Shelby the Favorite to Repeat in 2A

We strive to cover all levels and classifications of high school football in North Carolina. In doing so, it’s impossible to skip over 2A power Shelby. The Golden Lions have been a force for decades and 2022 will be no different. Led by third-year coach Mike Wilbanks, the Golden Lions are seeking their fourth state title in five years. This year, like in the past, Shelby is loaded on both sides of the ball. <strong>Known Commodities</strong> It all starts at the quarterback position for Shelby, where senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="372548" first="Daylin" last="Lee"] </strong>has established himself as one of the top arms in the state. Last year, Lee came on strong, improving his accuracy and decision-making while putting up an absurd 50-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He’s a legitimate D1 prospect, but he isn’t the only talented player on the offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="335914" first="Izay" last="Bridges"] </strong>often gets written off because of his size, but he’s one of the most electric playmakers in the state. He had a huge summer and put up some crazy times week in and week out at college camps. On the other side, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="372550" first="Ja’Keith" last="Hamilton"] </strong>has great size and ball skills, providing a reliable target for Lee, even when covered. Defensively, the Golden Lions are led by<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="121677" first="Jaden" last="Pierce"] (2024) </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118607" first="Ta’Darrin" last="Griffin"] (2023)</strong>, one of the top hybrid linebackers in the state. As is often the case, the Golden Lion defense is built from the front four, a group that is deep and talented. Pierce is one of our top linemen in the class of 2024, with Power 5 size and quickness. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="310364" first="Drew" last="Hollifield"] </strong>has been on the field for a few seasons, but after gaining some weight, he’s poised for a big fall on both sides of the ball. Similarly, fellow junior <strong>Cam Anderson </strong>will look to build on a strong sophomore season at his edge position. <strong>Breakout Candidates</strong> Last year’s defense was senior-heavy, so there will be plenty of opportunities for new faces this season. Edge rushers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="265789" first="Jason" last="Mcneilly"] </strong>played well last year in the defensive line rotation and will step up as a starter this year. On the other side, <strong>Tyler Boyce </strong>has been a multi-year starter but still doesn’t get the recognition he deserves. Expect him to become a household name in 2022. <strong>Justyn Ross (2025)</strong> and <strong>LJ Watkins (2024) </strong>have had strong springs and will provide depth for the defensive line. Look out for talented freshman <strong>Quevette McRae </strong>to make some noise in the defensive backfield rotation as the season goes on. Offensively, <strong>Milan Daniels (2023) </strong>and <strong>Eli Falls (2025) </strong>provide needed depth and versatility at receiver. Offensive linemen <strong>Jackie Ross (2023) </strong>and <strong>CJ Whitener (2024) </strong>both possess excellent strength and excel in pass protection. They fit well in Shelby’s spread attack. <strong>Bottom Line</strong> It all starts with Lee, who is truly one of the top quarterbacks in the state. The receiving depth is impressive and the offensive line is stout. While the secondary is unproven, the Golden Lions are once again loaded in the front seven and should generate consistent pressure. Once again, the Golden Lions are the favorites to repeat as 2A champions.