Who are the top high school football players in the Triangle ahead of the 2022 season?

We are one month away from the start of high school football practices.

That means the top local prep players in the class of 2023 will be beginning their final year. While the best player in the class, Rolesville wide receiver Noah Rogers, has already committed, there are plenty of local players still fielding offers.

This fall, fans will want to get out and get a closer look at some of the best players the state has to offer.

Here is a list of the top class of 2023 targets right here in the Triangle:

(1) Noah Rogers, wide receiver, Rolesville

Last week Rogers, the No. 1 player in the state according to 247Sports, verbally committed to Ohio State. The 6-2, 180-pound Rogers caught 70 passes for 1,432 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior. For his career, Rogers is averaging 20.5 yards per catch. In three years on the Rams’ varsity, Rogers has caught 102 passes for 2,270 yards and 33 scores.

(6) Jaybron Harvey, defensive end, Southern Durham

Harvey, the No. 25 edge defensive end in the country, had 129 tackles and 28 sacks as a junior. Harvey, who had more than 20 Power 5 offers, verbally committed to North Carolina on July 1. He picked the Tar Heels over Louisville, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

(19) Nathan Leacock, wide receiver, Millbrook

Leacock, a three-star prospect, is a 6-4 wide receiver who also participates in track and field at Millbrook. Last season he caught 37 passes for 734 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 24 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Leacock took official visits to Michigan, Tennessee and North Carolina last month. N.C. State is also in the running.

(21) Tyler Thompson, defensive end, Panther Creek

The 6-5 defensive end committed to North Carolina on June 29, just 22 days after the Tar Heels made an official offer. In 13 games for the Catamounts last season, Thompson had 75 tackles (39 for loss) and 19 sacks. He also had one interception. The two-sport athlete also played a major part in Panther Creek’s run to the 4A basketball state title game.

(25) Lex Thomas, quarterback, Heritage

Thomas received an offer and committed to N.C. State before he ever took a varsity snap at Heritage. He’ll follow in the footsteps of his older brothers Thayer (wide receiver) and Drake (linebacker), both starters for the Wolfpack. The younger Thomas was highly productive as a junior, completing 167-of-263 passes for 2,492 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading the Huskies to a 10-2 record.

(27) Tamarcus Cooley, athlete, Rolesville

The younger brother of Louisville running back Trevion Cooley, Tamarcus transferred to Rolesville after starting his career at Knightdale.

For the Knights he was a two-way player who had 765 total yards and nine scores on offense as a wide receiver and part-time running back in 2021. As a defensive back, the 6-0 Cooley, had 51 tackles and two interceptions. N.C. State and North Carolina have both offered Cooley, trying to keep him close to home.

(30) Tralon Mitchell, athlete, Southern Nash

Mitchell (6-2, 185) has played running back, linebacker and defensive back for Southern Nash High School. As a junior he rushed for 1,033 yards and 17 touchdowns, sharing the backfield with current N.C. State freshman Jackson Vick. According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, Virginia Tech is the favorite to land Mitchell.

(X) - 247Sports state ranking