Brandon Barnes is regarded as one of the state's top rising senior football prospects, as he already holds offers from Southern Cal, Florida, Oklahoma, Auburn, Clemson, Miami, North Carolina and NC State among others.
Fellow Bunn tailback Chris Fleurmont views it as a positive.
"I think it's motivating me a little bit," said Fleurmont. "It's making me step my game up.
"I think we will perform even better together this year. We know we have the ability to achieve something special if we work together. It will be good for the both of us and our team."
In fact, Fleurmont actually started ahead of Barnes in 2006. He was the focal point at tailback with Barnes rotating between tailback and slotback. Fleurmont tallied 900 yards and 12 TDs on just 54 carries, and Bunn head coach David Howle believes that Fleurmont's role in the offense shows how good he really is.
"Chris actually played over Brandon for us," said coach Howle. "That should tell you how good he is because everybody wants Brandon. We share the ball here at Bunn a lot, and I really believe Chris is a player."
With the Evaluation Period underway, several programs have expressed interest in Fleurmont.
"I'm hearing from NC State, Virginia, Georgia Tech, ECU, and Hampton," he said. "Those are the colleges recruiting me so far."
East Carolina has expressed heavy interest.
"Coach Howle said some ECU coaches came by to evaluate me," said Fleurmont. "I don't know a lot about them, but I want to find out more. I hear it is a good school, but I have never been there."
"East Carolina is definitely recruiting Chris," said Howle. "They have already been by here to check on him."
Don't expect an early decision from Fleurmont.
"Even when the offers come I don't think I will choose a college real quick," he said. "I want to take my time so I can make the right choice."