Top 20 Athletics & Sports from Raleigh on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: November 10, 2026

Total Athletics & Sports Influencers in Raleigh, United States of America

246

Expected Reach

2.5M

Total Followers

7.6M

Avg Engagement

5.38%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Braxton Berrios
@braxtonberrios
NFL All Pro MIA | NYC BraxtonBerriosTeam@unitedtalent.com Venture: @skinnylouie.burgers @wildermarket @drinkupdate @sipmargs @palmtreecrew @betr @sesh
Raleigh, United States of America
627.0K
Followers
12.48%
Engagement
+1.8%(+10.9K)
8.5
2
Jon Heck
@what_the_heck71
Nutrition and Strength Coach 🥩 Host of @hammerchiselperformancepod 🎙️ Former NFL Strength and Conditioning YouTube👇Training Programs👇1:1 Coaching
Raleigh, United States of America
127.9K
Followers
1.86%
Engagement
+2.9%(+3.7K)
7.6
3
Ronnie Shirley
@lizardlicktowin
Country as cornflakes gooder N grits,TV Lizard Lick Towing& Ronnies Roadtrip, Evangelist,married 2 @lizardlick_teamamy father,Repo man&Christ follower
Raleigh, United States of America
205.3K
Followers
0.09%
Engagement
+1.4%(+2.9K)
5.8
4
Jaccob Slavin
@jslavin74
All glory to God #AGTG Galatians 1:10. Husband to Kylie. Father to Emersyn and Charlie. Defenseman for Carolina Hurricanes #74
Raleigh, United States of America
71.3K
Followers
22.66%
Engagement
+4.0%(+2.7K)
9.5
5
Celine Jones | Bahamian Wonder Woman🇧🇸
@getlean_celine
✨Ya Fav STRONG GAL✨ Showcasing the BEAUTY in STRENGTH 🤍🦾 RDU📍| ‘Big O’ Strong ❣️🕊 ⬇️8 Week GetLEAN Challenge⬇️
Raleigh, United States of America
86.7K
Followers
0.67%
Engagement
+3.1%(+2.6K)
4.8
6
Aziaha James
@lefty_2021
@packwomensbball Alum LLAJ🕊️
Raleigh, United States of America
53.5K
Followers
19.53%
Engagement
+2.7%(+1.4K)
9.4
7
DREAMER
@dreamer
By @realcoleworld.
Raleigh, United States of America
95.2K
Followers
22.75%
Engagement
+1.5%(+1.4K)
9.3
8
ABBY LABAR
@abbylabar
≫ Sports Host + Reporter + Media Personality @mlbnetwork @thepwhlofficial ≫ 2x Emmy-nominated [ Romans 12:2 ]
Raleigh, United States of America
57.9K
Followers
3.41%
Engagement
+2.2%(+1.3K)
8.7
9
NITRES
@nitresthaveteran
#Raleigh NC ✈️ #Philly PA Rapper | #foodreviewer | 📺@theincrowd215 “SWITCH UP” OUT NOW 🔥 Stream 👇🏾
Raleigh, United States of America
29.8K
Followers
2.92%
Engagement
+3.9%(+1.1K)
9.5
10
Tripp Tracy
@tracy_tripp
Television Broadcaster Carolina Hurricanes NHL
Raleigh, United States of America
24.4K
Followers
9.59%
Engagement
+4.5%(+1.0K)
9.2
11
Ibrahima Dione
@grisbordeaux_officiel
8600 Neuse Landing Ln Raleigh, NC 27616 Etats-Unis
Raleigh, United States of America
28.3K
Followers
5.44%
Engagement
+3.3%(+912)
8.9
12
PK
@pyotr_kochetkov
#52 for the @canes 🌪️ Raleigh, NC | Penza, Russia SK ❤️
Raleigh, United States of America
39.7K
Followers
29.95%
Engagement
+2.3%(+888)
9.1
13
Denise O’Sullivan
@deniseosullivan10
⚽️ @irelandfootball & @liverpoolfcw Media & Marketing Enquiries contact - @charliemoosemedia
Raleigh, United States of America
56.0K
Followers
5.05%
Engagement
+1.6%(+872)
8.0
14
cassie
@cassie.chatman
Welcome friends 🫶🏼🎧 Model, chasing fitness goals! @tlfapparel TLF-CASSIEFIT Always blessed ✨
Raleigh, United States of America
14.3K
Followers
0.33%
Engagement
+6.4%(+868)
7.3
15
Travis Toivonen | Sports Performance Coach
@travistoivonen
I make athletes faster. Former NFL WR | CSCS ⚡️Fast. Strong. Explosive.
Raleigh, United States of America
49.6K
Followers
3.29%
Engagement
+1.7%(+852)
6.4
16
Ellie Hildreth
@elliehildrethh
lifestyle, creativity, and wellness 💌ellie@fromatoztalent.com Tiktok : elliehildrethh @wolfpackwgolf ‘29 🐺
Raleigh, United States of America
67.5K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+1.2%(+795)
8.0
17
Joao Mescolote | Swim Coach 🇧🇷🇺🇸
@swimcoachjoao
Coach/Swimmer 🐅 LSU Swim ‘18 🥇 @swimsmarttoday | @destro_machines | @finisswim 🏋️‍♂️ @majorfitness_global | @my.tapex | @kensuifitness
Raleigh, United States of America
43.1K
Followers
0.80%
Engagement
+1.8%(+781)
6.4
18
Frederik Andersen
@frederikandersen31
Raleigh, NC🇺🇸 Herning, Denmark🇩🇰
Raleigh, United States of America
142.0K
Followers
17.59%
Engagement
+0.5%(+764)
8.8
19
Podcast Host | Speaker | Coach | Consultant
@marquesogden
🏈 Retired NFL Linemen
🎧 Podcaster 📚 Best Selling Author
🎤 Keynote Speaker Sports Broadcaster News Nation Live Owner @grindgoods Owner @agoge.life
Raleigh, United States of America
19.2K
Followers
0.04%
Engagement
+3.4%(+637)
5.9
20
Robyn Machado
@robynmachado
BJJ Blue Belt | 67.5kg Powerlifter 💜 Biker Chick 🎮 Gamer
Raleigh, United States of America
81.1K
Followers
1.20%
Engagement
+0.8%(+618)
8.3

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in Raleigh with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Athletics & Sports content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 2.5M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 7.6M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 5.38% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 246 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

Audience analysis is currently unavailable.

  • Top Markets: no data
  • Gender Distribution: no data
  • Primary Age Group: no data
  • Languages: no data

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Athletics & Sports niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Raleigh on Instagram?

Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) is, as of November 2026, the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in Raleigh on Instagram, with +1.8% monthly growth (+10.9K followers).

How many followers did Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) gain last month?

Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) gained about 10.9K followers last month (+1.8%).

Who grew more: Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) or Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71)?

Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) grew more than Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71) (10.9K vs 3.7K).

How is Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71) performing right now?

Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71) is growing at +2.9% (+3.7K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.6 and average engagement of 1.86%.

How is Ronnie Shirley (@lizardlicktowin) performing right now?

Ronnie Shirley (@lizardlicktowin) is growing at +1.4% (+2.9K) per month, with a Profile Score of 5.8 and average engagement of 0.09%.

How is Jaccob Slavin (@jslavin74) performing right now?

Jaccob Slavin (@jslavin74) is growing at +4.0% (+2.7K) per month, with a Profile Score of 9.5 and average engagement of 22.66%.

How is Celine Jones | Bahamian Wonder Woman🇧🇸 (@getlean_celine) performing right now?

Celine Jones | Bahamian Wonder Woman🇧🇸 (@getlean_celine) is growing at +3.1% (+2.6K) per month, with a Profile Score of 4.8 and average engagement of 0.67%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71) or Ronnie Shirley (@lizardlicktowin)?

Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71) leads (2.9% vs Ronnie Shirley (@lizardlicktowin) 1.4%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios)?

Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) gained about 10.9K followers last month (+1.8%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71)?

Jon Heck (@what_the_heck71) gained about 3.7K followers last month (+2.9%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Ronnie Shirley (@lizardlicktowin)?

Ronnie Shirley (@lizardlicktowin) gained about 2.9K followers last month (+1.4%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Jaccob Slavin (@jslavin74)?

Jaccob Slavin (@jslavin74) gained about 2.7K followers last month (+4.0%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Celine Jones | Bahamian Wonder Woman🇧🇸 (@getlean_celine)?

Celine Jones | Bahamian Wonder Woman🇧🇸 (@getlean_celine) gained about 2.6K followers last month (+3.1%).

Is Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Braxton Berrios (@braxtonberrios) has a Profile Score of 8.5, average engagement of 12.48%, and +1.8% (+10.9K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Athletics & Sports in United States of America?

The average engagement rate for this category is 5.38%. Generally, rates above 6.5% are considered excellent, while rates above 4.3% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in Raleigh?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.