Welcome to the USA TODAY Network’s recruiting ladder, a statewide feature from reporter Joe Hughes highlighting prospects on the rise in North Carolina throughout the 2025 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.
Do you have a player to recommend? Feel free to submit their name, position and graduation class, as well as other relevant information (statistics, scholarship offers) to jhughes@gastongazette.com orX (@JoeLHughesII).
D.J. Davis
West Craven | Sr., QB
SouthWest Edgecombe had no answer for Davis in their NCHSAA 4A East regional semifinal, the West Craven quarterback responsible for nearly 40

The Gaston Gazette Sports

NECN Providence
NFL Seattle Seahawks
Columbia Daily Tribune Sports
Newsday
Essentiallysports Football
West Kentucky Star
Joplin Globe Sports
The San Diego Union-Tribune Sports
ABC 7 Chicago Sports