Meet the New Guys: Class of 2029 Nos. 26-30

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We just dropped our&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/north-carolina/rankings/2029-north-carolina-high-school-football-rankings/">initial 2029 rankings</a>, and since this is a new class, only a few of these players have scouting reports. I'm slowly changing that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've already gone behind the scenes of the creation of this class, with stats, big-picture takeaways, and some class superlatives. This series is different. We're going straight through, from No. 45 to No. 1, to break down every ranked player in the class of 2029. Let's meet the new guys. Starting with the back of the rankings, let's scout the 2029 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other 2029 scouting reports:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/meet-the-new-guys-class-of-2029-nos-41-45/">No. 41-45</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/meet-the-new-guys-class-of-2029-nos-36-40/">No. 36-40</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/meet-the-new-guys-class-of-2029-nos-31-35/">No. 31-35</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meet the Class of 2029</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1857998"],"_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-690ce1c4aa31b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We love young linebackers with a natural feel for defending the run and the size to immediately contribute. Johnson is a guy who can fit gaps and get downhill to stuff running backs. We'd love to see him in person soon, as we like the upside and think he could be one of the best players in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1781963"],"_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-690ce1c4aa37f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Caesar didn't get a ton of varsity run on Cardinal Gibbons' loaded roster, but he was fantastic in the preseason scrimmages we watched. He has excellent ball skills, and his upside as a pure cover safety is among the best in the class. He plays some running back as well, but his future is in the defensive backfield, either as a deep safety, or as a cover corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1896723"],"_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-690ce1c4aa3ca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alexander leads the state among freshmen with four interceptions for Monroe. He hasn't been used much on offense, but he excelled on that side of the ball as well in middle school, and there's reason to believe he could be a full-time two-way player in the future. Alexander has impressive speed and ball skills, and we're excited to see him in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1896558"],"_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-690ce1c4aa410"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brooks impact on the defensive side of the ball has been incredibly impressive, especially given his size. He's beating offensive linemen twice his size with speed and impressive get off, leading to six sacks for Hopewell. Expect him to get in the weight room and beef up a bit more. His instincts against the run are excellent and he has the quickness to excel as both a blitzer and pass defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1631111"],"_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-690ce1c4aa455"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sumner is absolutely electric with the ball in his hands and plays with the confidence you're usually more likely to see in an upperclassman. He brings energy and big-play potential to the West Craven offense, giving the Eagles a gadget guy who excels after the catch. Perhaps most impressive, he's been great on the rare occasions he's been asked to go over the middle. Another year in the weight room and he's going to be one of the most dangerous guys in the state with the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>We'll have plenty of pieces on our 2029 class rankings over the next week, in addition to playoff coverage and Player of the Year voting. Want to make sure you're on our radar? Our next <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2124/register/stock-up-showcase-carolinas">Prep Redzone Carolinas Showcase</a> is Dec. 7. <em>Promo Code HelmsWinterPRZ will get you $10 off registration</em></em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->