Program Profile: Weddington Warriors

No team in the state has seen a more meteroic rise to the top than Weddington under head coach Andy Capone. Capone took over a decent, but unspectacular program with little sustained success in its 20 years of existence (I would know, I lived through it as a student) and turned Weddington into a national powerhouse. With a 77-8 career record, Capone has the Warriors as the favorites in North Carolina's highest classification.   Can the Warriors repeat in 2024?   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Weddington Warriors Top Players</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Weddington's Top Offensive Players</h3>   The Warriors will start a new quarterback in 2024, as [player_tooltip player_id='367042' first='Gregory' last='Fee'] will command the offense this season. He was in the program last year as a backup and will start this year. He has excellent size and a lively arm, giving the offense some down-the-field juice. He should see his recruitment take off once he plays more on Friday nights.   He's throwing to a strong group of receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='1326296' first='Gavin' last='Shrader'] adds some size on the outside and plays safety as well while [player_tooltip player_id='1326303' first='Will' last='Melton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1326318' first='Javon' last='Barber'] each have fantastic quickness from the slot. Juniors Jon Manley and [player_tooltip player_id='1671933' first='Brenan' last='Schauer'] are quickly developing and will get plenty of reps this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1326466' first='James' last='Colonna'] is the x-factor here. Primarily a hard-hitting safety, he'll get some reps at receiver to provide defenses a different look.   Perhaps the most underrated prospect on the team is [player_tooltip player_id='1326447' first='Joseph' last='Madden'], who plays Weddington's unique H-Back position. A strong blocker withgood ball skills, the guys who play that position in Weddington's offense always have a high footbal IQ.   It's a 2-headed monster at running back for the Warriors, as senior [player_tooltip player_id='1303785' first='Nick' last='Diamond'] and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1291000' first='Anthony' last='Barrino'] will split carries. Though they're similar in size, Diamond is more of a bruiser while Barrino is shifty and tough to square up. Transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1321106' first='Kelson' last='Tate'] will move around the formation a lot, taking snaps in the backfield, slot and at the line of scrimmage, adding another weapon for the Warrior offense.   Up front, Weddington has a really solid offensive line, led by three really good players. [player_tooltip player_id='1326477' first='Darren' last='Seibel'] will start at right tackle this season after playing a good number of snaps as the first offensive lineman off the bench last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1303797' first='Jimmy' last='Randazzo'] recently committed to Yale and is capable of starting at guard or tackle. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='415457' first='Bryce' last='Johnson'] might end up being the best offensive lineman to ever come out of Weddington after starting as a freshman. He'll play left guard this year.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Weddington's Top Defensive Players</h3>   Weddington's front seven is one of the best units I've ever covered in the Tar Heel state and when Signing Day rolls around, it's possible that four of the seven could be a top five player in their class.   The defensive line is anchored by twins [player_tooltip player_id='951444' first='Andrew' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='823700' first='Aiden' last='Harris']. Both hold dozens of Power Four offers and are young for their grade, still growing into their bodies. Harris is elite off the edge and Drew excels at clogging things up at the point of attack. But it's not finished there. Transfer [player_tooltip player_id='734802' first='Trajen' last='Odom'] is committed to Ohio State and finished his junior year with 22 tackles for loss. Jayden Morris offers a speed rushing option in the rotation and is physical for his size.   Behind them, [player_tooltip player_id='284098' first='Thomas' last='Davis Jr.'], son of former Carolina Panther Thomas Davis Sr., is growing into a fantastic linebacker. Like his dad, Davis' athleticism allows him to play anywhere on the defense, from the defensive line to in the slot. I'm not sure he's found a spot where his potential is highest yet, but he's shifting to middle linebacker as a junior, so I'll be interested to see how his length and elite first step play there.   The rest of the defense unfairly gets overlooked, at least by casual fans, but the rest of the linebackers and the secondary remain elite. I had [player_tooltip player_id='1323167' first='Ethan' last='Devore'] on my list of potential breakout players at linebacker, where his length and reactions serve him well and [player_tooltip player_id='396922' first='Braeden' last='Barger'] has been electric since making the full-time switch to defense. Some of his agility and quickness times at camps this summer have been elite and that lateral movement translates on film.   Weddington often uses its outside linebackers in the slot so that fourth linebacker role is extremely important for the Warriors. Bryce Larson had over 60 tackles in that role last year and though his future role is uncertain, the defensive coaches will try to make sure he's on the field often.   Joining Colonna and Shrader in the secondary are a really solid corner duo in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1303831' first='Caleb' last='Hill'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1326528' first='Stellan' last='Schilder']. Hill will be a four-year starter and though he looks undersized, he's always been a heavy hitter who can run. His ball skills have improved drastically since he first cracked the lineup and this could be a huge year for him. Schilder missed about half of the season with an injury last year, but is returning to play corner and safety. He's physical at the line and has plenty of length on the outside.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">What are Weddington's Expectations in 2024?</h3>   The Warriors are coming off their fourth title in six years under Capone and first in 4A, so that's the standard. Weddington knows there's a huge target on its back and that starts from the season's opening game, when the Warriors take on private school power Providence Day (<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/program-profile-providence-day-chargers/">profiled here</a>).   That could be the game of the year and is one of the best trench battles we've ever seen in the North Carolina high school ranks.   Weddington will also have revenge on its mind as despite winning the title, the Warriors lost to rival Marvin Ridge for the first time since 2017.   Weddington is deep, so expect a number of players I haven't even mentioned here to contribute to the team that is currently at the top of the class.

No team in the state has seen a more meteroic rise to the top than Weddington under head coach Andy Capone. Capone took over a decent, but unspectacular program with little sustained success in its 20 years of existence (I would know, I lived through it as a student) and turned Weddington into a national powerhouse. With a 77-8 career record, Capone has the Warriors as the favorites in North Carolina's highest classification.