2028 Prospect Watch: Western NC WRs To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're well into the offseason, and we're keeping things going ahead of spring workouts and summer practices. In a new series that will run concurrently with some of our other cornerstone content, like my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/community-film-room-episode-4-2/">community film room series</a> or Matt Morrow's <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/deep-dive-union-county-wide-receivers/">county-by-county Deep Dives</a>, we're looking at what some of our 2028 players (both ranked and unranked) did as freshmen. The receivers in our rankings are spread across the state, but there's a high concentration of guys in the mountains and west of Charlotte. Here are several talented freshman receivers from the western part of the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1421082"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f7ccff6246d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The jitterbug of an athlete plays multiple positions for Lincolnton, lining up in the backfield, in the slot and out wide as a freshman. He's extremely slippery. Don't let his size fool you, he'll run through arm tackles and make defenders look silly after the catch. He'll eventually need to show a more advanced route tree, but for now, "Get Lynch the ball and let him run" is a sound strategy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1616138"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f7ccff624d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A two-sport athlete who spent most of the season on junior varsity, Hutchens has unreal athleticism. He can jump out of the stadium, a trait that serves him well as a basketball player. He's raw as a receiver, but his explosive athleticism makes him a potentially elite pass-catcher. He has an elite catch radius and flashed after the catch as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["590094"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f7ccff62519"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coulter has been on our radar for a while and answered the call with a strong freshman season. Coulter showed soft hands and big-play potential for Newton-Conover as one of several talented receivers in a strong passing offense. I expect Coulter to gain some weight and grow another inch or two into strong, shifty receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1616136"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67f7ccff6255c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lhuillier is a strong, explosive receiver and defensive back with high upside thanks to his size and athleticism. His vertical is elite and he has the strength to break tackles after the catch. He spent more time on defense as a varsity player, but we think his best college position will be as a receiver. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other 2028 WRs to Watch</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1354418' first='Jayven' last='Campbell'], </strong>Asheville School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1414998' first='Jakis' last='Smith'], </strong>R-S Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1287408' first='Kayden' last='Cobbs'],</strong> East Henderson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->