Welcome to the USA TODAY Network’s recruiting ladder, a statewide feature from reporter Joe Hughes highlighting 10 prospects on the rise each week of the 2024 high school football season.
Anyone is eligible for consideration, whether it be an unranked player who had a career game, a recruit with mid-level offers, or four- and five-star standouts adding to their personal highlight reel.
Have a player to recommend? Feel free to submit their name, position and graduation class, in addition to other relevant information, statistics or scholarship offers via email to jhughes@gastongazette.com or Twitter (@JoeLHughesII) by each Tuesday morning.
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BIG MAN, BIG OFFER: Seventy-First's sophomore nose-tackle earns first collegiate offer from ACC powerhouse
Bryce Baker
East Forsyth | Sr., QB
The UNC football recruit is off to a hot start, following a strong Week 1 performance by throwing for 301 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-12 win over Jack Britt. He also rushed for two more.
Through two games, Baker has completed 75% of passes for 593 yards and five touchdowns.
Faizon Brandon
Grimsley | Sr., QB
In a Week 2 showdown against Rolesville, the 5-star quarterback completed 6-of-12 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-20 win. Of his output, four of Brandon’s completions went to junior receiver Hudson Cooper for 200 yards and both touchdowns.
Brandon committed to the University of Tennessee last month.
Jariel Cobb
Reidsville | Sr., RB
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound back was a difference-maker in Week 2, rushing for 196 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in a 41-21 win over Page. Cobb averaged better than 10 yards per carry.
An Air Force football recruit, Cobb has rushed for 309 yards and four touchdowns in helping the Rams to a 2-0 record.
Tyran Evans
Hough | Jr., WR
Evans is among the state’s top receivers through two games. After catching four passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-44 loss to Rock Hill Northwestern, he helped Hough rebound with another four catches for 144 yards and three scores in a rout of Myers Park.
Evans has six schools in pursuit of his services, among them Charlotte, Florida, James Madison, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Jayson Franklin
Seventy-First | Jr., RB
The 5-11, 215-pound running back led Seventy-First with 123 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in a 42-20 win over Pine Forest. Also a standout linebacker, he has two tackles this season, one for a loss.
Franklin is being pursued by seven schools, among them Buffalo, Connecticut, Georgia State, Harvard, Memphis, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
Ely Hamrick
A.C. Reynolds | Sr., QB
Hamrick finished 10-of-19 for 286 yards and two touchdowns, along with 66 rushing yards to lead the Rockets past Shelby, 51-21.
Hamrick has received six offers, with Appalachian State, Charlotte, East Carolina, Kentucky, Toledo and Virginia in pursuit of the 6-foot-5, 215-pound quarterback.
Jaylen Hewitt
Havelock | Sr., QB
Hewitt has been stellar through two games at Havelock, completing 43-of-70 passes for 715 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Rams have scored 97 points en route to a 2-0 start.
Hewitt transferred from West Carteret this offseason, throwing for 3,236 yards and 35 touchdowns a season ago.
Tylik Mitchell
Southern Nash | Sr., RB
Mitchell goes into Week 3 among the state’s leading rushers with 449 yards and seven touchdowns. His tally is second statewide, according to MaxPreps, only behind that of High Point Christian Academy’s Jaylen Moore (468 yards).
Mitchell also has a touchdown reception, as well as a kickoff return for a score. He currently has offers from schools including Coastal Carolina Connecticut, James Madison, Old Dominion and NC Central.
Terande Spencer
Richmond Senior | Jr., LB
Spencer has been quite impactful for Richmond Senior, particularly helping his team rebound from a Week 1 setback with a dominant 26-7 win over Butler.
Through two games, Spencer has 31 tackles (eight for a loss). He also has two sacks, three hurries, an interception, a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.
Shannon Wingate Jr.
North Lincoln | Jr., RB
On the heels of a strong 2023 campaign, Wingate has shown no signs of slowing down through two games this fall.
After rushing for 223 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 1 win over West Lincoln, the 5-foot-11, 210-pound back had 171 yards and four touchdowns in helping the Knights past Lincolnton, 41-20.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NC high school football recruiting ladder: Reynolds' Hamrick dazzles in win at Shelby
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