2026 RB Noah Moss Commits to NC State: “I Want to Go Out There and Play Some Football”
NC State has just landed a commitment from St. Michael Catholic (Fairhope, Ala.) running back Noah Moss, one of the state of Alabama’s most productive backs over the past two seasons, regardless of class.
Moss — a 6-foot, 205-pound workhorse — committed to NC State this week after returning home from his visit to Raleigh for the Wolfpack’s rivalry win over North Carolina. The trip included a surprise scholarship offer from NC State head coach Dave Doeren, and Moss didn’t wait long to jump on the opportunity.
“It was amazing,” Moss told Inside Pack Sports. “Coach Doeren shook my hand within the first ten minutes and said he wanted to offer me a scholarship to come play at NC State. I was all smiles the rest of the night.”
The commitment marks a major milestone for both Moss and St. Michael Catholic — a rapidly rising program led by NC State legend Philip Rivers, whose influence has played a huge role in Moss’ development.
Moss helped lead St. Michael Catholic’s program — which has played varsity football for fewer than 10 years — to three of the best seasons in school history — 6-5, 12-2, and a 13-1 campaign this fall that ended just short of a state title.
“It hurts not ending at the top,” he said. “But I’m so grateful to be part of this team. I don’t think it’s common how close all of us are.”
Individually, Moss hit every benchmark he set before the season — topping 2,000 rushing yards (2,112 yards), averaging nearly double-digit yards per carry (9.9 yards per carry), and matching last year’s touchdown total (35 rushing, 3 receiving). But the game that turned heads statewide came in the playoffs, where he delivered one of the most explosive performances in Alabama history: 16 carries, 368 yards, 6 touchdowns.
It set the state record for rushing yards in a playoff game for Class 4A–7A.
“That game was kind of wild,” Moss recalled. “I didn’t even know my stats until halftime. I looked at my phone and saw I had 15 carries for 305 yards. I was like, ‘What the heck?’”
He broke a 60-yard touchdown on the first play of the third quarter — his final carry of the night.
Moss attributes his growth not only to added size — he gained 20 pounds each of the past two offseasons — but also to playing under Rivers and alongside 2027 star quarterback Gunner Rivers, his best friend.
“My football IQ has gotten way better,” Moss said. “Hanging around Coach Rivers and Gunner, you just learn football. Not just playing football, but knowing football.”
This year he didn’t lose a single fumble, and he emphasized becoming a smarter, more efficient back.
“I think that’ll help me as much as anything I do in the weight room.”
Moss arrived in Raleigh for the NC State–UNC game with Philip Rivers, Gunner Rivers, and several members of the Rivers family. He expected an enjoyable trip.
He didn’t expect an offer.
“I’d been to an Auburn game before, so in my head I was thinking the atmosphere might not match that,” Moss said. “But me and Gunner both were like, ‘This is way better.’ The student section, everything — it was awesome.”
He was also struck by the interactions his head coach had with the Wolfpack staff.
“I have so much respect for Coach Rivers,” he said. “Seeing the respect he had for the NC State coaches had a big impact on me.”
After returning home, Moss spoke with the South Alabama staff — whom he’d been committed to since June and deeply respects — before calling Doeren and running backs coach Todd Goebbel to commit.
“They were fired up,” Moss said. “They were happy to have me part of the Pack.”
Moss didn’t hesitate when asked what ultimately sold him on NC State.
“It seemed like a great place to live, great atmosphere, great coaches,” he said. “I know I’ll be taken care of there. I want to thrive, and I think I will.”
He was especially drawn to Goebbel’s vision for developing him as a player.
“Coach Goebbel played quarterback, so he’s going to teach me football from a quarterback’s lens,” Moss said. “That can only help a running back.”
He also praised NC State strength coach Dantonio Burnette, known universally as “Thunder.”
“Everybody knows you spend a lot of your time with your strength coach. Thunder is one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Despite owning early Ivy League offers from Harvard and Dartmouth, Moss said he isn’t locked into a major yet but wants to remain connected to sports in some capacity.
While the influence of Philip Rivers is impossible to ignore, Moss emphasizes that his coach never pushed him toward NC State.
“Throughout my whole recruiting process, he just told me to stay steady and trust in God,” Moss said. “We didn’t even know NC State was going to offer me when we got there.”
Still, the chance to potentially reunite with Gunner Rivers at the next level is something Moss openly hopes for.
“I’ve told him I’d love nothing more than that,” he said. “I always prayed before theese last few games that we’d get to be teammates again.”
Moss will not be able to enroll early due to school policies, but he’ll arrive in Raleigh as soon as he graduates in the spring.
When he imagines joining the Wolfpack program full-time, he sees opportunity.
“Being part of a Power 5 program is something not many people get to do,” he said. “I want to take it seriously and use it to be the best I can be — and to help the program win football games.”
Asked what kind of player NC State is getting, Moss didn’t hesitate.
“I play hard. I don’t have a big mouth. I just want to go out there and play some football.”
Moss joins Dylan McCoy as the second running back commit in the 2026 class. He is a 3-star prospect per 247Sports.
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