Tar Heels dominate in-state football recruiting; North Carolina State, Duke also find success.
Video: Drake Maye highlights
See Tar Heel pledge in action for Myers Park.
North Carolina is known for more than just its basketball prowess as the Tar Heel State has a strong contingent of Class of 2021 football prospects, including five of the Top 100 nationally.
This year, in-state is all the rage as 14 of the Top 50 prospects in the state have committed to the University of North Carolina while five have committed to North Carolina State and three are Duke pledges.
Talent is dispersed evenly across the state as just eight teams feature two or more players on this list, while 38 different schools have a player in the Top 50 of North Carolina's Class of 2021.
See the complete Top 50 as compiled by 247Sports below.
Will Shipley, Weddington
Photo by: Troy Cherry
5-foot-11 | 198 pounds | RB | Clemson
The 5-star prospect is the Tigers top ranked prospect in the current class, regarded as the top all-purpose back in the class of 2021 according to 247sports. Shipley won North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year last season after guiding Weddington to its second consecutive state championship, rushing for 256 yards on 26 carries in the state title game.
2. Drake Maye, Myers Park (Charlotte)
6-5 | 210 | QB | North Carolina
Captured MaxPreps North Carolina Player of the Year honors last season after leading Myers Park to a 12-1 record. He completed 72.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,512 yards with 50 touchdowns and two interceptions. The 4-star prospect is the Tar Heels second highest ranked recruit in the current class. He ranks as the fifth best Pro-Style Quarterback in the class of 2021.
6-4 | 270 | DE | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 5 strongside defensive end prospect. Committed to North Carolina on March 3. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State and Texas are among his 40 offers.
6-4 | 360 | DT | Undecided
Ranked as the nation's No. 7 defensive tackle prospect. Holds 36 offers, including Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas. Earned first team MaxPreps North Carolina All-State honors last season, recording 71 total tackles with 26 tackles for loss.
5-10 | 190 | RB | Ohio State
Ranked as the nation's No. 2 all-purpose back prospect. Committed to North Carolina on March 16. Dynamic playmaker carried the ball 164 times for 1,130 yards and 11 touchdowns, while hauling in 38 receptions for 646 yards and 8 touchdowns.
5-11.5 | 164 | WR | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 20 wide receiver prospect. Committed to North Carolina on February 10. Holds 25 offers, including Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
6-2 | 185 | OLB | North Carolina
Top 10 outside linebacker prospect nationally committed to North Carolina on April 17. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and Penn State are among his 30 offers. Finished last season with 183 total tackles, including 21.5 tackles for loss.
6-5 | 274 | DE | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 12 strong-side defensive end prospect. Committed to North Carolina on June 12. Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oregon are among his 30 offers.
6-2 | 206 | ATH | Tennessee
One of the most dynamic players in the state earned first team MaxPreps All-State honors last season, impacting the game in a variety of ways. The 4-star prospect is the Volunteers fourth highest ranked recruit in the current class.
6-1 | 206 | ILB | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 8 inside linebacker prospect. Committed to North Carolina on January 25. Earned first team MaxPreps North Carolina All-State defensive honors after leading the Cougars to a state title last season.
5-11 | 200 | ATH | North Carolina
Top 10 athlete prospect nationally committed to North Carolina on March 18. Auburn, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Penn State among his 26 offers.
6-2 | 215 | WR | North Carolina State
Top 40 wide receiver prospect nationally committed North Carolina State on June 2. Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma among his 38 offers.
6-3 | 205 | ATH | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 11 athlete prospect. Committed to North Carolina on February 7. Auburn, Florida, Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among his 23 offers.
6-6 | 230 | DE | Clemson
Top 20 weak-side defensive end prospect nationally committed to Clemson on May 26. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and West Virginia among his 22 offers.
5-11 | 200 | RB | North Carolina
Top 15 running back prospect nationally. Committed to North Carolina on April 3. LSU, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech among his 17 offers.
6-4 | 304 | OG | Undecided
Ranked as the nation's No. 15 offensive guard prospect. Holds 16 offers, including Arkansas, Florida, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
6-2 | 170 | S | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 15 safety prospect. Committed to North Carolina on June 15. Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among his 24 offers.
6-0 | 225 | ATH | Undecided
Top 30 athlete prospect nationally. Florida State, Louisville, North Carolina State, South Carolina and Virginia Tech among his 12 offers.
5-11 | 208 | RB | Louisville
Ranked as the nation's No. 19 running back prospect. Committed to Louisville on June 8. Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among his 25 offers.
6-1 | 175 | WR | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 59 wide receiver prospect. Committed to North Carolina on March 7. Georgia, Louisville, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin among his 20 offers
6-4 | 265 | DE | North Carolina State
Top 30 weak-side defensive end prospect nationally committed to North Carolina State on June 19. Arizona State, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Penn State and Wisconsin among his 23 offers.
6-6 | 220 | TE | Undecided
Top 20 tight end prospect nationally. Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State among his 25 offers.
6-4 | 325 | OG | North Carolina
Top 25 offensive guard prospect nationally committed to North Carolina on April 17. Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and Ohio State among his 15 offers.
6-4 | 255 | OT | Duke
Ranked as the nation's No. 35 offensive tackle prospect. Committed to Duke on January 18. Arizona State, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest among his 10 offers.
6-6 | 305 | OT | Undecided
Top 40 offensive tackle prospect nationally. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Oregon and Penn State among his 36 offers.
5-10 | 166 | ATH | North Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 30 athlete prospect. Committed to North Carolina on March 17. Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Tennessee and Virginia Tech among his 13 offers.
6-1 | 210 | ILB | Missouri
Top 20 inside linebacker prospect nationally committed to Missouri on June 21. Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, South Carolina and West Virginia among his 19 offers.
6-0 | 160 | WR | Undecided
Ranked as the nation's No. 70 wide receiver prospect. North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M among his 11 offers.
6-2 | 195 | S | Louisville
Top 50 safety prospect nationally committed to Louisville on April 24. Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee among his 19 offers.
6-4 | 225 | OLB | Undecided
Ranked as the nation's No. 32 outside linebacker prospect. Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington among his 18 offers.
6-7 | 295 | OT | Tennessee
Top 50 offensive tackle prospect nationally committed to Tennessee on May 4. Louisville, North Carolina State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia among his 13 offers.
6-3 | 225 | ILB | Undecided
Top 25 inside linebacker prospect nationally. Michigan, North Carolina State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee among his 12 offers.
5-10 | 174 | WR | North Carolina State
Top 100 wide receiver prospect nationally committed to North Carolina State on March 7. Duke, Georgia Tech, South Carolina and Virginia Tech among his 10 offers.
5-11 | 187 | RB | Tennessee
Top 40 running back prospect nationally committed to Tennessee on March 30. Arizona State, Arkansas, Miami, South Carolina and West Virginia among his 12 offers.
6-3 | 205 | S | Undecided
Top 50 safety prospect nationally. Florida State, North Carolina State, Oklahoma and West Virginia among his 17 offers.
6-0 | 220 | ATH | North Carolina
Top 50 athlete prospect nationally committed to North Carolina on January 19. Michigan State, North Carolina State, Michigan State and Virginia Tech among his 11 offers.
6-4 | 280 | OG | Louisville
Ranked as the nation's No. 34 offensive guard prospect. Committed to Louisville on June 18. Florida, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Ohio State among his 14 offers.
6-7 | 245 | DE | Undecided
Top 50 strong-side defensive end prospect nationally. Florida State, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee among his 22 offers.
6-3 | 268 | DT | Tennessee
Top 50 defensive tackle prospect nationally. Committed to Tennessee on March 7. Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma among his 9 offers.
6-3 | 270 | OG | Appalachian State
Top 50 offensive guard prospect nationally. Committed to Appalachian State on May 13.
6-6 | 300 | OT | North Carolina State
Ranked as the nation's No. 69 offensive tackle prospect. Committed to North Carolina State on May 26. Georgia Tech, Kansas, Maryland, South Carolina and Tennessee among his 10 offers.
6-5 | 225 | TE | Northwestern
Top 50 tight end prospect nationally. Committed to Northwestern on June 1. Florida, Louisville, Michigan State and Wisconsin among his 20 offers.
6-2 | 170 | WR | Virginia
Top 125 wide receiver prospect nationally committed to Virginia on March 27.
6-2 | 215 | OLB | Texas A&M
Ranked as the nation's No. 59 outside linebacker prospect. Committed to Texas A&M on April 29. Kansas State, Missouri and North Carolina State among his 16 offers.
6-5 | 210 | DE | Duke
Ranked as the nation's No. 54 weak-side defensive end prospect. Committed to Duke on January 21. Arizona State, Syracuse and Virginia among his 7 offers.
5-11 | 211 | OLB | Duke
Ranked as the nation's No. 61 outside linebacker prospect. Committed to Duke on January 22.
5-10 | 170 | CB | South Carolina
Top 100 corner prospect nationally committed to North Carolina State on April 10. Georgia Tech, Louisville, Michigan State, North Carolina, Penn State and Tennessee among his 21 offers.
6-4 | 320 | DT | South Carolina
Ranked as the nation's No. 54 defensive tackle prospect. Committed to South Carolina on April 8. Holds nine offers, including Penn State, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.
6-7 | 235 | TE | UCF
Ranked as the nation's No. 51 tight end prospect. Arizona State, Boston College, Michigan State, North Carolina State and UCLA among his 16 offers.
6-2 | 205 | S | Virginia
Top 100 safety prospect nationally committed to Virginia on March 8. Virginia Tech, Kansas and Delaware among his 10 offers.
