Welcome to the USA TODAY Network’s recruiting ladder, a statewide feature from reporter Joe Hughes highlighting prospects on the rise each week of the 2025 high school football season.

Anyone is eligible for consideration, whether it be an unranked player who had a career game, a recruit with mid-level offers, or four- and five-star standouts adding to their personal highlight reel.

Have a player to recommend? Feel free to submit their name, position and graduation class, in addition to other relevant information, statistics or scholarship offers via email to jhughes@gastongazette.com or X (@JoeLHughesII) by each Tuesday morning.

Patrick Blee

South Point | Sr., QB

The Red Raiders’ four-year starter was clicking on all cylinders in his team’s NCHSAA 5A West playoff opener, rushing for

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