Welcome to the USA Today Network’s recruiting ladder, a statewide feature by reporter Joe Hughes highlighting top prospects and outstanding performances throughout the 2026 North Carolina 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 talents adding to their personal highlight reel.

Do you have a player to recommend? Feel free tos submit their name, position and graduation class, as well as other relevant information (statistics, scholarship offers) to jhughes@gastongazette.com or X (@JoeLHughesII)

Kaden Craft

Craft put his entire arsenal on display during a 56-17 win over Mooresville.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback was 13-of-18 passing for 186 yards and five touchdowns, in addition to 148 rushing yards in a 56-17 win over Mooresville.

In 10 games, the Lake Norman signal caller has thrown for 2,080 yards and 27 TDs and three interceptions. He also has 487 rushing yards and 14 TDs. With his help, Lake Norman capped the 2026 regular season with a 10-0 mark.

In 33 career games, Craft has thrown 4,990 yards and 57 TDs, along with 1,140 rushing yards and 31 TDs.

Craft is a Tennessee football recruit, committing to the school in August. 

Carlos McLaughlin

McLaughlin’s late season surge continued Friday, Oct. 30, against Richmond Senior, the sophomore wideout catching seven passes for 125 yards, in addition to completing a 34-yard pass in a 36-33 win. 

It was his third game in a row with seven receptions and more than 100 receiving yards. In nine games, he has 46 catches for 733 yards and six TDs. Such is a far cry from his one reception for 19 yards during his freshman campaign.

Pinecrest goes into the playoffs with a 7-3 record, good for it to earn a 6-seed in the NCHSAA 8A playoffs.

Kylan Mason

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back’s tour de force continued Oct. 30 in his team’s matchup with East Surry.

Mason rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, propelling the Bears to a 35-20 victory. It was his eighth game reaching triple digits this season, the only exception an 83-yard outing in a loss to Jefferson Forest (Virginia).

This fall, Mason has rushed for 1,735 yards and 19 touchdowns. During his previous two years at Mount Airy, he rushed for a total of 420 yards and two TDs.

He was a key piece in Mount Airy finishing with a 7-3 record and the 6-seed in the NCHSAA 3A West playoffs.

Tommy McKinney

Though in a 56-20 loss at Asheville, McKinney rushed for a season-high 202 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

It was the senior back’s sixth game reaching triple digits in rushing yards, averaging better than nine yards per carry in the process.

It has been a breakout season for the Jet standout, rushing for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is averaging better than eight yards per carry this season.

Enka’s fortunes have surged upward in part due to McKinney’s play. The Jets are enjoying an 8-2 season and an NCHSAA 5A West home playoff game.

Markus Medley

Medley’s stellar senior season continued Oct. 30, the Cleveland linebacker leading his team with 15 tackles (four for a loss) in a 21-20 win over rival Clayton. 

It was the sixth time this season in which he had 10 tackles or more. He had a season-high 18 tackles (five for a loss) Sept. 3 in a win over Northern Nash. 

He has a career-high 102 tackles this fall, including 21 behind opponents’ line of scrimmage. Medley also has three sacks and two forced fumbles. Over the course of a four-year career, he has 209 tackles (47 for a loss), 12 sacks, an interception, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Shon Pone

Pone is back in focus following a standout performance in his team’s regular season finale at South View.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound back rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns, doing the heavy lifting for the Falcons in a 42-22 victory.

Pone has reached a triple-digit rushing total in each game this season, topping out at 267 yards and four TDs in an Oct. 9 win at St. Pauls. For the season, he has 2,027 yards and 25 TDs.

Occasionally he’s been utilized as a receiver as well, catching seven passes for 129 yards and two TDs.

Pone has 3,667 career rush yards and 49 TDs. He holds offers from Army, Campbell, East Carolina, James Madison and North Carolina A&T.

Sincere Thompson

In a season brimming with special performances, Thompson added yet another for Southern Alamance football.

The 6-foot, 190-pound back rushed for 338 yards and four touchdowns, all part of a 29-20 victory over rival Western Alamance. 

After starting the season with 94 rush yards and three TDs in a win over Eastern Randolph, Thompson has strung together nine consecutive triple-digit rushing efforts. Last week’s rushing performance wasn’t his season-high, however, going for 414 yards and five TDs in a 63-31 win over Southeast Guilford in September.

For the season, Thompson has 2,371 rushing yards and 30 TDs. Over the course of his career, he’s rushed for 3,945 yards and 52 TDs.

Southern Alamance is 8-2 overall, earning the No. 1 seed in the NCHSAA 5A East bracket. 

Jah’Baree Tolbert

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound back has come on for Erwin late in the 2026 season.

Tolbert proved the difference Friday, Oct. 30 in the Warriors’ 59-52 win over North Buncombe, tallying 217 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. 

The effort was his highest output thus far of the 2026 campaign. It was also his third straight game with over 100 rushing yards, and sixth out of his last seven going over the century mark. Tolbert has 1,076 rushing yards and eight touchdowns this season.