Nov 29, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; NC State Wolfpack quarterback CJ Bailey (11) prepares to throw the football during the first half of the game against North Carolina Tar Heels at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

NC State Makes Top Five For Elite 2027 Quarterback

Originally posted on NC State Wolfpack on SI
By Max Dorsey | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 11:00 AM ET

While most of NC State and head coach Dave Doeren’s focus is on the 2026 transfer portal window, they have still been targeting high school recruits and making progress with several prospects in the 2027 class.

One of those prospects is a four-star quarterback who recently named the Wolfpack as one of his top five schools.

Four-Star Quarterback Names NC State in Top Five

On Jan. 7, Rivals reported on X that Andre Adams, a four-star quarterback from Antioch High School in Nashville, Tennessee, had named NC State among his final five schools, along with Auburn, Cincinnati, Mississippi State, and Virginia Tech.

NEW: Elite QB Andre Adams is down to 5 schools, he tells @ChadSimmons_

Adams is the No. 3 QB in the Rivals300 rankings

Read: https://t.co/v7BzcXqVry pic.twitter.com/MnvJctGt5h
— Rivals (@Rivals) January 7, 2026

After naming his top five, Adams spoke with Rivals’ Chad Simmons about each school, saying that he has visited Auburn, Cincinnati, and Mississippi State, but has not yet traveled to NC State or Virginia Tech.

Despite that, the young quarterback explained that he has strong relationships with both schools’ coaching staffs and highlighted NC State’s long history of producing great quarterback talent as a reason the Wolfpack made his top five.

“The connections I have with the coaches at each of those schools makes them a school in my top five,” Adams told Simmons. “NC State has had successful quarterbacks."

Regarding what Adams is looking for in a program, he explained that he’s looking for a place where he feels he belongs and can have an honest relationship with the coaching staff. He also noted that a school that can develop him and help him reach the NFL is another key factor in his decision.

“I want to be somewhere honest,” Adams told Simmons. “Somewhere I feel like I belong. I’m a big relationships guy. How coaches talk to me, how honest they are, and how they treat me really matters."

He continued, "I want to be around people who are going to develop me as a man and as a quarterback. My main goal is to play in the NFL. I want to be in a place that’s going to help me get there.”

Although Adams hasn’t set a commitment date, Simmons reported that the four-star quarterback plans to take a few visits in the coming weeks. If NC State can get him on campus in Raleigh, they should be able to improve their standing with him before he makes a decision.

It will be interesting to see how NC State’s recruitment of Adams progresses in the coming weeks, but for now, it appears the Wolfpack has a strong chance of landing one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 class.

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