2024 Preview: North Central Knights

A lot of veteran leadership will be back for North Central, who finished 4-7 overall after ending the 2023 season with a loss to Andrews in the first round of the playoffs.   With the 2024 season beginning in exactly two weeks on August 23 at home against Great Falls, that leadership from the 12 seniors on the roster will be vital to bring some of the younger guys up to speed for head coach Daniel Sisk and the Knights.    “We've got to bring them up to our level because we're a younger team this year and it's going to take more sacrifices than last year,” running back/linebacker Jon Clarkson said.   The offense for the Knights will return five starters, including Cassidy Horton and Jackson Rodgers on the offensive line. On defense, there will be seven starters back including Quayson Peoples at linebacker, where that will be a strength for the Knights in their 3-4 scheme.    Donnie Escobar will be back at kicker, who Sisk says is automatic and he can find holes in the opposing team's kickoff return team.   Getting in shape will also be critical.   “We've got to get in shape. We've got to stay healthy. We don't have the depth but we've had a great offseason, we've had a great summer. Our weightlifting team actually won the state championship. The team chemistry is great. We went to FCA camp (several weeks ago) and bonded. The guys love each other. They love the coaches, the coaches love the players and we talk a lot about potential. This team can be a really, really special North Central team. But we've got to show up and we've got to play the game on Friday nights,” Sisk said.   STARS SET TO SHINE   Ashton Brazell CB, 2025 – The All-Region selection who led was a ballhawk from his cornerback position will now be the starting quarterback for the Knights in 2024. He has a cannon for an arm and plays baseball as well, who runs a 4.6 in the 40.   Improvements heading into 2024: “Endurance. Not getting gassed after halftime.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1360295' first='Aiden' last='Wiles'] OL/DL, 2025 – Wiles (pictured above) is called by Sisk the best player on the field, who received an offer from The Citadel back on June 13. He had 73 tackles and 11.5 tackles for a loss on defense in 2023 and will see time on both sides of the ball again in 2024.   Improvements heading into 2024: “After last year, knowing that I would be 100+ plays per game, I just have to keep my strength up and endurance up and keep fighting and not let the other guys on the field down when it gets close in the fourth quarter.”   Dalton Davis LB/TE, 2025 – Davis has been moved to tight end for the upcoming 2024 campaign. Sisk says the All-Region selection from 2023 has a knack for the ball and can get downhill and is very physical. He went to camp at Newberry and Erskine this summer.   Improvements heading into 2024: “I think the biggest thing for us this year is the team chemistry. I think that's a great thing and the defense over the summer definitely developed a lot. (We) made better reads and I think we got a lot better in the offseason. Glad to see where it goes from here.”   On camps this summer: “I feel like I made some good relationships with coaches. I learned a lot and got better at those camps. I'm ready to see where it goes from here.”   Jon Clarkson RB/LB, 2025 – The All-Region selection rushed for 773 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging eight yards per carry in 2023. He led the team in sacks last year with 12 and Sisk says he has incredible speed for his position.   On the team FCA Camp this summer: “We had a better bonding with the team, getting more close with God. That just helped everybody uplift themselves.”   KEY LOSSES   Casey Shropshire, RB/OLB – Shropshire had 1,300 yards rushing last year and led the team in touchdowns last year.   Mehki Whaley OL – A 6-foot-4, 300 pound nose guard who also starred on the offensive line as well.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1249778' first='Jordan' last='Joe'] WR/DB, 2025 – While you can expect the Knights to keep it on the ground the majority of the time, Sisk said that Joe will be able to win those one-on-one battles. We saw that on his film against Chesterfield last year – he has a good ability to jump and go up and make the catch. He can also lay the lumber from his defensive back position. He picked off 7 passes in 2023.    UP AND COMING POTENTIAL   Keep an eye on Bryson Eubanks at quarterback and outside linebacker as well as Brayden Price at defensive back.    Jones is a sure tackler from his linebacker position. Once he's able to diagnose the play, he's able to slow himself down to come up and make tackles on the ball carrier and play under control. He'll be a returning starter for the Knights in 2024 who had 49 tackles in 2023.

A lot of veteran leadership will be back for North Central, who finished 4-7 overall after ending the 2023 season with a loss to Andrews in the first round of the playoffs.