The Tar Heels have been digging deep on the 2025 recruiting trail to find some hidden gems and the final 247Sports rankings show that they found one in quarterback Au’Tori Newkirk.
After entering the week as a solid 3✮, Newkirk has made a substantial jump that now has him ranked as a 4✮ prospect according to 247Sports. His ranking jumps from an 87 to a 90 and he now sits as the No. 22 quarterback in the nation and No. 13 player in the state of Virginia. He becomes the third 4✮ prospect in the class for the program this cycle in 247Sports Player Rankings, joining fellow quarterback Bryce Baker and edge rusher Chinedu Onyeagoro.
When it comes to what it does for Newkirk’s 247Sports Composite Rankings, he has climbed to the No. 1372 overall prospect and No. 79 quarterback following the release of both 247Sports and ESPN’s latest round of rankings.
Newkirk just finished his senior season at Maury High School in Norfolk, VA where he has been thriving as the starter for the last two years. Last year, as a junior, he threw for 3,670 yards, 44 touchdowns and five interceptions while running for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named the VHSL Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year and led the team to a 15-0 season and a state title. He would accomplish the same feats this season after throwing for 3,802 yards and 50 touchdowns while running for 603 yards and six touchdowns.
Newkirk seems to be a hidden gem that the team has found to add to this room. Size was once a concern with him, but after a growth spurt that has him at 6’3, 200 lbs., those concerns should be gone. He has impressive arm strength that allows him to make deep throws with ease, even when he has to leave his feet while under pressure. The accuracy is there at all three levels and a lot of that happens because of the strong footwork that he has. He can make plenty of plays off-platform and thrive in situations where the team decides to roll him out. His release is the biggest concern about him after he had to adjust it because of an “elongated motion” that caused him to get the ball out slower according to 247Sports reporter Hudson Standish. As a ball carrier, he isn’t going to wow anyone with his speed but he can make plays in the open field and has the production that shows it can be a part of his game at the college level. The Class 5 classification might not be the top in the state of Virginia, but it is still a pretty good level of competition to judge him on and have him prepared for this level. He may not be fellow classmate Bryce Baker, but there is a lot to like about Newkirk’s upside. This is a worthwhile risk for a Tar Heel team that clearly didn’t see anything else in the portal after landing Ryan Browne earlier in the window.
This leap shows that Newkirk has a chance to be a legitimate quarterback at this level and is a strong depth piece for a room that could need it because of the threat of one of the guys competing to be the starter in the spring leaving for the portal.
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