UNC football recruiting target Landon Duckworth Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Elite Quarterback Names UNC Football in Final Five

Originally posted on North Carolina Tar Heels on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated May 9, 2025 4:14 PM ET

Jackson High School (Ala.) four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth has trimmed his long list of suitors to five, On3's Hayes Fawcett reported this week. And the UNC football program survived the cut, along with Auburn, Florida State, Ole Miss, and South Carolina.

A "dynamic dual-threat signal caller" in the eyes of 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Duckworth checks in at No. 55 overall, No. 6 among quarterbacks, and No. 5 in Alabama on the 247Sports 2026 Composite.

NEWS: Elite 2026 QB Landon Duckworth is down to 5 Schools, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’3 200 QB from Jackson, AL is ranked as the No. 6 QB in the ‘26 Class (On3 Industry)

Where Should He Go? https://t.co/1ownbB6iew pic.twitter.com/eVUAW3sYNj
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 8, 2025

As a junior last season, Landon Duckworth powered his school's 14-1 overall record and Alabama 4A title by completing 162 of his 243 passes for 3,439 yards and 39 touchdowns while throwing only 10 interceptions. Plus, he racked up 648 rushing yards and 12 more scores on only 62 carries, an average of 10.5 yards per attempt with his legs.

Work. @QBCountry @JacksonFootball pic.twitter.com/vcNtuChs6U
— Landon “DUCK” Duckworth (@LandonDuckworth) December 24, 2024

The 2026 UNC football class currently contains 14 verbal commits, including one top-200 prospect in North Duplin High School (N.C.) four-star defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin. First-year Tar Heel head coach Bill Belichick and his crew now stack up at No. 11 in the cycle, according to 247Sports.

UNC's haul still lacks a quarterback.

Duckworth received an offer from the Tar Heels back in late February.

This article first appeared on North Carolina Tar Heels on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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