Ready, set, hut: Meet the top 25 high school football players in North Carolina
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The Observer ranked East Lincoln’s Jaxon Dollar as North Carolina’s No. 1 player.
- Dollar and Joshua Dobson, both five-star national recruits, appear in the top 25.
East Lincoln High School’s Jaxon Dollar, a two-sport star, is the top-ranked high school football player in North Carolina heading into the fall.
Today, The Observer reveals its annual look at the state’s top 25 rising senior football players. The class of 2027 includes two five-star national recruits: Dollar and Hough High’s Joshua Dobson, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back.
Dobson, who played at Catawba Ridge last season in Fort Mill, S.C., is the nation’s No. 6 recruit at cornerback according to 247 Sports. He has offers from dozens of Power 4 schools like Alabama, Auburn and Michigan, plus several of the in-state large schools: North Carolina, N.C. State and Wake Forest.
Dollar, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound tight end, is the nation’s No. 2 recruit at his position and the No. 32 overall recruit, regardless of position. Like Dobson, Dollar has offers from dozens of Power 4 schools.
Last season, Dollar was a N.C. Mr. Football semifinalist as a junior and led his team to a 10-2 record. He caught 54 passs for 1,190 yards and 20 touchdowns. On defense, he had 38 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and five sacks.
In basketball season, Dollar led East Lincoln to a 22-5 record. He averaged 21 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists, leading his team in every category.
Dollar was a first team pick for The Charlotte Observer’s boys’ basketball and football teams this season.
In an interview with The Observer this winter, Dollar said his final 10 college football choices were, in the order he listed them: Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida, Miami, Georgia, LSU, Clemson and Texas A&M.
“I think he’s one of the best basketball players in the state,” East Lincoln coach Jon Hancock said, “but (college basketball coaches) see that the whole nation has offered in football and go, ‘What’s the use?’ I mean, Alabama and Ole Miss didn’t make his final 10. It’s crazy.”
NC top 25 high school football recruits
Rk, Name, School, Pos, Height, Weight, College
1. Jaxon Dollar, East Lincoln, TE, 6-5, 222, undecided
2. Joshua Dobson, Hough, DB, 6-1, 185, undecided
3. Rashad Streets, Millbrook, DE, 6-4, 230, Oregon
4. John Archer, DL, 6-4, 315, undecided
5. Xavier Hasan, Cardinal Gibbons, DB, 5-11, 195, Notre Dame
6. Quinton Cypher, Millbrook, LB, 6-2, 220, Ohio State
7. Davion Jones, Hough, DB, 5-11, 165, undecided
8. Jaylaythan Mayfield, Lincolnton, LB, 6-1, 215, undecided
9. AJ Randle, Garner, LB, 6-3, 210, undecided
10. Nate Kamba, Corvian Community, DL, 6-4, 300, undecided
11. Marquis Bryant, Rolesville, DB, 5-11, 190, undecided
12. Andrew Rogers, DL, Grimsley, 6-6, 240, undecided
13. Anthony Roberts, Rolesville, WR, 6-2, 180, undecided
14. Xavier Perkins, CE Jordan, DL, 6-2, 240, Virginia Tech
15. Jayden Broadie, Rolesville, DL, 6-2, 220, undecided
16. Antwan McKoy, St. Pauls, DL, 6-3, 295, undecided
17. Majay Thompson, Crest, WR, 6-0, 186, undecided
18. Griff Galloway, Providence Day, DL, 6-3, 240, undecided
19. Jesiah Fields, Corvian Community, DL, 6-4, 245, undecided
20. Amir Brown, Rolesville, RB, 5-11, 200, Nebraska
21. Ethan Royal, Hough, QB, 6-1, 195, undecided
22. Cairo Williams, Millbrook, DB, 6-2, 180, undecided
23. Tre Geathers, Providence Day, LB, 6-2, 195, undecided
24. Moreno Fisher, Hough, OL, 6-7, 270, undecided
25. Jonathan Dillon, Southern Durham, WR, 6-1, 175, undecided
