2025 NFL Draft guide for players with North Carolina ties
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

Jalon Walker after Georgia won the SEC championship. Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
One of North Carolina's most anticipated NFL Draft prospects is Jalon Walker. Some analysts have the linebacker going as high as No. 5 overall.
Why it matters: The NFL Draft can transform a player's life.
What to expect: The draft consists of seven rounds. The first round is Thursday and starts at 8pm. Rounds two and three start at 7pm Friday. Rounds four through seven begin at noon Saturday.
How to watch: ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network will broadcast the draft. You can also livestream it on their respective apps or on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV and Sling TV.
What we're watching: The Carolina Panthers have the eighth overall pick in the first round.
Here's a look at prospects with North Carolina ties.
Editor's note: Players are listed alphabetically by last name. This list does not include every college football player.
Eugene Asante
Linebacker | Westfield High | Auburn
- He previously played for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Anthony Belton
Tackle | Florida State U. School | NC State

Zeek Biggers
Defensive lineman | West Rowan High | Georgia Tech
- Biggers is from Salisbury.

Jasheen Davis
Edge | Shiloh High | Wake Forest

Power Echols
Linebacker | Julius L. Chambers High | North Carolina
- Echols is from Charlotte.

Omarion Hampton
Running back | Cleveland High |North Carolina
- Hampton is from Clayton.

Alijah Huzzie
Cornerback | Heard County High | North Carolina

Jason Ivey
Offensive lineman | South Mecklenburg High | North Carolina A&T
- Ivey is from Charlotte.

Willie Lampkin
Offensive lineman | Lakeland High | North Carolina

Riley Leonard
Quarterback | Fairhope High | Notre Dame
- Leonard previously played at Duke.

Timothy McKay
Tackle | Wakefield High | NC State
- McKay is from Raleigh.

Taylor Morin
Wide receiver | Westfield High | Wake Forest

Moose Muhammad III
Wide receiver | Myers Park | Texas A&M
- Muhammad is from Charlotte.

Bryson Nesbit
Tight end | South Mecklenburg | North Carolina
- Nesbit is from Charlotte.

RJ Oben
Defensive lineman | St. Peter's Prep | Notre Dame
- Oben transferred from Duke.

Payton Page
Defensive lineman | Dudley High | Clemson
- Page is from Greensboro.

James Pearce Jr.
Edge | Julius L. Chambers | Tennessee
- Pearce is from Charlotte.

Shavon Revel Jr.
Cornerback | Reagan High | East Carolina
- Revel is from Winston-Salem.

Jahvaree Ritzie
Defensive lineman | Glenn | North Carolina
- Ritzie is from Kernersville.

Kaimon Rucker
Edge | Hart County High | North Carolina

Torricelli Simpkins III
Offensive lineman | Olympic | South Carolina
- The Charlotte native transferred to South Carolina from North Carolina Central.
Photo: Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

Demie Sumo-Karngbaye
Running back | Willingboro High | Kentucky
- Sumo-Karngbaye transferred from NC State.

Davin Vann
Defensive lineman | Cary High | NC State
- Vann grew up in the Triangle.

Carson Vinson
Offensive lineman | Panther Creek High | Alabama A&M
- Vinson is from Morrisville.

Jalon Walker
Linebacker | Salisbury High | Georgia
- Walker is from Salisbury.

Jared Wilson
Center | West Forsyth High |Georgia
- Wilson is from Winston-Salem.

