Football

The Huddle: Signing Day aftermath & top head coaching candidates

On this Christmas edition of The Huddle, Joel recaps NSD and puts out a list of possible future head coaches.

Posted 2023-12-25T15:36:56+00:00 - Updated 2023-12-25T15:36:56+00:00

Joel Bryant

, HSOT Sr. Football & Recruiting Editor

Welcome back to The Huddle and Merry Christmas!

National Early Signing Day took place last Wednesday. We had some big surprises. It's always great to see these dreams become reality when these prospects actually get to put their name to a dotted line. Until signing, recruiting is all hypothetical. I'll have a recap in first down.

North Carolina is already over 25 head coaching openings. We have a list that is regularly updated here:

2023-2024 North Carolina high school football coaching changes

Last year we almost hit 100. I've been compiling a list of coaches who I think could be candidates for many of the currently open jobs and jobs that will become open. In second down, I have a list of head coaches in current classifications that can make the jump to a bigger school. In third down, I have a list of assistant coaches that have impressed and could be in line for that next step.

1st Down: Recapping a crazy signing day

I'll be honest: usually signing day is whatever to me. If you follow the recruiting stuff as much as we have to, there is generally not too much excitement because we already know what's going to happen. That was not the case this year!

There was one impending flip that the whole world knew about (Clinton's Amaris Williams flipping from Florida and signing with Auburn on NSD). There was also speculation about another (Grimsley's Terrell Anderson possibly flipping from NC State to Georgia) that didn't come to fruition. And we had an old fashioned announcement/signing combo ceremony (Jay M. Robinson's D'Nas White committed to Florida State and signed on the spot)! But on the night before Signing Day, 4A state championship MVP and 4-star prospect Keenan Jackson shocked everyone with a decommitment from UNC. The next morning, Jackson signed with NC State. The Wolfpack never stopped pursuing Jackson.

After the big flip, UNC and NC State's in-state class of 2024 look pretty similar.

NC State signed:

4-star Terrell Anderson, Wide Receiver, Grimsley (Greensboro)
3-star Brody Barnhardt, Defensive Back, Providence Day (Charlotte)
4-star Keenan Jackson, Wide Receiver, Weddington HS (Matthews)
3-star Isiah Jones, Running Back, Rolesville HS (Rolesville)
3-star Trent Mitchell, Offensive Lineman, Ashbrook HS (Gastonia)
4-star Jonathan Paylor, Athlete, Cummings HS (Burlington)
3-star Zane Williams, Linebacker, Wake Forest HS (Wake Forest)

UNC signed:

3-star Khalil Conley, Defensive Back, Christ School (Arden)
3-star Javarius Green, Wide Receiver, Crest (Shelby)
3-star Desmond Jackson, Offensive Lineman, West Forysth HS (Clemmons)
3-star Jani Norwood, Offensive Lineman, Eastern Randolph HS (Ramseur)
4-star Jordan Shipp, Wide Receiver, Providence Day (Charlotte)
3-star Curtis Simpson, Outside Linebacker, Kings Mountain HS (Kings Mountain)
4-star Alex Taylor, Wide Receiver, Grimsley HS (Greensboro)
4-star Malcolm Ziglar, Defensive Back, Fuquay-Varina HS (Fuquay-Varina)

Both schools did a good job. It is important for the two biggest college programs in the state to take the in-state recruiting seriously.

Here are some links from our Signing Day coverage:

Charlotte signs 2 in-state high school recruits, several transfers who played NC high school football

ECU signs three in-state players from Northwest Guilford, Tarboro, Metrolina Christian

Reagan's Landan Callahan the lone in-state signee for Duke on National Signing Day

Wake Forest picks up a pair of in-state signatures: Sam Neely, Jeremiah Melvin

UNC's in-state recruiting class highlighted by trio of receivers

NC State lands talented in-state players in Class of 2024, major offensive weapons

2nd Down: Head coaches that could leave for bigger schools

Here is my list of the most likely head coaches at a 1A or 2A school that could be candidates for head coaching jobs at similar schools. Some of these are informed rumors and some are my own conjecture.

J.K. Adkins, Mount Airy
- Adkins is in one of the comfiest spots in the state, having one back-to-back titles. I'm not so sure that he is pining to leave Mount Airy for that reason, but it would be a mistake if the schools with the biggest job openings don't have at least a conversation.
Andrew Carrouth, North Moore
- Carrouth has taken the once-lowly North Moore program and turned it into one that has won 10-plus games in each of the last three seasons. While it the scheme would be unconventional for bigger classification schools, he clearly knows how to turn a program around.
Luke Coleman, Brevard
- Coleman spent some time in Georgia and got 2A Brevard back into the 10-win range in his second season since coming back to North Carolina.
Jammie Deese, Forest Hills
- Deese has a load of great experience at the high school and college levels. He has done an outstanding job at Forest Hills. I've heard nothing on the possibility of him leaving, but I personally wonder if Forest Hills has sort of maxed out its modern potential.
Ben Ellis, Beddingfield
- The last two head coaches at Beddingfield have taken bigger classification jobs. People in Wilson speak highly of the young Ellis, who helped the Bruins get to the second round after a three year playoff drought.
Trent Lowman, East Surry
- Lowman is an outstanding coach and there is no doubt that bigger schools have taken an interest and will continue to take an interest.
Cory Johnson, Clinton
- Johnson is expected to be a top commodity in this cycle after leading Clinton to the 2A state championship game. He has a 61-12 record since taking over the Dark Horses and is still a young coach. Clinton has some talent coming back, but this year could be the right one to take that jump.
Kevin Motsinger, Wallace-Rose Hill
- There has been some speculation that Motsinger will try to go for a bigger classification job, though I have not heard so directly. But if you're a bigger school in the 910, how could you not be interested? He knows what he's doing and is one of the most passionate leaders out there.
Chris Powell, Draughn
- Draughn has had a great stretch at the 1A level. It does seem to me that this 2024 class has been a big catalyst behind it. Powell has done a great job and could possibly capitalize this offseason.
Jackson Smith, North Surry
- Smith is young and respected by the coaches in the Piedmont. He helped North Surry end a mini playoff drought in his second season leading the Greyhounds. If other schools in the area see their head coach leave, Smith could be on the shortlist.
Clayton Trivett, Salisbury
- Trivett would not be the first head coach to leave Salisbury for a bigger school. I wonder what the ultimate upside is for other schools in the 2A West over the next couple of years with the current sophomore class that Reidsville has.
LaMonte Williamson, West Columbus
- West Columbus has never been viewed as a winning program, but Williamson has completely turned things around for the Vikings since he took over in 2019. After finishing 9-4 last year, Williamson just led West Columbus to a 12-2 record and the 1A East regional final.

Third Down: Assistant coaches who could become head coaches

This is the best list I could come up with for assistant coaches that could be candidates for a head coaching role this offseason. I'm sure that I'm missing some who will end up getting jobs. There are over 400 high school football teams in the state, many with 10-plus assistants.

Some of these guys are rumored to be candidates at spots, some are highly recommended by head coaches, others are my own idea. A few of these names have already been head coaches before: Steve Brooks, Derek Bryant, Hunter Jenks, Caleb King, and Perry Owens.