Kansas Metropolis, idicicating that the league could be very excessive on him. White signed to play at Previous Dominion College out of highschool earlier than later transferring to Georgia Tech. HighSchoolOT was at his signing day ceremony. At that very same occasion, present Las Vegas Raiders defensive sort out Matthew Butler signed with Tennessee. White would be the third lively Garner participant within the NFL after he’s drafted (Butler, Nyheim Hines).
At Garner, White spent a while alongside the offensive line earlier than shifting over to tight finish and defensive finish full-time. He additionally got here off the bench on a few of Garner’s greatest basketball groups of the twenty first century.
55. Hendon Hooker (Dudley Excessive College | Greensboro, N.C.)
Place: QB
Top: 6-4
Weight: 218
Excessive College Class: 2017
Faculty: Tennessee
Because the quarterback at Dudley, Hendon Hooker helped the Panthers put collectively one of many extra dominant state championship victories in current reminiscence. Dudley defeated Cape Concern within the 2016 4A state championship by a blowout rating of 54-0. Hooker was named MVP of the sport due to his 310-total yard, 6-touchdown efficiency. Hooker was named to the HighSchoolOT All Decade Workforce for the 2010s.
Hooker graduated Dudley as a 4-star prospect and began his faculty profession at Virginia Tech. After a stable run at Virginia Tech, Hooker transferred to the College of Tennessee within the 2021 offseason. At Tennessee, Hooker’s sport grew and he grew to become a family identify to each faculty soccer fan. Hooker was a contender for 2022’s Heisman Trophy earlier than he tore his left ACL in a November sport in opposition to South Carolina. Hooker’s inventory seemingly has fallen a bit because of the damage, however there may be loads of buzz that he might be drafted on the primary night time of the draft to a crew with a long-term want like Minnesota.
56. Trenton Simpson (Mallard Creek Excessive College | Charlotte, N.C.)
Place: LB
Top: 6-3
Weight: 240
Excessive College Class: 2020
Faculty: Clemson
A 5-star prospect popping out of Mallard Creek, Simpson is one in all three of this yr’s mix invitations that have been named to the HighSchoolOT All-Decade Workforce for the 2010s. In 10 video games as a senior, he had 98 tackles (45 for loss) with 18 sacks and three pressured fumbles. As a junior, he had 74 tackles (28 for loss).
There was no redshirt yr for Simpson at Clemson. As a freshman, he contributed 32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, and a pressured fumble. His greatest sport was within the ACC Championship in opposition to No. 2 Notre Dame, the place he had two tackles for loss and a sack. Over his sophomore and junior seasons, he completed third on the crew in tackles. Simpson, a army son, made the ACC Honor Roll twice at Clemson.
As quickly as he’s drafted, Simpson will be a part of fellow Mallard Creek Maverick graduates D.J. Humphries and Jordan Davis within the NFL. Mallard Creek was additionally the house of present free brokers Jaylen Samuels and Thaddeus Moss
80. Nick Saldiveri (Parkwood Excessive College | Monroe, N.C.)
Place: OT
Top: 6-6
Weight: 316
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: Previous Dominion
Nick Saldiveri had zero stars as a recruit within the class of 2018. He was a first-team all-conference participant and in addition threw the shot put and discus throughout observe and discipline season.He acquired provides from two colleges: Richmond and Previous Dominion. Saldiveri picked Previous Dominion.
After one redshirt yr, Saldiveri grew to become a starter at proper sort out in 2019. After Previous Dominion didn’t play in 2020, Saldiveri was named Convention USA Honorable Point out in 2021. In 2022, Saldiveri was named Second-Workforce All-Solar Belt and did not enable a single sack all season. He additionally performed some guard for the Monarchs during the last two seasons. Saldiveri’s presence on the offensive line helped ODU set a lot of program speeding information.
Initially, Saldiveri was regarded as a Day 3 choice, however he has seemingly risen all through the draft course of.
114. Garrett Williams (Hickory Ridge Excessive College | Harrisburg, N.C.)
Place: CB
Top: 6-0
Weight: 189
Excessive College Class: 2019
Faculty: Syracuse
The second former Hickory Ridge Ragin’ Bull to be invited to this yr’s mix, Williams is taken into account to be a prime 10 cornerback prospect within the draft by many consultants. That might imply a day 2 choice come draft time. Williams was solely ranked because the Seventy fifth-best class of 2019 participant in North Carolina by the 247Sports Composite. The one in-state colleges to supply him have been App State, Campbell, UNC-Charlotte, and East Carolina.
Williams broke out onto the nationwide faculty soccer scene throughout his redshirt-freshman season in 2020. He was named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic and Honorable Point out All-ACC. His first profession interception was Trevor Lawrence’s first profession pick-6. He led the complete ACC in cross breakups and tackles-per-game by a nook. In 2021, Williams as soon as once more led the ACC in cross breakups and was named All-ACC. Sadly, Williams tore his ACL in Syracuse’s seventh sport final fall. He nonetheless made Honorable Point out All-ACC. Had the damage not occurred, he would have been solidly a Day 2 prospect.
154. Ok.J. Henry (West Forstyh Excessive College | Clemmons, N.C.)
Place: EDGE
Top: 6-4
Weight: 255
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: Clemson
Henry was a 5-star prospect popping out of West Forsyth Excessive College. He was named to the AP All-State crew in 2017 and a second-team All-American by USA At the moment. Henry was additionally a basketball standout with the Titans. He scored 1,156 factors in 115 profession basketball video games.
At Clemson, Henry earned his diploma in 5 years and was a three-time ACC Honor Roll choice. He accomplished his grasp’s diploma in athletic management only one yr later. Final fall, it was introduced that Henry and Will Shipley (Weddington Excessive College alum) based the “1 CLEM5ON” endowment to assist present assets to Clemson College college students. Their endowment will is instantly supporting Clemson College’s Harvey and Lucinda Gantt Multicultural Middle and Clemson Athletics’ “Hear Her Roar” marketing campaign.
On the sector, it took Henry just a little bit to develop into a featured a part of the Tigers’ stacked line of defense rotation. Nevertheless, by 2022, Henry displayed that he has put most of his athletic instruments collectively right into a dominant bundle. Final fall, Henry was named a third-team All-American choice by Professional Soccer Focus and was an All-ACC choice. Henry had a great NFL Scouting Mix efficiency.
218. Bryce Ford-Wheaton (Holly Springs Excessive College | Holly Springs, N.C.)
Place: WR
Top: 6-3
Weight: 224
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: West Virginia
Ford-Wheaton’s bloodlines led him to attend West Virginia College. His grandfather and uncle have been standout operating backs for the Mountaineers. Ford-Wheaton was a three-year starter at Holly Springs Excessive College and have become a 3-star prospect. At West Virginia, Ford-Wheaton began 32 video games over 5 seasons. He was the Mountaineers’ main receiver in 2022. Over his faculty profession, he caught 131 passes for 1,666 yards and 13 touchdowns. The NFL actually likes Ford-Wheaton’s body and he put up nice numbers for his measurement on the Mix.
219. Lance Boykin (Excessive Level Christian Academy | Excessive Level, N.C.)
Place: CB
Top: 6-3
Weight: 200
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: Coastal Carolina
Boykin was an unheralded recruit popping out of Excessive Level Christian. The one two in-state colleges that provided Boykin have been Campbell and UNC-Charlotte. Just like Keion White, Boykin began his collegiate profession at Previous Dominion College. Boykin began at Previous Dominion as a real freshman after which as a sophomore. He transferred to Coastal Carolina after the Monarchs canceled the 2020 season as a result of pandemic. Boykin grew to become a crew captain at Coastal. In 2022, he recorded 58 whole tackles, one sack, two interceptions, one foreced fumble, and 10 cross breakups.
At Excessive Level Christian, Boykin was used everywhere in the discipline. He totaled 99 tackles and 14 interceptions and rushed for 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns on offense in his highschool profession.
225. Drake Thomas (Heritage Excessive College | Wake Forest, N.C.)
Place: LB
Top”
Weight:
Excessive College Class: 2019
Faculty: NC State
A four-year center linebacker starter at Heritage Excessive in Wake Forest and the son of a coach, Thomas has all the know-how and soccer traits you’ll be able to ask for. Thomas gained statewide defensive participant of the yr on the 2019 HighSchoolOT Honors.
Regardless of getting named first-team All-ACC and having a really productive profession, Thomas wasn’t invited to the Mix. Presumably, NFL groups are involved about his top and size, that are under the usual beginning NFL linebacker.
Thomas’ older brother Thayer can be on this draft and has heard constructive responses to his pre-draft course of from NFL groups. The slot receiver will at the least be a priory undrafted free agent and will sneak into Day 3.
226. Blake Whiteheart (Mount Tabor Excessive College | Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Place: TE
Top: 6-4
Weight: 243
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: Wake Forest
A 3-star athlete popping out of Mount Tabor Excessive College, Whiteheart was a four-time All-Forsyth County choice. He was additionally a four-year varsity participant on the lacrosse crew and made all-conference thrice.
At Wake Forest, Whiteheart solely performed particular groups throughout his first two seasons. During the last couple of seasons, Whiteheart bought concerned on offense and recorded 44 receptions for 541 yards and 6 touchdowns. Whiteheart was additionally a formidable blocker for the Demon Deacons. His efficiency in January’s East-West Shrine Bowl turned some heads.
237. Eku Leota (Asheville Excessive College | Asheville, N.C.)
Place: EDGE
Top: 6-4
Weight: 257
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: Auburn
Leota was a 3-star prospect whereas at Asheville Excessive College. The all-time sacks chief at Asheville, Leota picked Northwestern College over provides from Tennessee, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, and Georgia State. In 2020, Leota earned third-team all-Massive 10 honors.
The sting rusher left for Auburn College as a graduate switch in 2021. He noticed on the spot success with the Tigers within the SEC. Leota grew to become a starter and completed the yr with 23 tackles, 10.0 tackles for a loss, and 7 sacks. Sadly, Leota’s 2022 season got here to an finish after 5 video games after he an injured a pectoral muscle. A crew crew would possibly take a late spherical flyer on him since he was considered extra extremely pre-injury.
260. Jovaughn Gwyn (Harding College Excessive College | Charlotte, N.C.)
Place: OG
Top: 6-3
Weight: 300
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: South Carolina
Gwyn was the highest offensive lineman on Harding College’s historic 4A state championship-winning crew in 2017. He was named to the AP All-State crew that very same yr. By the point he left Harding, he was thought-about a 4-star prospect.
At South Carolina, Gwyn made the SEC Fall Tutorial Honor Roll in all 5 of his seasons. He was a everlasting crew captain the final two seasons. His first begin got here in his redshirt freshman season in 2019. Gwyn went on to start out 47 video games for the Gamecocks, the second-most by any participant in this system all-time. He was named Second-Workforce All-SEC final season and gained South Carolina’s Most Excellent Senior Award.
274. Jadakis Bonds (Riverside-Martin Excessive College | Williamston, N.C.)
Place: WR
Top: 6-3
Weight: 206
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: Hampton
Bonds wasn’t an enormous recruit out of highschool, however he has been in a position to put his athletic presents on full show at Hampton College in Virginia. Bonds had a breakout sophomore season with 70 catches for 943 yards and 15 touchdowns. He set the Massive South file for consecutive video games to start out a season with a landing catch with 5. After not enjoying in 2020, Bonds had 773 yards in 2021 and 855 yards in 2022. He scored 16 touchdowns over his final two seasons. Bonds was additionally a prolific basketball participant whereas at Riverside.
364. C.J. Johnson (D.H. Conley Excessive College | Greenville, N.C.)
Place: WR
Top: 6-2
Weight: 222
Excessive College Class:
Faculty: East Carolina
Johnson by no means bought the recruiting recognition he deserved, however of us in North Carolina know the way dominant he was at Conley. Over his highschool profession, he caught 239 passes for five,198 yards (108.3 ypg) and 79 touchdowns. He additionally rushed 50 instances for 713 yards (14.3 ypc) and 17 touchdowns. In whole, he scored 98 touchdowns. He was named to the HighSchoolOT All-Decade Workforce for the 2010s. The Greenville native and lifelong ECU fan stayed residence to play with the Pirates.
At ECU, he made an on the spot impression. Johnson was named a Freshman All-America by the Soccer Writers Affiliation of America and named to the PFF All-Freshman Workforce. Johnson completed his ECU profession with 175 receptions for two,849 yards, and 21 touchdowns.
381. Christian Beal-Smith (East Forsyth Excessive College | Kernersville, N.C.)
Place: RB
Top: 5-9
Weight:
Excessive College Class: 2017
Faculty: South Carolina
Beal-Smith was the epitome of consistency at East Forsyth Excessive College. After speeding for 657 yards as a freshman, the Eagles’ standout had speeding campaigns of 1,269, 1,656, and 1,525. He reached the tip zone 72 instances over these last three seasons.
Beal-Smith wished to remain near residence and signed with Wake Forest College. He performed with the Demon Deacons by means of his redshirt senior season. He rushed for 1,871 yards and 14 touchdowns over his time at Wake Forest. As a graduate switch at South Carolina in 2022, Beal-Smith rushed for 156 yards and 5 touchdowns.
393. Christopher Dunn (North Davidson Excessive College | Lexington, N.C.)
Place: Ok
Top: 5-8
Weight: 170
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: NC State
Dunn had a spectacular profession because the kicker for the Wolfpack. He’s one in all simply six kickers to obtain an invitation to the mix. Dunn is prime 10 in ACC historical past and first in NC State historical past with 377 profession factors. He holds the Wolfpack’s file for discipline objectives at 69 and made all 170 of his level after makes an attempt. At North Davidson Excessive College, he scored 271 factors on 30-of-48 discipline objectives and 175-of-184 additional factors. He was named to the AP All-State crew in 2017.
Dunn is without doubt one of the greatest kickers within the class and can undoubtedly get an opportunity at the least as an undrafted free agent. He’s underrrated by CBS’ board.
404. Jalen Brooks (Hickory Ridge Excessive College | Harrisburg, N.C.)
Place: WR
Top: 6-2
Weight: 205
Excessive College Class: 2018
Faculty: South Carolina
One among two former Hickory Ridge Excessive College gamers invited to the mix, Brooks wasn’t an enormous recruit popping out of highschool. He spent the primary two years of his Collegiate profession at D-II Wingate College earlier than transferring to the College of South Carolina. Brooks solely totaled 1,743 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns over 5 faculty seasons, however his athletic profile has the eye of the NFL.
427. Grant Gibson (Mallard Creek Excessive College | Charlotte, N.C.)
Place: C
Top: 6-1
Weight: 310
Excessive College Class: 2017
Faculty: NC State
Gibson left Mallard Creek as a three-time state champion and a 4-star defensive sort out prospect. Gibson switched from defensive sort out to inside offensive line after his redshirt yr at NC State. Over his time because the Wolfpack’s beginning middle, Gibson grew to become prime 10 at his place in line with Professional Soccer Focus and made Third-Workforce All-ACC.
Harvey Gantt, Gibson’s grandfather, was the primary black scholar to enroll at Clemson College and later grew to become the primary black mayor of Charlotte.
We’re monitoring different North Carolina gamers who’ve declared for the draft however did not make CBS’ Massive Board, equivalent to Conley and ECU’s Holton Ahlers, Thayer Thomas, Wakefield’s Matt McKay, and extra.
Ship us an electronic mail at HighSchoolOT@wral.com if we missed anybody!