KD Cotton is a safety from Charlotte, NC who enrolled at Duke in January 2026. At West Charlotte, Cotton earned three letters and served as a three-time captain. During his junior season, he recorded 77 tackles, five interceptions and six pass breakups on defense while also rushing for 247 yards and 10 touchdowns and catching 30 passes for 449 yards and 10 scores. He helped guide West Charlotte to the 2024 NCHSAA 3A state championship, a 14-7 win against Seventy-First that marked the program's first title since 1995. Cotton finished his prep career at Weddington, where he lettered one season. A three-star recruit, he was selected to the 2025 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas and earned two All-Charlotte Observer selections.

Duke2026 — present