Some decisions just make too much sense. Gunner Rivers, the eldest son of longtime NFL quarterback Philip Rivers, has committed to NC State, following directly in his father's footsteps.
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Multiple outlets confirmed the commitment Monday.
Rivers is a four-star quarterback in the 2027 class and already looks the part. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound passer just wrapped up his junior season at Fairhope High School in Alabama, where he has piled up more than 10,200 passing yards with 111 touchdowns against just 15 interceptions.
His most recent season was his best yet, topping 3,100 yards with 46 scores and pushing his completion rate close to 70 percent.
NC State hosted Rivers on multiple visits, including a front-row seat for the Wolfpack's 42-19 win over North Carolina in November. That mattered. So did the history.
Gunner turned down offers from Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, and Miami to choose Raleigh. Rivals ranks him as the No. 12 quarterback in the country and the fourth-best prospect in Alabama for his class.
The expectations are obvious. Philip Rivers still owns nearly every major passing record at NC State, including career yards and touchdowns. Those are massive shoes. Oh, and he just re-retired from the NFL. We think.
But Gunner is not running from it. He is leaning into it.
Sometimes legacy is pressure. Sometimes it is motivation. NC State is betting this is the latter.
