Who's Next? NC Top Underclassmen 704 Pt. 5

Who's Next? | NC Top Underclassmen – 704 | Pt. 5 🔥 The 704 isn't just an area code — it's home to some of the largest and most talent-rich programs in North Carolina, where depth charts are stacked, expectations are championship-level, and young players have to earn every snap in practice before they ever see Friday night lights. As we roll into Part 5 — the next-to-last session of the 704 series — we're spotlighting underclassmen coming up through powerhouse programs that consistently produce FBS talent, elite skill players, dominant trench prospects, and lockdown defensive backs. In this region, iron sharpens iron daily, and the competition within the locker room can be just as intense as the game itself. The pipeline is loaded, the future is bright, and the standard never drops — so the only question left is… Who's Next?    [player_tooltip player_id='1956004' first='Charles' last='Watson'] is one of the more intriguing sophomore athletes in the 704. The edge prospect finished the season with 76 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks, showing consistent production and a real feel for disrupting offenses. While he's currently listed as an edge, his skill set projects even bigger long term — I can easily see him transitioning to a linebacker or even a hybrid safety at the next level. He's a sure tackler in space, plays with strong instincts, and doesn't miss many opportunities once he locks on to the ball carrier. With his versatility and motor, Watson has the type of frame and athletic upside that college staffs will love as he continues to develop.     [player_tooltip player_id='1616163' first='Makai' last='Henriquez'] (6'3", 200+), sophomore edge from Porter Ridge, looks every bit the part of a future high-level prospect. He finished last season with 69 tackles and 9 sacks, consistently affecting the game off the edge with length, burst, and physicality. What stands out most is his frame — long, rangy, and still growing into his body — paired with the ability to bend and close on quarterbacks. He plays with Power 4 traits already, and as he continues to add strength and polish his pass-rush moves, Henriquez has all the tools to become one of the premier edge defenders in his class. A real Power 4 prospect with upside still untapped.     Bruscutty Maxime, junior defensive lineman from Independence HS, quietly put together a strong season anchoring the front. He finished with 60 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks, showing the ability to both clog the run game and collapse the pocket. Maxime plays with physical hands and good leverage, and he's disruptive when he keeps his pad level low and fires off the ball. What stands out is his motor — he doesn't take snaps off and consistently finds his way around the football. With continued development in strength and technique, Maxime has the tools to become a dominant presence up front and elevate his stock heading into his senior year.     Elyejah Jackson, linebacker from Independence, was one of the most disruptive defenders on the field last season. He totaled 67 tackles, with an impressive 19 tackles for loss and 4 sacks, showing a natural ability to diagnose plays and attack downhill. Jackson plays true sideline-to-sideline football — closing space quickly, flowing over the top against the run, and finishing with physicality. His backfield production stands out, proving he's not just a tackler but a playmaker who consistently creates negative plays. With his range and aggressive mentality, Jackson is the type of linebacker offenses have to account for every snap.     [player_tooltip player_id='1896558' first='Naiel' last='Brooks'] had a tremendous freshman campaign, especially for a defensive back. He finished with 69 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks, numbers you don't typically see from a ninth grader — let alone a DB. That production tells you everything about his versatility and toughness. Brooks isn't just covering in space; he's flying downhill, blitzing off the edge, and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. His willingness to mix it up in the run game and affect the quarterback shows advanced instincts and confidence for his age. If this is the foundation as a freshman, the ceiling for Brooks moving forward is extremely high.     DeMaurion Thomas-Wright, junior running back from Butler, put together a major season as one of the focal points of the offense. He rushed for nearly 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns, proving he can handle a heavy workload and still produce at a high level. His best performance came against South Carolina power Irmo, where he carried the ball 21 times for 196 yards and a score — showing he can shine against strong competition. Thomas-Wright runs with patience and vision, but what separates him is his toughness between the tackles and ability to finish runs. He's a consistent chain-mover with big-play capability, and heading into his senior year, he's positioned to elevate his stock even higher.     [player_tooltip player_id='2073131' first='Matthew' last='Shields'], a 6'0", 200-pound junior linebacker, was an absolute missile in the middle of the defense this season. He filled up the stat sheet with 127 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions, impacting the game at every level. Shields plays downhill with authority, triggers quickly against the run, and doesn't shy away from contact. What makes him even more valuable is his ability to drop into coverage and create turnovers, showing he's more than just a box defender. With his size, production, and physical playing style, Shields established himself as one of the more complete linebackers in the area.     [player_tooltip player_id='2102236' first='Charles' last='Sayre'], 6'2", 220-pound sophomore, is one of those prospects whose production jumps out even in limited action. Despite not seeing full-time snaps last season, he still managed to record 5 sacks, flashing natural pass-rush ability and strong closing speed. With his size already ahead of schedule for his class, Sayre has the frame to continue adding strength while maintaining explosiveness off the edge. The fact that he produced in a rotational role speaks to his upside — and with increased reps moving forward, his impact could multiply quickly. A name to watch as his role expands.   Is this conversation helpful so far?     [player_tooltip player_id='736711' first='Tanner' last='Finnerty'] is a true sideline-to-sideline maniac at linebacker for Mooresville. He finished last season with 83 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks, constantly living in the backfield and around the football. Finnerty plays with high energy and urgency, flowing quickly to the ball and finishing with physicality. His ability to scrape over the top, shoot gaps, and create negative plays makes him a disruptive presence every snap. When you turn on the film, No. ___ is always around the action — the kind of linebacker offenses have to account for before the ball is even snapped.     Tristan Cowan, junior quarterback for South Iredell, put together a strong season leading the offense. He threw for 2,100 yards and accounted for 20 total touchdowns, showing the ability to consistently move the ball and finish drives. Cowan plays with poise in the pocket and has the arm talent to stretch the field, but what stands out most is his command of the offense and decision-making. As he continues to develop physically and refine his mechanics, his ceiling continues to rise. With another offseason of growth, Cowan has a bright future ahead and the potential to elevate both his game and his program even further.     Leman Grier, junior running back from AL Brown, has one of the most impressive highlight films I've covered this year. The production jumps out immediately — 1,300 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, including two 50-yard scores that showcased his game-breaking ability. But it's not just the stats — it's how he gets them. Grier has elite lateral quickness, sudden cuts in space, and the top-end speed to finish runs once he hits daylight. Defenders struggle to square him up because of his shiftiness and balance through contact. When he touches the ball, there's always a chance it's going the distance. A true home-run threat with big-play written all over him.     AJ Settle proved to be a true dual-threat quarterback for AL Brown last season, putting up strong numbers through the air and on the ground. He passed for over 1,200 yards with 14 touchdowns while adding nearly 700 rushing yards and 13 more scores, showing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Settle keeps defenses honest with his mobility, extending plays and creating explosive opportunities outside the pocket, but he's also capable of standing in and delivering throws when needed. His versatility makes him difficult to game plan against, and with continued development as a passer, his ceiling continues to rise.     [player_tooltip player_id='1687735' first='Antonio' last='Flowers'], edge defender from West Meck, was one of the most disruptive front-seven players in the area last season. He totaled 47 tackles, an eye-opening 20 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks, living in opposing backfields week after week. That TFL number jumps off the page — it shows he's not just getting to the quarterback, but consistently blowing up run plays before they even get started. Flowers plays with burst off the edge, strong hands, and a relentless motor that keeps pressure on offenses all game long. When you see 20 tackles for loss, you're talking about a true difference-maker — and Flowers proved he's exactly that.     Ka'Derrick Lewis, 2027 defensive back for West Cabarrus, made the most of his opportunities in limited action last season. He finished with 3 interceptions — including 2 on the same play, a rare sequence that speaks to his awareness, instincts, and ball skills. For a young DB, that kind of production shows confidence and natural feel in coverage. Lewis tracks the football well and isn't afraid to capitalize when quarterbacks make mistakes. With more reps and a bigger role moving forward, his impact in the secondary could take a major leap. A young playmaker with real upside in the defensive backfield.     [player_tooltip player_id='1607430' first='Cory' last='Cunningham'] is the No. 1 edge in North Carolina's Class of 2028, and at 6'4", 280 pounds, he already looks like a next-level defensive lineman. He finished the season with 60 total tackles and an eye-popping 28 tackles for loss, numbers that scream dominance. Cunningham isn't just big — he's explosive, powerful at the point of attack, and consistently disruptive in both the run and pass game. Offensive lines struggle to handle his combination of size, strength, and motor. When you turn on the film, he absolutely looks like a monster on the field — overwhelming blockers and living in the backfield. The ceiling is scary high, and he's only getting started.

Who's Next? | NC Top Underclassmen – 704 | Pt. 5 🔥 The 704 isn't just an area code — it's home to some of the largest and most talent-rich programs in North Carolina, where depth charts are stacked, expectations are championship-level, and young players have to earn every snap in practice before they ever see Friday night lights. As we roll into Part 5 — the next-to-last session of the 704 series — we're spotlighting underclassmen coming up through powerhouse programs that consistently produce FBS talent, elite skill players, dominant trench prospects, and lockdown defensive backs. In this region, iron sharpens iron daily, and the competition within the locker room can be just as intense as the game itself. The pipeline is loaded, the future is bright, and the standard never drops — so the only question left is… Who's Next?