Prep notebook: Ahlers to pick between ECU and NC State
Holton Ahlers, an AP all-state quarterback from D.H. Conley High in Greenville, will announce Monday at 11:40 a.m. at his school whether he will play for N.C. State or hometown East Carolina in the fall of 2018.
The Wolfpack and Pirates have been the two main competitors for the consensus three-star recruit, N&O All-Metro selection and conference player of the year.
Pirates fans are hoping Ahlers’ family ties – his father Morgan is the ECU public address announcer – keep him in Greenville.
The junior led the state in passing and set several N.C. High School Athletic Association offensive records this season. He accounted for more than 5,400 total yards, completing 284 of 460 passes (62 percent) for 4,503 yards and 51 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
The lefty doesn’t lack for speed or size, standing 6 feet, 4 inches with a 235-pound frame. He ran 150 times for 911 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
He tied for fifth in state history in single-season TD responsibility and set a state record with 618 total yards against C.B. Aycock this season and later set the marks for No. 2 (608) against Cardinal Gibbons and No. 5 (581) against J.H. Rose.
The loss to Rose, 77-67, set a new state record for most points by two teams in one game, but in Ahlers’ very next outing he helped break it in an 83-68 win over Aycock.
This story was originally published January 29, 2017 at 12:07 PM with the headline "Prep notebook: Ahlers to pick between ECU and NC State."