2025-26 National Signing Day:
Bold North State’s Football Coaches
Witness All-Too-Familiar Talent Exodus
(Championship Coaches Offer Analysis)
By coach Tim Brewster, coach Jim Collins and Mike Waddell
North Carolina Sports Network
(last updated Dec. 5, 2025)
College football’s National Signing Day arrived Wednesday with exciting momentum — unprecedented in one sense — across the Bold North State.
For the first time, all seven of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs in North Carolina entered a cycle with new or ascending head coaches, creating a wave of national credibility and fresh energy around the sport.
Bill Belichick’s arrival at UNC made national news. Dave Doeren continued his steady stewardship at NC State. Manny Diaz had brought a sharpened defensive edge to Duke in 2024, while Jake Dickert took over at Wake Forest with a culture-focused rebuild in 2025.
In the Group of Six ranks, Blake Harrell at East Carolina, Tim Albin at Charlotte, and Dowell Loggains at Appalachian State all brought new schemes, new staff alignment and renewed institutional commitment. The state’s coaching lineup has rarely looked stronger.
But even with the influx of big names, elite systems and modern recruiting infrastructure, the defining story of National Signing Day had little to do with coaching and everything to do with geography.
North Carolina produced one of its more talented classes in modern times, with 14 players from in-state high schools ranked among the nation’s top 300 prospects.
Yet, despite the state’s renewed coaching firepower, a large majority of those elite recruits signed with schools outside the state’s borders. Tennessee, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miami, Texas, Clemson and South Carolina all dipped into North Carolina and came away with blue-chip talent.
The top of the board told the tale.
Grimsley quarterback Faizon Brandon, the #1 player in the state and one of the top signal-callers in the country, signed with Tennessee. Two players from South Garner — dominant offensive tackle Ekene Ogboko and explosive edge rusher Ebenezer Ewetade — signed with Georgia and Notre Dame, respectively. Myers Park pass-rusher Rodney Dunham also chose Notre Dame.
Reidsville tight end Kendre Harrison selected Oregon, while Clayton’s Keshawn Stancil signed with Miami, and Hough corner Samari Matthews chose Texas. South Carolina, meanwhile, landed Weddington defensive lineman Aiden Harris, one of the most complete front-seven defenders in the class.
In total, 14 of the state’s top 15 prospects signed with border-state or national powers, and all five prospects with industry ratings above 90 signed outside North Carolina.
Only three top-20 players signed with in-state ACC programs. East Forsyth offensive tackle JB Shabazz chose UNC, East Lincoln quarterback Grant Lawless opted for Wake Forest, and North Duplin defensive tackle Trashawn Ruffin selected UNC.
Additional data from the 2025 cycle only reinforced the narrative.
When comparing average industry ratings, North Carolina’s seven FBS programs averaged around 86.4 per signee. Border-state powers averaged nearly 93, driven by Tennessee’s 97.8, Georgia’s 92.9, Clemson’s 91.6 and South Carolina’s 90.9.
The numbers showed the gap clearly: While Bold North State programs signed promising prospects, the highest-rated players — the difference-making, NFL-framed, potential All-Americans — only rarely stayed at home.
The team-by-team results carried their own storylines.
Belichick’s first class at UNC was massive, with 39 signees and significant depth along the defensive front and linebacker units, but it lacked the elite in-state crown jewels the Tar Heels had hoped to secure.
NC State signed a tough, consistent and balanced class, reflective of Doeren’s program identity, but also missed on the top-tier prospects.
Duke and Wake Forest addressed needs and brought in high-character fits for their incoming staff, with Lawless potentially representing a major long-term win for the Demon Deacons.
ECU’s class under Harrell was one of the highest-ranked Group of Six hauls in the entire nation. At the same time, Charlotte and Appalachian State both strengthened regional pipelines, with App State signing the state’s best trench class outside the Power Four.
