An update on NC State's recruitment of elite legacy QB Gunner Rivers
Gunner Rivers will be one of the most coveted recruits in the country over the next couple of years. NC State is already involved in his recruitment and, according to recent reporting from al.com’s Ben Thomas, the elite class of 2027 signal-caller is not rushing into his decision-making process.
The On3 Industry Ranking considers Rivers the No. 33 sophomore in the country, the No. 4 quarterback prospect nationally and the No. 2 recruit in Alabama. He holds early offers from NC State, Auburn, South Carolina, Miami and Boston College.
According to al.com’s reporting, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and Auburn’s staff stopped by Fairhope (Ala.) St. Michael Catholic during the January recruiting period. Thomas caught up with Philip Rivers— an NC State football legend who’s enshrined in the program’s Ring of Honor—to discuss the heavily recruited sophomore. It’s clear that Gunner does not plan on rushing into any decisions.
“He wanted to wait one more year,” Philip Rivers said to Ben Thomas. “He hasn’t been too antsy. I told him we were going to have to make some trips this year. As recruiting picks up even more in the spring, we will pick some places and go.”
Rivers has only checked out one college campus so far—NC State—but that’s only because he traveled with his father to Raleigh for a visit that was not related to his recruiting. Gunner does not have any public social media accounts.
Auburn extended an offer earlier this month. Late last year, NC State quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and Texas co-offensive coordinator AJ Milwee both visited his school. Rivers will likely be one of the Pack’s top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class.
“I don’t know if he has any favorites at this point,” Philip Rivers told al.com. “He’s been an all-NFL guy over the years. He never really had any college favorites. It will be interesting to see what happens.”
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Philip grew up in Alabama, and his father coached him in high school before he eventually picked the Wolfpack and changed the trajectory of the program. Before a 17-season NFL career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts, he won the 2003 ACC Player of the Year Award with NC State and holds an NCAA record with 51 consecutive starts under center.
Rivers is back in his home state now, watching his son develop into one of the nation’s top quarterbacks as his head coach. St. Michaels finished the 2024 season 12-2, making a run to the AHSAA 4A playoffs.
Gunner threw for 3,947 yards as a sophomore, completing 63 percent of his passes for 36 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. The 6-2, 175-pound signal-caller also scored twice on the ground with 30 yards on 30 attempts.
“He’s pretty much who he is going to be,” Philip Rivers told al.com. “Gunner is a pocket passer that runs well enough. He will end up being 6-3 or 6-4 and about 220 pounds. He’s real humble about it all. He doesn’t love all the attention. It (recruiting) is a different world then what I went through 25 years ago. Golly.”
