Major-college quarterback talent won’t be abundant in North Carolina during the 2008 season, but that doesn’t mean the cupboard is completely bare.

Players such as Danny O’Brien at East Forsyth, Raleigh Broughton’s Chandler Browning and Justin Sizemore from Maiden put up impressive statistics as juniors and have caught the eyes of college recruiters.

But the cream of the state’s quarterback crop may reside down East in Craven County.

The town of Vanceboro is home to 6-foot-4, 230-pound Brett Mooring, who over the last two seasons has passed for almost 5,000 yards at West Craven High School.

Mooring broke into the starting lineup at West Craven with a splash as a sophomore in coach Clay Jordan’s spread offense. He completed 21 of 41 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns to rally Eagles to a 49-40 triumph over Southern Wayne.

Just two years earlier, Mooring had been playing offensive tackle in middle school.

“His situation was kind of a strange bird,’’ Jordan said. “He was a big kid in middle school, and you know how they put all the big kids in middle school on the line.

“We got him here in the ninth grade and we saw him during summer workouts throwing the ball around. So we moved him to quarterback. He started on the JV in the ninth grade and has had two straight great years for on us on the varsity.’’

Mooring completed 176 of 340 passes for 2,146 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore but was intercepted 24 times. He cut down the number of picks to 14 last season, while completing 190 of 376 throws for 2,721 yards and 19 scores.

The New Bern Sun Journal selected Mooring as its all-area quarterback for the 2007 season.

Developing interest

Jordan hasn’t been surprised Mooring has developed into a strong-armed quarterback. His father, Dennis, also played for Jordan as a pitcher on West Craven’s baseball team years ago.

Mooring also plays basketball and baseball, working at third base and pitcher for the Eagles.

But it’s on the football field where his future lies, according to Jordan.

“He’s developed into a pretty good athlete,’’ Jordan said. “He’s 6-foot-4, about 230 pounds and he ran a 4.71 40 and did a 31-inch vertical (leap) over at the South Central combine (Down East Combine and Skills Camp).

“But I think the biggest thing is he’s just a real smart kid. We’re a spread, no-huddle type of team and he does a lot of our playcalling at the line of scrimmage. He has a knack for getting in the right play and knowing pre-snap and post-snap where to go with the football.’’

Jordan said Mooring doesn’t have any scholarship offers at this point, despite Internet reports of one from East Carolina. Still, the interest from the Pirates and others is very high.

“He’s had a lot of interest by mail from the in-state schools,’’ Jordan said. “Illinois, for some reason, is recruiting him very hard by mail, and so is Purdue. All the Mid-American schools like Akron are also interested.

“We’re going to camp him all summer. A lot of the Division I schools now want to see a kid in camp before they offer.’’

Jordan said Mooring isn’t just limited to playing quarterback in college. He’s athletic enough to develop into a college prospect at other positions, too.

“He’s a kid who is a quarterback, but he can turn into a tight end very easily because of his speed,’’ Jordan said.

Mooring may not be the only major-college prospect for the Eagles next fall.

Wide receiver Erik Highsmith could be a sleeper among the state’s prospects.

The 6-4, 180-pounder is best known for his exploits on the basketball court for West Craven, where he has starred since his sophomore year. But Jordan talked him into playing football last season and Highsmith responded by making 57 catches.

“His name is not out there yet because last year was his first year,’’ Jordan said. “But once he gets into some of these summer camps he’s going to open some eyes. He has a 36-inch vertical.’’

Deacons add linebacker

Wake Forest has added a third player to its recruiting Class of 2009 in Ashburn, Va., linebacker Mike Olson.

Olson plays for the highly successful program at Stone Bridge High, which has already produced N.C. State commit Brian Slay this season. Slay is a defensive end.

The 6-4, 215-pound Olson received his first offer from the Deacons, although schools such as Boston College, N.C. State, Syracuse and Virginia were also showing interest. He enjoyed a stellar junior campaign, making 103 tackles, four sacks and an interception to earn all-conference honors.

Olson joins a Wake Forest program that already includes his former Stone Bridge teammate, Devon Brown, who is a redshirt freshman receiver with the Deacons.

Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.