Way-Too-Early 3A Top 10

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amidst plenty of&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-6-wrs-in-franklin-nash-wilson-county/">county deep dives</a>, I'm working my way through "way-too-early" classification previews. It's not too early to begin previewing the 2026 season, and we're starting by briefing fans on the names to know at the top of the 3A class. I started with&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/way-too-early-6a-top-10/">6A</a>, then looked at&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/way-too-early-8a-top-10/">8A</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/way-too-early-4a-top-10/">4A</a>, before finishing the even classifications with&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/way-too-early-2a-top-10/">2A</a>. Last week, I previewed the deep&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/way-too-early-7a-top-10/">7A class</a> and the wide-open <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/way-too-early-5a-top-10/">5A class</a>, so now I'm moving down to a fun 3A group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Let's Predict the Top 10 3A Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3A ultimately ended up being <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/prep-redzone-3a-preseason-all-state-team/">largely what we expected</a>, but it wasn't that way all season, with Shelby and Kinston advancing as a 10 and 14-seed, respectively, despite Top 3 rankings in my <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/08/prep-redzone-3a-preseason-all-state-team/">2025 preseason rankings</a>. We had some weird seedings from interesting schedules, and we could see the same this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect some of the same names at the top, but there's plenty of roster turnover among some of the best teams, so we'll need to do some projection. Here, I'm breaking down my way-too-early 3A top 10, focusing on the returning talent among the best teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1) Shelby Golden Lions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Any ranking that doesn't still have the reigning 3A Champions at the top is probably incorrect. The Golden Lions lose talent, including one of the top quarterbacks in the state/but return a bevy of proven playmakers. Offensively, 1,000-yard rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1905611' first='Jonas' last='Woods']</strong> is back for his sophomore season, while leading receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483642' first='Immanuel' last='Collins']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2044437' first='JJ' last='Williams']</strong> are back. So, too, is fast-rising FBS prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155074' first='Kendrick' last='Raper']</strong>, who caught 25 passes last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defense is similarly loaded, starting up front with edge rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687752' first='Tyson' last='Williams']</strong>, and two-way linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2078249' first='Landon' last='Hollifield']</strong> and <strong>Malachi Hopper</strong>. That's plenty of firepower up front, especially when the offense should score 40 points per game again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2) Lincolnton Wolves</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincolnton has as much skill position talent as anyone at the 3A level, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1421082' first='RJ' last='Lynch']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678610' first='Rashad' last='Lynch']</strong> at receiver and quarterback, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678635' first='Jalaythan' last='Mayfield']</strong> is our top defensive player in the class of 2027, while <strong>Nehemiah Thompson</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1690851' first='Messiah' last='Thompson']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155266' first='Jeremiah' last='Thompson']</strong>. If they can be a bit more consistent in the trenches to matchup with teams like Shelby, the Wolves have a great shot to compete for a championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3) Pender Patriots</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots aren't flashy, but they get the job done. A diverse running scheme allows Pender to put up huge numbers on the ground, even without elite size. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155401' first='Austin' last='Deal']</strong> and running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155407' first='Zeke' last='Williams']</strong> each put up over 1,000 rushing yards, while linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1953557' first='Bruce' last='Rogers']</strong> led the team with 69 solo tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4) Eastern Randolph Wildcats</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm really liking what Eastern Randolph has going on right now. The Wildcats return quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140152' first='Cade' last='McCallum']</strong> and rising sophomore receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2003826' first='Cainin' last='Glover']</strong> off of one of the top passing offenses in the 3A class, while two-headed monster <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140160' first='James' last='Combs']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140154' first='Kobe' last='Walker']</strong> return at running back. They've got some two-way players who excel on defense, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5) Northeastern Eagles</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's second-most potent passing attack returns most of its key pieces, and the Eagles might simply outscore the majority of their competition. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1854319' first='Zak' last='Ishman']</strong> threw for 3,200 yards, which helped open running lanes for bruising back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155887' first='Damari' last='McNeill']</strong>. The defense loses its five leading tacklers, but McNeill and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717095' first='Mekkhei' last='Williams']</strong> lead the charge there in an underrated group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6) Hendersonville Bears</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106521' first='JaRon' last='Ward']</strong> is one of the top playmaking quarterbacks in the class, and his return means Hendersonville, which barely lost to Lincolnton in the playoffs last season, has a chance to be excellent in 2026. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106957' first='Jordan' last='Buford']</strong> ran for 17 touchdowns and was one of the leading tacklers on defense, bringing more stability and experience to a well-rounded team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7) James Kenan Tigers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I may be lower on last year's 3A East runners-up, but James Kenan loses a ton of talent. After going 12-2, the Tigers lost their quarterback, leading rusher, top three receivers, and five of six leading tacklers. Second-leading rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155902' first='Taulil' last='Pearsall']</strong> returns to lead an inexperienced offense, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155903' first='Jaquez' last='Smith']</strong> is an excellent player who will anchor the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8) Mount Airy Granite Bears</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Granite Bear defense takes a huge hit from graduation, especially in the trenches, but there's still a ton of talent on this roster. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2155905' first='Kylan' last='Mason']</strong> was the team's leading tackler from his safety position, and he could play a bigger role in the running game, too. They're not a heavy passing team, but <strong>Ty Hemric</strong> gave the Granite Bears something in that department with good accuracy and a willingness to push the ball down the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">9) East Rutherford Cavaliers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I really like what East Rutherford has done in recent seasons, and there's some optimism both inside and outside of the program that the Cavaliers can take the next step. They've built on the offensive line, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1706360' first='Colby' last='Pack']</strong> and center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1706348' first='Pacey' last='Collins']</strong> forming one of the better duos in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Budding two-way star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1737718' first='Zeke' last='Wingo']</strong> is the likely quarterback starter, and though the Cavaliers lost a lot of talent, there's a lot of excitement in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">10) Martin County Gators</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The relatively newly-formed Martin County high school has wasted little time becoming a winning program. After back-to-back eight-win seasons, the Gators will look to take the next step. I'm interested to see if the Gators can get more out of the passing game, where they have some talented wideouts who didn't have many opportunities last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159168' first='Jordan' last='Matthewson']</strong> returns as the leading receiver, tackler, and pass rusher, while high-upside tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607846' first='Noah' last='Congleton']</strong> looks for a breakout year on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Also in the Hunt</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Davidson Dragons</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Farmville Central Jaguars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Princeton Bulldogs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wake Prep Guardians</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Providence Grove Patriots</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>This is the time of year when we have the most time to dive into film and re-evaluate prospects. Send your film on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>), so I can evaluate you.&nbsp;Deep Dives continue over the coming weeks before our spring rankings update.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->