Providence Day Chargers 2025 Season Preview

We're under a week until the start of the 2025 North Carolina high school football season, so we're trying to squeeze in a few final preview pieces. We always try to preview Providence Day, thanks to the great support we get from their staff and players.   After falling just short in last year's title game, the Chargers are back and ready to begin their campaign for a 2025 championship. Here, we're breaking down the team's many prospects, previewing the season, and giving insight about what we think about a strong team. Check out our Providence Day Chargers 2025 season preview.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Providence Day Chargers Team Preview</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Info</h3>   Head Coach: Chad Grier   2024 Record: 9-3   2025 Conference: CISAA   Key Games: @ Rolesville (8/29), vs. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (9/19), @ Charlotte Christian (10/24)   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Storyline</h3>   Can the Chargers get revenge on their new rivals, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, out of Georgia. In one of the weirder conference situations in the state, Rabun Gap competes directly for a title with the top division in the NCISAA playoffs and it's created a great rivalry between the two teams.   The Chargers are 3-4 against the Eagles since 2020, including a 2-2 mark in the playoffs. After getting blown out in the regular season in 2024, the Chargers lost a nail-biter for the championship. Expect another great game (or two) between the teams this year, and I'd be lying if I didn't think that some of the team-building and offensive strategy employed by Providence Day this season is at least partially built around beating Rabun Gap.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Providence Day Chargers Players</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Offense</h3>   It all starts at the quarterback position for the Chargers with Syracuse commit [player_tooltip player_id='896157' first='Zaid' last='Lott']. We've watched Lott progress from simply a high-upside name to know to a bona fide star with elite accuracy, repeatable mechanics, and good leadership skills.   I'm interested to see how the wide receiver rotation plays out. We currently have five ranked receivers from Providence Day across the classes of 2026-2028. 2026 Clemson commit Gordon Sellers is the headliner, and first returning No. 1 receiver for the Chargers in a few years, after putting up nearly 1,000 yards last season.   Behind Sellars, I'm not sure what the rotation will be. [player_tooltip player_id='1260987' first='Brendan' last='Ravin'] was the third-leading receiver last season, a shiftier receiver who has been a reliable target for a few seasons. The Chargers brought in former Mount Pleasant star [player_tooltip player_id='1332065' first='Ethan' last='Dempsey'] this offseason. The 6'3" Dempsey is a physical freak, with a sub 4.6-40, huge vertical, and quick shuttle, but he comes in with plenty of production. I'm curious as to whether he'll be a pure receiver for the Chargers or if he gets a few handoffs or plays some on defense.   I'm similarly intrigued by fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='1150380' first='Steele' last='Fletcher'], a smaller receiver known for his abilities after the catch. Junior Max Cassell and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='1648980' first='Carter' last='Pilon'] and Jackson Trull could also factor into the rotation.   At running back, it's a bit murkier. The Chargers lose their leading rusher from last season, and only Lott and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1239187' first='Caleb' last='Cooper'], who is primarily a defensive back had over 100 yards rushing last season among returners. Could this be the year Aiden Gallos stays healthy and makes an impact? He's been on our radar for over three years, but an injury-riddled career has kept him out of the spotlight. In addition, don't be surprised if rising freshman Aamari Ross earns some carries.   The offensive line might be the strength of the team. Anchored by Clemson commit [player_tooltip player_id='864378' first='Leo' last='Delaney'], the Chargers have four players with college offers and at least two others who should earn a few soon. [player_tooltip player_id='1670269' first='Nick' last='Cherry'] and Chris Peavy are two of the more lightly-recruited guys who we really like. Each transferred in this offseason and hit the ground running, setting themselves up to potentially start as juniors.   Denison commit [player_tooltip player_id='1136705' first='Mark' last='Franco'] is a guy we waffled between ranking as a defensive and offensive lineman when he was at Charlotte Christian, but he seems to be all in on the offensive side of the ball at Providence Day. [player_tooltip player_id='595731' first='DC' last='Carr'] is another senior we like, a powerful and compact run blocker who flashes real dominance on film. Add in Coop Hodson and you have not only a full line, but some depth pieces as well.   We don't normally spend much time on special teams in these pieces, but Providence Day has a pair of excellent specialists in kicker/punter Jacob Baggett and long-snapper Bauer Sodoma, who are each likely to play at the Division I level.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defense</h3>   The defense is once again stacked and we'll go back to front here, since this is one of the more promising, but unproven secondaries you'll find. [player_tooltip player_id='1292543' first='AJ' last='Barnes'] played some receiver last season, but only sparingly, as he was a bit banged up. He's primarily a defensive back now and his athleticism should play well there. We still have to project some when figuring out his impact, but he earned a Virginia Tech offer earlier this offseason, a testament to his athletic upside.   One of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2027 class is [player_tooltip player_id='1608315' first='Moses' last='Poku-Kankam'], a guy who went from off the radar to Power Four commodity in a few months. You'll notice a theme with the defense and that's the repeated versatility. Multiple players can play multiple positions and it allows the coaching staff to get creative with the alignment.   One of my favorite prospects in the 2027 class is [player_tooltip player_id='1610603' first='Tre' last='Geathers']. Hailing from a family of (very successful) defensive linemen, Geathers is only around 6'2," 200 pounds, playing a hybrid linebacker/safety role. He's smooth in coverage, but isn't afraid to get after the quarterback either. [player_tooltip player_id='1239187' first='Caleb' last='Cooper'] is primarily a defensive back, but can flex down in the box or provide a breather to the running backs, on occasion.   Corner [player_tooltip player_id='1321024' first='Christian' last='Liles'] and sophomore defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1646355' first='Ashton' last='Gibbs'] round out the top group. I'm not sure what the rotation will look like yet, but expect Liles to lock down a side of the field, Poku-Kankam and Geathers to play free-flowing football, and the rest of the guys to fill in the gap. Don't be surprised if Dempsey plays some here too, as he may simply be too athletic to keep on the sidelines, while the smaller [player_tooltip player_id='233008' first='Lucas' last='Sutton'] provides needed depth and versatility.   The linebackers are just a solid group. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='896158' first='Quintin' last='McCray'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='223038' first='Justin' last='Abanquah'] are quite the duo, both with impressive size and speed. McCray is a Richmond commit, while we expect the FCS offers to flow for Abanquah when he gets to his rising senior offseason. Sophomore Matthew Cooper was one of just a few freshmen to crack the rotation last season and will have a bigger role in 2025.   The defensive line is interesting. [player_tooltip player_id='1029786' first='Griff' last='Galloway'], a top-10 2027 prospect who could challenge for the top overall spot was a bone fide edge rusher prospect, but he's grown into a guy who could project best as a 3-4 defensive end. The line is multiple, and he'll line up everywhere. He's still developing as a pure pass-rusher, so don't expect a 20-sack season. However, he's one of the most advanced run-stuffing edges in the state, a huge trait in the Chargers' conference.   Newly reclassified 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='496368' first='Charles' last='Ibe'] is a scouting favorite of mine, while [player_tooltip player_id='1707785' first='Hudson' last='Clavin'] is a steady senior presence who just keeps earning high-academic offers on the recruiting trail. [player_tooltip player_id='1321323' first='Matthew' last='Hankins'] and Jacob Ahmadivarji are two smaller, quicker linemen that add a wrinkle to the defense. Matthew Cooper will sometimes come off the edge, while [player_tooltip player_id='1321326' first='Jace' last='Goodwin'] is the closest thing to a true pass-rushing specialist off the edge on this roster. The line is simultaneously dominant as a unit and lacking in elite pass-rushing numbers.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Verdict</h2>   No pressure, Chargers, but it's title or bust again this year. I absolutely love the gauntlet of a non-conference Providence Day is once again taking on, facing out of state power Roman Catholic (PA) as well as potential in-state No. 1 Rolesville in the first two weeks. Charlotte Catholic and Butler the next two weeks make for a true trial by fire to start the season, and the Chargers will be better for it.   I've enjoyed watching the development of some of these guys, from a quarterback (Lott) who has gone from a guy I initially thought to be overrated to a guy I'm not sure the media talks enough about to a fluid and flexible back seven on defense who can fill multiple roles, I really like this team.   Rabun Gap has reloaded again, bringing in new talent, including a potential nationally-ranked 2028 quarterback. But, I think Providence Day could get back to championship heights this season, as long as a few things break the right way. To me, the biggest key is the pass rush. If that group can take even the tiniest of steps forward, I think the Chargers will be very hard to beat.   A special thanks to Providence Day head coach Chad Grier for sharing his team's prospect sheet and for always being quick to give us info on his players. Want to send this report to someone who isn't a subscriber? Support our work with promo code Helms30 so they can get 30% off their first billing cycle.

We're under a week until the start of the 2025 North Carolina high school football season, so we're trying to squeeze in a few final preview pieces. We always try to preview Providence Day, thanks to the great support we get from their staff and players.