SALISBURY, N.C. — Rowan County has several hometown connections to the NFL during the 2026 season, with three players who developed their football careers at local high schools currently associated with NFL rosters.
Javon Hargrave, Jalon Walker and Zeek Biggers each played high school football in Rowan County before advancing to major college programs and eventually the NFL.
Hargrave, a Salisbury native and North Rowan High School graduate, enters his 11th NFL season as a defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Hargrave in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft after he played at South Carolina State. He later played for the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings before joining Green Bay.
Hargrave has appeared in 146 regular-season games with 130 starts and recorded 49 sacks through his first 10 NFL seasons. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has also played in two Super Bowls.
Before reaching the NFL, Hargrave earned all-state and all-county honors at North Rowan in Spencer. He also played basketball for the Cavaliers and was part of North Rowan’s 2011 state championship team.
Another Rowan County defensive standout, Zeek Biggers, enters his second NFL season with the Miami Dolphins.
Biggers, a Salisbury native and West Rowan High School graduate, played college football at Georgia Tech before Miami selected him with the 253rd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-6 defensive lineman appeared in nine games during his rookie season, recording 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Biggers earned a spot on Miami’s initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season.
Salisbury High School also has a representative in the NFL with Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Jalon Walker.
Walker starred for Salisbury before playing at the University of Georgia, where he developed into one of college football’s top linebackers. He won the Butkus Award following the 2024 season after recording 60 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Atlanta selected Walker with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Walker recorded 36 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery during his rookie season.
His second season was cut short before the regular season began. Walker suffered a torn ACL during training camp in August and was placed on injured reserve, ending his 2026 season.
Despite Walker’s injury, Rowan County has three current NFL players with direct ties to local high school football.
The group represents three Rowan County programs: North Rowan, West Rowan and Salisbury.
Hargrave enters his 11th NFL season as a two-time Pro Bowl selection. Biggers begins his second season after earning a place on Miami’s roster. Walker remains with Atlanta as he begins his recovery from the knee injury.
Their paths from Rowan County high school football to the NFL give the area three hometown players competing at professional football’s highest level.
