We tried to tell every college coach that came to get him out of class to work him out. What they say “he gotta come to our camp” 🤷🏾♂️
Alabama receiver Noah Rogers’ eye for quarterback talent never looked sharper than in the 2026 season. Long ago, he spotted the talent the rest of the nation now views as the NCAA's leading passer, Oregon State’s Braden Atkinson.
Back in 2022, Rogers entered his senior season at of the nation’s top recruits. But quarterback Byrum Brown graduated and was at South Florida (he’s now at Auburn, where he led the Tigers to an upset of then-No. 1-ranked Georgia). Rogers was without an experienced quarterback to get him the ball.
He was asked about Rolesville turning to Atkinson for his first varsity season as a sophomore.
“Don’t worry about Braden,” Rogers said. “He’s going to be good.”
Atkinson is now a sophomore at Oregon State and, through seven games, has thrown for 2,604 yards (372.0 per game) and 24 touchdowns with only two interceptions. He’s completing 69 percent of his passes (189 of 273) and is on a 12-game pace for 4,464 yards. The Rolesville alum leads all NCAA Division I quarterbacks in passing yards and passing touchdowns.
In three varsity seasons at Rolesville (2022-24), Atkinson totaled 9,472 yards, 121 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. As a senior in 2024, he led the Rams to the N.C. High School Athletics Association title game in the large school 4A Division.
So, where did Atkinson rank coming out of Rolesville among the Class of 2024? He was the No. 1,307 player in the nation. He had offers from Boston College and Miami of Ohio, but no other FBS schools, including the Triangle schools with Rolesville in their backyard. The only North Carolina-based college to make a verbal offer was Elon.
HSOT Insiders can read more in this feature on Tom Shanahan, which includes perspective from Atkinson on his quiet in-state recruiting on HighSchoolOT.
4
8
89
11,719
Our capitan’s for tonight’s game are…
#3 @raSeanW3
#5 @ajroberts5_
#6 @QuisBryantt
#7 @MarleyEmerson3
We will start the game kicking off to the Leesville Road Pride.
#GoRams
#3 @raSeanW3
#5 @ajroberts5_
#6 @QuisBryantt
#7 @MarleyEmerson3
We will start the game kicking off to the Leesville Road Pride.
#GoRams
47
2
10
1,177
Here’s our final score from senior night!
We will be back in action for an away game next Friday against Enloe for our last conference game of the season!
#GoRams
We will be back in action for an away game next Friday against Enloe for our last conference game of the season!
#GoRams
0
1
4
82
Sack by the Rolesville Defense!! This forces the fourth down. Leesville Road elects to punt the ball away. Chop Block penalty on the Rams will push us back to the 21 yard line.
0
0
0
65
@TheAmirBrown WITH HIS FOURTH TOUCHDOWN OF THE NIGHT‼️‼️
We kick the PAT and it’s good by @ZachDeCiantis37!
Rolesville: 35
Leesville Road: 0
We kick the PAT and it’s good by @ZachDeCiantis37!
Rolesville: 35
Leesville Road: 0
0
0
0
83
Leesville forces the 4th down. We go for it and get the first down!! We are now on their 15 yard line.
0
0
0
46
Absolutely amazing catch by @TheAmirBrown for the first down!
0
0
0
55
Blocked pass by @sackedbyJB forces the 4th down!! Leesville punts the ball and we will start on the 44 yard line.
0
0
0
64
@TheAmirBrown with another amazing rushing TD!!
We elect to kick the PAT and it’s good!!
Rolesville: 28
Leesville Road: 0
6:07 left in the third quarter.
We elect to kick the PAT and it’s good!!
Rolesville: 28
Leesville Road: 0
6:07 left in the third quarter.
0
0
0
73
@ZachDeCiantis37 kickoff goes into the endzone for a touchback. Leesville will begin on their 20 yard line.
0
0
0
76
@TheAmirBrown WITH A 31 YARD RUSHING TOUCHDOWN‼️
We elect to kick the PAT and it’s good!
Rolesville: 21
Leesville Road: 0
9:04 left in the third quarter.
We elect to kick the PAT and it’s good!
Rolesville: 21
Leesville Road: 0
9:04 left in the third quarter.
0
0
0
77
Rams force the 4th down! The Pride elect to punt the ball away. We will start on their 39 yard line.
0
0
0
72