Freshman All-State Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 season ended last month, and we've still got plenty of content to share about a fun year on the North Carolina high school football scene. Here, we're breaking down the top freshmen in the state from this past season. Which youngsters made the list?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Carolina Freshman All-State Team</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we picked the team based on freshman year performance over college potential, most of these players are future college prospects. And, as a bonus, we've included some names to know for the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Freshman All-State Offense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quarterback</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1048930' first='Brody' last='Lowe'], Grimsley | [player_tooltip player_id='1604676' first='Weston' last='Michalak'], Ambassador Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's no surprise that our top two quarterbacks in our 2029 rankings take home the honors here. Each passed for over 2,000 yards, with Lowe's coming for 7A Champion Grimsley, while our top 2026 quarterback missed time with an injury. Michalak's deep ball is special, and both guys have Division I arm talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names to Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2003772' first='Tyson' last='Douglas-Brown'], Corvian Community | [player_tooltip player_id='2055654' first='Kaleb' last='Montanye'], Havelock | [player_tooltip player_id='2099368' first='Landen' last='Perry'], Wake Forest | [player_tooltip player_id='865857' first='Christian' last='Druzbik'], Hough</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Running Back</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1858055' first='Mike' last='McLean'], Scotland County | [player_tooltip player_id='1905611' first='Jonas' last='Woods'], Shelby</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McLean is an early Power Four offer candidate who split carries until his backfield mate went down. Woods got stronger as the year went on in a pass-heavy offense, including back-to-back 140-yard games in the final two playoff rounds. As the only two double-digit touchdown freshman, they were the clear top two.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names to Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2003822' first='TK' last='Davis'], Asheville | [player_tooltip player_id='1969750' first='Demetrius' last='Brooks'], North Rowan | [player_tooltip player_id='1905582' first='Khalin' last='Rogers'], Clayton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wide Receiver</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2003826' first='Cainin' last='Glover'], Eastern Randolph | [player_tooltip player_id='1870841' first='Zion' last='Caesar'], Ballantyne Ridge | [player_tooltip player_id='1857981' first='Christopher' last='White'], Grace Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There wasn't a slew of truly dominant freshman receivers, but there were several key offensive contributors. Glover, Caesar, and White were three of the best, finishing with the most receiving yards per game among freshmen. All three have projectable size and speed for the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names To Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2099488' first='Zaire' last='Strickland'], Clinton | [player_tooltip player_id='2005242' first='Jordan' last='Davis'], Grimsley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tight End</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2099358' first='Nate' last='Harrison'], North Stokes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There aren't many freshmen who can play significant tight end snaps, but Harrison proved himself quite useful as both a blocker and pass-catcher for North Stokes. The two-way player often flexed out into the slot and used his big body to shield the ball at the catch point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Line</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='865972' first='Jackson' last='Jenkins'], Northern Nash | [player_tooltip player_id='1925988' first='Scotty' last='Hicks'], Christ School | [player_tooltip player_id='2072220' first='Amir' last='Daniels'], Millbrook | [player_tooltip player_id='2004008' first='Hosea' last='Robinson'], Thomasville | [player_tooltip player_id='1301382' first='Landon' last='Delk'], Cuthbertson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's hard to earn significant playing time as a freshman offensive lineman, and there weren't many 2029 offensive linemen who played in 2025. That being said, the ones who did were shockingly good. Jenkins and Hicks look like two of the better young center prospects we've scouted, while Robinson and Delk have positional versatility, and Daniels started at tackle for the 8A runners-up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names To Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1453798' first='Brylan' last='Hunt'], Hough</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Athlete (All-Purpose Offense)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664518' first='Christopher' last='Person Jr']., West Craven | [player_tooltip player_id='1909457' first='Lloyd' last='Jones'], Havelock</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Person and Jones impacted the game in numerous ways, primarily on the offensive side of the ball. Jones is primarily a running back, but did the majority of his damage as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Person is a future quarterback who functioned as a change-of-pace wildcat option and occasional receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Freshman All-State Defense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Interior Defensive Line</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1853840' first='Zalik' last='Cannady'], Wilson Prep | [player_tooltip player_id='2003831' first='Geovanie' last='Iglesias'], South View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were several talented interior defensive line contributors to pick from, but two rose above the rest. Cannady was a true difference-maker for 1A champion Wilson Prep, while Iglesias was a consistent presence as both a pass-rusher and run-defender for South View.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names To Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1858054' first='Kaiden' last='Melvin'], Cleveland | [player_tooltip player_id='892101' first='Genesis' last='Allen'], Rolesville | [player_tooltip player_id='2003853' first='Kaiden' last='Okam'], Mallard Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Edge</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1866343' first='Whitton' last='Butler'], HPCA | [player_tooltip player_id='1632718' first='Cayden' last='Davis'], Bunn</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This might end up as a loaded group in a few years with plenty of players waiting in the wings. Butler was part of a talented pass-rushing duo at High Point Christian. Davis is listed as a linebacker in our system, but played as a productive edge rusher, with plenty of tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names To Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1857986' first='Lawrence' last='Muldrow'], MZCA | [player_tooltip player_id='2099375' first='Quadir' last='Hunter'], Hough | [player_tooltip player_id='1883970' first='Raquan' last='Kirkland'], Garinger</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Linebacker</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trevorious Cooper, Hunt | [player_tooltip player_id='2067755' first='Braylon' last='Whitley'], Nash Central | [player_tooltip player_id='1896558' first='Naiel' last='Brooks'], Hopewell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This might end up as a loaded group in a few years with plenty of players waiting in the wings. Butler was part of a talented pass-rushing duo at High Point Christian. Davis is listed as a linebacker in our system, but played as a productive edge rusher, with plenty of tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names To Know:</strong> Jaden Dixon, West Charlotte | [player_tooltip player_id='1426916' first='Cobel' last='Nkembeng'], Cuthbertson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Back</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1884218' first='Kavion' last='Byers'], Kings Mountain | [player_tooltip player_id='1896729' first='Jayden' last='Pipkins'], T.W. Andrews | [player_tooltip player_id='1896723' first='Jeremiah' last='Alexander'], Monroe | [player_tooltip player_id='2049170' first='Quasir' last='Williams'], Sun Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive back class is talented, and we actually moved some guys to the "athlete" category who could have made it here so that we could fit all the deserving names on the list. It's a good mix of hard-hitting safeties (Byers, Pipkins) and quality cover corners (Alexander, Williams).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names To Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1114103' first='Jymel' last='Green'], Chambers | [player_tooltip player_id='1781963' first='Truth' last='Caesar'], Cardinal Gibbons</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Athlete (Two-Way)</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1853129' first='Derek' last='Monroe'], Green Level | [player_tooltip player_id='1896552' first='Dylan' last='Lineberger'], West Mecklenburg </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sometimes a freshman is too good to keep off the field. Monroe initially grabbed our attention as an elite return specialist and sporadic defensive back before catching 20 passes in October. Lineberger caught 25 passes on offense and picked off two on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Names To Know:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1631111' first='Amari' last='Sumner'], West Craven |&nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='2003814' first='Haze' last='Dodson'], Lake Norman Charter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>We'll have plenty of coverage this offseason, including rankings updates, All-State teams, hyper-local deep dives, and more. Disagree with this assessment or think I missed a player? Let me know on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->