Prep Redzone 8A Preseason All-State Team
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The season is imminent, and we've been previewing the best players in the state through our all-state teams. We've already looked at all but the largest classification. Who makes our preseason list for the newly-formed 8A class? Find out with our Prep Redzone 8A Preseason All-State Team.
Other All-State Teams:
8A All-State Team: Offense
QB: [player_tooltip player_id='1321007' first='Jamouri' last='Nichols'], West Charlotte
QB: [player_tooltip player_id='690769' first='Gannon' last='Jones'], Cardinal Gibbons
RB: [player_tooltip player_id='378957' first='Amir' last='Brown'], Rolesville
RB: [player_tooltip player_id='473833' first='Brilison' last='McCullers'], Millbrook
WR: [player_tooltip player_id='945238' first='Tyran' last='Evans'], Hough
WR: [player_tooltip player_id='832437' first='Gavin' last='Waddell'], Rolesville
WR: [player_tooltip player_id='1222913' first='Anthony' last='Roberts'], Rolesville
TE: [player_tooltip player_id='1600773' first='Quinn' last='Rucker'], South Mecklenburg
OL: [player_tooltip player_id='1158293' first='Jarvis' last='Potts'], Hough
OL: [player_tooltip player_id='1303224' first='Lucas' last='Tselentis'], Providence
OL: [player_tooltip player_id='1600466' first='Jamaare' last='Williams'], Palisades
OL: [player_tooltip player_id='1607843' first='Khalil' last='Hansley-McNair'], West Charlotte
OL: [player_tooltip player_id='1600577' first='Austin' last='Ballou'], Mallard Creek
Flex: [player_tooltip player_id='1395227' first='Rakem' last='Hammock'], Northwest Guilford
Analysis: Yes, I kind of cheated by including two quarterback slots, but I did not feel comfortable picking one guy. I made the list, and thus the rules, and I picked two. As you can see by the honorable mentions, it'll be a dogfight to pick a first-team quarterback at the end of the year.
The skill positions are loaded at the 8A level, largely thanks to some of the state's top teams. Rolesville puts three on the list, all at receiver or running back, with a couple of others hovering just off the first team. West Charlotte and Hough also put multiple players on the offense, while Millbrook's loaded offense has one on the first team and a couple of others in as honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id='620328' first='Jackson' last='Debe'], Providence (QB); [player_tooltip player_id='254550' first='Ethan' last='Royal'], Hough (QB); [player_tooltip player_id='735579' first='Landon' last='Melton'], C.E. Jordan (QB); [player_tooltip player_id='1671870' first='Mozes' last='Morris'], West Forsyth (RB); [player_tooltip player_id='1607889' first='Emory' last='McClain Jr']., West Charlotte (RB); [player_tooltip player_id='832280' first='Brody' last='Keefe'], Myers Park (WR); [player_tooltip player_id='423992' first='Malachi' last='Gilchrist'], Millbrook (WR); [player_tooltip player_id='338729' first='Khalil' last='Price'], Mallard Creek (WR); [player_tooltip player_id='771299' first='Kaleb' last='Williams'], Rolesville (QB); [player_tooltip player_id='697368' first='Logan' last='Pulley'], Rolesville (OL); [player_tooltip player_id='1299433' first='Donte' last='Nicholson'], West Charlotte (WR); [player_tooltip player_id='1136707' first='Nate' last='Baker'], South Mecklenburg (OL); [player_tooltip player_id='832422' first='Davis' last='Brown'], Rolesville (TE); Keland Shelton, Providence (Ath.); [player_tooltip player_id='1157260' first='KD' last='Cotton'], West Charlotte (Ath.)
8A All-State Team: Defense
Edge: [player_tooltip player_id='1002307' first='Rodney' last='Dunham'], Myers Park
DL: [player_tooltip player_id='1607430' first='Cory' last='Cunningham'], Providence
DL: [player_tooltip player_id='953021' first='PJ' last='Dean'], West Forsyth
Edge: [player_tooltip player_id='1553113' first='Rashad' last='Streets'], Millbrook
LB: [player_tooltip player_id='651173' first='Quinton' last='Cypher'], Millbrook
LB: [player_tooltip player_id='949642' first='Michael' last='Griffin Jr']., West Charlotte
LB: [player_tooltip player_id='1044292' first='Skylar' last='Alston'], Cardinal Gibbons
DB: [player_tooltip player_id='284097' first='Samari' last='Matthews'], Hough
DB: [player_tooltip player_id='378949' first='Nicholas' last='Rankin'], Palisades
DB: [player_tooltip player_id='946850' first='Marquis' last='Bryant'], Rolesville
DB: [player_tooltip player_id='775970' first='Braylon' last='Peebles']: Cardinal Gibbons
DB: [player_tooltip player_id='1309069' first='Camdin' last='Portis']: Myers Park
Flex: [player_tooltip player_id='1170182' first='Elijah' last='Littlejohn'], LB/Edge, West Charlotte
Analysis: There are a few things to note here, especially regarding numbers. First, yes, there are 13 players on the first team here. I couldn't narrow down, so I gave the defense a back five and added another flex. Second, though 8A is the classification with the state's biggest schools, it's a smaller classification in terms of overall teams. There are just over 30 teams in this class, or less than 10% of the total public schools in the state, which is why we have some schools with several players.
Cardinal Gibbons adds two talented names to this list, while West Charlotte, Millbrook, and Myers Park each add two to the defense.
Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id='662372' first='Zavion' last='Griffin-Haynes'], Rolesville (Edge); [player_tooltip player_id='987160' first='Damaad' last='Lewis'], Myers Park (Edge); [player_tooltip player_id='473951' first='Antoine' last='Johnson'], West Charlotte (DL); [player_tooltip player_id='321266' first='Noah' last='Clark'], C.E. Jordan (DL); [player_tooltip player_id='1751625' first='Hank' last='Thrasher'], Myers Park (LB); [player_tooltip player_id='378926' first='Davion' last='Jones'], West Charlotte (DB); [player_tooltip player_id='1368435' first='Kyle' last='Bynes'], Palisades (DB); [player_tooltip player_id='974827' first='LJ' last='Porter'], Hough (LB); [player_tooltip player_id='1841105' first='Sincere' last='Gray'], West Charlotte (Ath.); Kamden Gillespie, Hough (Edge/DL); [player_tooltip player_id='1262334' first='Josh' last='Hines'], Myers Park (DB); [player_tooltip player_id='1153738' first='Micah' last='Bright'], Hough (DB)
Top 10 8A Teams
1. Rolesville
2. Cardinal Gibbons
3. Millbrook
4. West Charlotte
5. Hough
6. Hoggard
7. C.E. Jordan
8. Mallard Creek
9. South Mecklenburg
10. Apex Friendship
Analysis: Maybe my Raleigh bias is showing, but I like the teams in the RDU area this year. I have Rolesville and Cardinal Gibbons as the clear 1-2. But, I'm most intrigued by Millbrook, as the Wildcats could have more consistent QB play with [player_tooltip player_id='485965' first='Bryson' last='Gray'] getting a full season as a starter, rather than playing in a two-quarterback system. Hoggard is a team that could make some serious noise, while newcomers for Hough, C.E. Jordan, and Mallard Creek will need to step up and join returning stars if those teams hope to make a postseason run.
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We'll have in-depth coverage of the 8A classification this season. To cover the entire state, we need your help. Send me stats, film, and updates on Twitter (@whelms21).
