1A Player of the Year Candidates, Season Prediction

Welcome to All-State season! Over the next three weeks, we'll have some sort of preseason awards coverage for all eight NCHSAA classifications and NCISAA. We're releasing All-State content each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as we preview each classification, giving you the scoop on the players to know and teams to watch in this new eight-class system.

We're starting with the 1A classification, the class with the smallest schools in the state. In the past, schools now in 2A, 3A, and even 4A, would limit the upside of these teams, but I'm excited to see what some of these players can do against similarly-sized schools. So, here are our 1A Player of the Year candidates and classification season preview.

Travon Usher, Wilson Prep

Star'saun Taylor, Southeast Collegiate

Analysis: The 1A class is always and forever going to be lower on pure passers than other classifications, and there are two main contenders for an overall player of the year award from the 1A quarterback ranks. Taylor was excellent last year from an efficiency standpoint, while Usher's dual-threat abilities could help him put up unreal numbers this season.

Josiah Esperance, KIPP Pride

Kaiden Boyce, Thomas Jefferson Classical

Clinton Mills, Southeast Collegiate

Vance Keel, Bear Grass Charter

Sincere Columbus Sincere Columbus 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Northside-Pinetown | 2026 State NC , Northside-Pinetown

Analysis: As you would expect, the running back position is loaded with potential players of the year. Of the listed six, only Columbus went over 1,000 yards, mostly due to schedule. I expect several of these guys to have breakout years and the race to be crowned the top 1A running back will be an interesting race to follow.

Nazir Vines Nazir Vines 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB/ATH Wilson Prep | 2026 State NC , Wilson Prep

Gabe Zuniga, Thomas Jefferson Classical

Analysis: Another small group, given this class's propensity for throwing the football, both Zuniga and Vines are crucial to their teams' success. Vines plays all over the field on both sides of the ball and has to be considered one of the favorites to win player of the year.

Tremaine Horton, Southeast Collegiate

Reginald Holmes Reginald Holmes 6'4" | 330 lbs | OL/DL Wilson Prep | 2026 State NC , Wilson Prep

Analysis: Since a lot of these guys play both ways, we're combining the guys in the trenches. This class loses several standouts to graduation, but Horton and Holmes are two proven guys on the line-of-scrimmage. By the end of the year, there will be several new faces on this list, but for now, these are the primary contenders.

Isiac Collins Isiac Collins 6'3" | 205 lbs | ATH/LB Robbinsville | 2026 State NC , Robbinsville

Cameron Johnson Cameron Johnson 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Southeast Collegiate Prep | 2026 State NC , Southeast Collegiate

Dawayne Pone, Winston Salem Prep

Emmanuel Coley, North Edgecombe

Analysis: More than any other position in this class, the linebacker position boasts some guys who are among the best in the state at their position. Collins and Johnson are two of our favorite linebackers in the state, Johnson as a pure thumper and Collins as an athletic two-way player who just makes things happen. Pone and Coley live around the ball and excel at digging through the trash inside to make tackles near the line of scrimmage.

Jykell Johnson, Bear Grass Charter

Tamaues Person, Weldon

Antonio Felton Antonio Felton 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB KIPP Pride | 2028 State NC , KIPP Pride

Aiden Bennett, North Stokes

It's often hard to find defensive backs with excellent production at the 1A level, but there are a few proven playmakers on the back end of this class. Person and Felton, just a rising sophomore, have college size, while Johnson showed out as a freshman and Bennett has been a steady presence at corner.

We're guaranteed to have a new champion this season, with the switch to eight classifications. There are teams in the old 1A class that moved all the way up to 4A, so it's tough to simply look at last year when comparing these teams. That being said, here are my top 10 teams in the class.

1. Wilson Prep

2. Robbinsville

3. Southeast Prep (Formerly Southeast Halifax)

4. Andrews

5. Northside-Pinetown

6. Weldon

7. KIPP Pride

8. Bear Grass Charter

9. Winston Salem Prep

10. Thomas Jefferson

We'll have in-depth coverage of the 1A classification this season. To cover the entire state, we need your help. Send me stats, film, and updates on Twitter (@whelms21)