Program Profile: Hough Huskies

Head Coach DeShawn Baker brings back a talented team this upcoming season, loaded with talent all over the roster. Let's take a look at some of the players expected to make a big impact this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='371459' first='Trey' last='Blakeney'] in the quarterback position is one of the best in the state of North Carolina. Trey recently committed to Austin Peay to play college football, so congratulations to him for that. Trey did a good job last year in leading the Huskies to the 3rd round of the State Playoffs. Talented sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='254550' first='Ethan' last='Royal'] is one of the most heralded Class of 2027 quarterbacks in the state, who has multiple Division 1 offers himself. Both players have some dual-threat ability and do a masterful job of operating an intricate offense with a lot of motion and different sets called by Coach Baker.   At the running back spot, the Huskies can have multiple threats to hurt you with the football in their hands. The primary threat looks to be [player_tooltip player_id='905224' first='Jycen' last='Anciso'], who was an All-Conference player last season and was voted the Offensive MVP for the Huskies last season. At 6'2 and 200 pounds, Jycen has an offer from Georgetown University. Two other names to watch in the backfield for the Huskies are Jamison Funderburk and Joey Lembo who have both been active on the camp circuit this summer with good results.   The Huskies have a talented wide receiver core this year. I previously wrote about [player_tooltip player_id='1303790' first='Sean' last='Brady'] in another article, and he had two offers at the time. He has added offers from NC A&T, Alabama A&M, Maine, and Gardner-Webb since that time. [player_tooltip player_id='945238' first='Tyran' last='Evans'] is a tall 6'3 Division 1 prospect who gives the Huskies a different type of receiver for their offense than they have usually employed throughout their years as a state title contender. Evans currently has offers from Charlotte, James Madison, Florida, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, Troy, Temple, Eastern Kentucky, South Florida, Kent State, Bryant, and Middle Tennessee State. [player_tooltip player_id='1201618' first='Syir' last='Sutton'] is another threat to watch who also recently committed to Austin Peay as his teammate [player_tooltip player_id='371459' first='Trey' last='Blakeney'] did at the QB spot. [player_tooltip player_id='1678655' first='Jahmere' last='Anderson'] is also a sophomore to watch - at 6'1 and 175 pounds, he displays a nice catch radius and some speed to get deep against 1 on 1 coverage.   The Huskies' offensive line as a whole has to be one of the best in the state. Led by C [player_tooltip player_id='321268' first='Kiande' last='Marsh'], who has really started to gain a ton of recruiting traction, these linemen have some excellent size and athletic ability. Marsh currently has named a Top 5 of schools he will select from for his college choice which includes Alabama A&M, South Carolina State, Alcorn State, Alabama State, and Morgan State. Amaree Lawrence Broome comes into the program as a talented junior prospect who was named an All-Conference player last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1158293' first='Jarvis' last='Potts'] is another highly regarded OL prospect with offers from Boston College, Marshall, Georgia Southern, Eastern Kentucky, and Charlotte. Diantae Berry will be a powerful interior offensive line partner with this group who will add to the punch coming off the football up front for the Huskies.   On defense, the Huskies have some talent on all three levels. The defensive line has a number of talented players that will form a tough rotation of players that opposing offensive lines will have trouble with over 4 quarters. [player_tooltip player_id='799142' first='Nathaniel' last='Mitchell'], Chris Hilliard, and [player_tooltip player_id='383947' first='Zane' last='Bostick'] are formidable in the middle of the defensive line and all have enough athleticism to shift out to play some defensive end depending on the scheme the Huskies choose to employ. [player_tooltip player_id='1303803' first='Ledarrion' last='Menter'] coming into the program will be a major force at either the end or defensive tackle position. At 6'3 and 250 pounds, Ledarrion recently committed to Old Dominion University to play college football.   At the linebacker spot, [player_tooltip player_id='1303805' first='Eddie' last='Conover'] leads the charge for the Huskies. Coming into the program, Eddie had a stellar year last season with 100 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks. It is possible that we see Eddie rushing the passer a good bit to take advantage of that sacking ability. Ayden Bell and Maddox Blackburn project to be two players that fortify the middle of that Huskies' defense in run-stopping situations especially.   Throughout the years, the Huskies have been known for their elite secondary play, and this year is no different. [player_tooltip player_id='284097' first='Samari' last='Matthews'] I believe is the top Class of 2026 defensive back in the nation, and he has offers from just about every school you could imagine. He has narrowed his list down to his Top 11 schools which include Clemson, Florida, Florida State, North Carolina, Norte Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech. Opposite him is [player_tooltip player_id='1203836' first='Reggie' last='Rainer Jr']. who has committed to Charlotte, and is a talented Class of 2025 prospect. [player_tooltip player_id='1303824' first='Morgan' last='Linton'] is one of the top safeties in North Carolina, and he recently committed to Austin Peay University. Karmel Quick is another talented prospect who can play outside or slot corner, and he recently committed to Lenoir-Rhyne University.   Overall, the Huskies have been knocking at the door of a state championship appearance for a few years now. The focus in North Carolina is on several programs at the 4A level, and the Huskies should be one of them. With an experienced senior quarterback, strong offensive and defensive line play, and experienced coaches that have been through the wars, this could be the year the Huskies breakthrough that State Championship barrier.

Head Coach DeShawn Baker brings back a talented team this upcoming season, loaded with talent all over the roster. Let's take a look at some of the players expected to make a big impact this year.