CCC Hickory Primer: Defensive Underclassmen To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week, the Carolinas Coaches Combine came to Eastern North Carolina, where more than 200 athletes competed in combine testing and drills. On Saturday, the western part of the state gets its turn, as Hickory hosts hundreds of players. Like&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/carolinas-coaches-combine-clayton-primer-offense/">we did last week</a>, we're breaking down players from all three sessions. Here, we're looking at the underclassmen to know in Session 3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Underclassmen To Know at CCC- Hickory</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The CCC is unique in that every player was nominated by his head coach. There are three sessions, two for rising seniors and one for the 2028 and 2029 classes. Let's jump right in. Here, I'm looking at the defensive players in the final session.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you missed our two pieces on the 2027 class or the offensive guys in the final session, click below:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/ccc-hickory-offensive-primer/">2027 Offense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/ccc-hickory-defensive-primer/">2027 Defense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/ccc-hickory-primer-offensive-underclassmen-to-know/">Underclassmen Offense</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Note: These primers are based on the latest expected rosters. Final participation rosters will not be finalized until after each session gets underway. Accordingly, a few of these players may, unfortunately, miss the CCC.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Line</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We wrote about <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616169' first='Graysen' last='Barringer']</strong> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/top-6-interior-defensive-linemen-in-forsyth-county/">earlier this week</a>. The former Atkins defensive linemen was versatile, even picking up some short-yardage handoffs. He's transferring to West Forsyth, and we want to see his lateral speed and agility. <strong>Luke Vandergrift</strong> was in that same piece, and I love his burst. I wonder what kind of vertical and broad jumps he can put up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing the Triad theme, Grimsley's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2112036' first='Guy' last='Vann']</strong> is a beast, but I've never seen any of his speed or power numbers. I think he can turn heads in that portion and in one-on-ones. He actually beat out the higher-ranked <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1047155' first='Kingston' last='Chandler']</strong> in a loaded <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/top-6-interior-defensive-linemen-in-guilford-county/">Guilford County IDL Deep Dive</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the edge, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678650' first='Kadence' last='Pruitt']</strong> is as good as they get, and he's on a roll on the recruiting trail. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are some under-the-radar guys I'm hoping to see: Forest Hills' <strong>Elijah Parr</strong>, Franklin's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2138345' first='Daiveon' last='Hall']</strong>, and Lincolnton's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2117028' first='Caedon' last='Cash']</strong> all fit the bill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Linebackers</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2028 and 2029 linebacker classes are loaded, and that's evidenced by the fact that even without some of the top guys, this group is one of the best position groups in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Stanly's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='951250' first='Caleb' last='Foley']</strong> is the top-ranked linebacker in attendance, an all-around talent with great size and speed. Joining him are highly-ranked guys like Kings Mountain's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687769' first='Christian' last='Jarrett']</strong> (ranked as an edge rusher), Lake Norman's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2164529' first='Charlie' last='Jones']</strong> (ranked as a defensive back), and West Iredell's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2113132' first='Trae' last='Clyburn']</strong>, of whom we haven't seen as much film as we'd like.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm intrigued by North Stokes' <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2099358' first='Nate' last='Harrison']</strong>, who we have ranked as a tight end. The beautiful thing about verified testing data is that it stays the same no matter which position a player declares on the sign-up sheet. All of these positionally versatile players will run the same tests, and we should have a better idea of their best positions after we look at thresholds and position data.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Backs</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm not as familiar with this group as a whole as I am with some of the others. One of the guys I am familiar with is East Forsyth's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1393949' first='Zion' last='Dobson']</strong>, one of the top defensive backs in the state. He's long and lean. I'm interested in what he weighs in at, as well as his 40 and wingspan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Phillip O. Berry defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2118944' first='Noah' last='Brown']</strong> is a newer name to our list, and I look forward to learning more. So too is RJ Reynolds defender <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2126991' first='De'reon' last='Watson']</strong>, a guy we anticipate cracking our Forsyth County defensive backs list dropping early next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2074879' first='Lucas' last='Hilliard']</strong> was key to Northern Guilford's deep playoff run, with six interceptions from his safety position last year. I'm intrigued by 6'3" (on paper) Southern Guilford athlete <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2091966' first='Jackson' last='Adams']</strong>, who is primarily a receiver in our database. If he does measure at that height, I'll be looking to see if his hips and footwork are fluid enough to stay at defensive back. If so, he's a guy we'd have to move up in the rankings. That archetype is so rare.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like any group, a few other guys should emerge, and I'd expect our rankings to contain a few guys we find this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>It's camp season, and we're coming to Charlotte on May 1 for our PRZ Exposure Camp under the lights on a Friday night. <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2214/register/exposure-series-north-carolina">Secure your spot</a> and use promo code WillHelms10 at checkout for $10 off. Think we missed someone? DM me on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>) with film.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->