Cape Fear SEC football recruit Tai Phillips announces transfer

One of Fayetteville's top football recruits has transferred to a top South Carolina high school for the 2026-27 season.

Cape Fear's 3-star junior running back Tai Phillips announced that he has transferred to Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina, ahead of his senior season.

I am beyond blessed to announce that I will be finishing out my high school career at IRMO high school in Columbia, South Carolina! #PTMH 🐝 @Demyond1@1luv5@Coach_Dwill2124@ChadSimmons_@SWiltfong_@247recruiting@On3Recruitingpic.twitter.com/bS0HEzX176

— 3 🌟 Tai “Boom” Phillips (@taiphillips_1) February 1, 2026

Phillips, a top area RB, had an exciting junior year despite only suiting up in seven games. The 5-foot-11 back rushed for 919 yards on 116 carries, including a 302-yard, six-touchdown performance against county rival Terry Sanford.

After the announcement, Phillips explained to The Fayetteville Observer the reasons for his transfer.

"I chose to transfer to Irmo to get developed more as a player and compete against higher competition, which would best suit my transition into college football," Phillips said.

Irmo is one of the top high school football programs in South Carolina and has seen a massive rebuild by head coach Aaron Brand, who was recognized as the Carolina Panthers Coach of the Year in 2024. The Yellow Jackets secured the Region 5-4A state championship in 2023 and earned back-to-back state runners-up in 2024 and 2025.

The 3-star recruit holds 13 Division I offers from Alabama, Virginia Tech, ECU, Duke, NC State, Ohio State, Eastern Michigan, Wake Forest and more.

"I thank Fayetteville and all it has done for me, and I will make sure to carry the principles and morals that I’ve learned in my past years," Phillips said in his farewell to Fayetteville.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: 3-star RB Tai Phillips transfers to South Carolina high school