NC State needed to land four-star legacy QB Gunner Rivers, and did just that

By Noah Fleischman

The most recent time former NC State star quarterback Philip Rivers set foot on the Wolfpack’s campus, his love for the university was infectious. It was obvious to both his son, Gunner, a four-star quarterback recruit, and his teammate, three-star running back Noah Moss. 

Moss, who was making his first visit to see the Pack, took in the 42-19 win over North Carolina alongside the Rivers family. He’d grown close to the crew over the past three years playing for Philip and alongside Gunner, but the moment he arrived in Raleigh was different with them. 

What he saw was Philip and the rest of his family in their element. It, in a way, was what sold the class of 2026 tailback, who committed to NC State three days later.

“He loves NC State. He really loves that place,” Moss said of Philip Rivers. “I think that was one of the biggest things for me, just seeing how much he loves that place and how much respect he has for that place was something that was a seller for me.”

It was obvious that NC State needed to do whatever it took to land Gunner. It wasn’t going to be easy with the likes of in-state SEC programs like Auburn and Alabama in hot pursuit of the coveted signal-caller, but the pressure was on the Wolfpack to win him over. 

Any other result would have been viewed as a failure by most of the Pack’s fan base after the amount of effort the program put into recruiting Gunner.

Would he want to play in the very stadium his father’s name is affixed to its Ring of Honor ? NC State had a feeling that it was in a good position, but like it is with other high-level recruits, it wasn’t over until he pledged to the Wolfpack. 

There was still time for the SEC programs to fawn over Gunner, but in the end, NC State was the program that got it done. It prioritized him the most of any other team around the country, doing everything in its power to get the younger Rivers into the fold.

His commitment to the Wolfpack, one that some had dreamed of once he started to bloom in Alabama’s high school ranks, signals a major recruiting win for Dave Doeren — especially since the program landed him before an official visit. NC State’s 14th-year coach, who forged a relationship deeper than just football with the Rivers family, was able to lean on that in this recruitment. 

“Gunner loves the staff,” a source told Rivals’ Chad Simmons earlier this month. “He sees an opportunity, and NC State has made it clear he is who they want.”

Yes, he wanted Gunner the quarterback, the No. 117 recruit in Rivals Industry Ranking with 10,200 passing yards with 111 touchdowns and just 15 interceptions on an efficient 64.9 percent completion rate through his first three high school seasons to his credit. But more importantly, landing the entire family was a critical part of the process. 

The entire ménage will be in Raleigh often to watch Gunner and the Wolfpack. Philip, who was the ACC Athlete of the Year (2004), ACC Player and Offensive Player of the Year (2003) and ACC Rookie of the Year (2000), is bound to have a positive impact with his increased presence around the program. 

Not only does this commitment save NC State from having to watch one of the premier legacy recruits go elsewhere to play his college football, but it will also create a chain reaction on the recruiting trail. The Wolfpack signed the No. 46 overall class in the 2026 cycle, its lowest ranked group since 2022 (51st).

And as it looks to boost its next crop of high school players, Rivers will be a catalyst. Most recruits want to know what quarterback could be throwing them passes in college, and one with an NFL pedigree will help.

Rivers, who Moss described as the ultimate teammate with their friendship growing stronger nearly each day they’ve known each other, isn’t the most public-facing player with no social media accounts, but yet he will still play an integral role in helping build the class around him. His pledge is likely to open even more doors for NC State to land coveted offensive playmakers, while providing a view for the future of the program.

High expectations are bound to follow Rivers around in Raleigh. His father’s shadow will be quite large, but it’s something that the entire family knew about going in. They love both the university and Doeren, a combination that led him to picking the Wolfpack.

At the end of the day, this was a recruitment that the Pack needed to win. It did just that, a key feather in the veteran coach’s cap.