2026 Preview: Rolesville Rams

The North Carolina high school football season begins in less than two months. Our team previews are one of our most popular features on Prep Redzone, and we're going deeper than ever with our 2026 edition. Let's kick them off with a detailed look at the 2026 Rolesville Rams.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rolesville Rams 2026 Season Preview</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Info</h3>   Head Coach: Kevin Reddick (First Season)   2025 Record: 9-4   2026 Conference: <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/06/predicting-each-cap-8a-teams-mvp/">CAP 8A</a>   Key Games: vs. Mallard Creek (8/21), @ Millbrook (9/25), vs. Leesville Road (10/23)   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Storyline</h3>   On paper, Rolesville had its strongest team last season, but the Rams weren't consistent enough in the passing game to compete with some of the top teams on the schedule (losses to four teams with a combined 45-6 record).   Kevin Reddick steps in after several years as defensive coordinator and has led a focused effort to get stronger this offseason. While top Rolesville prospects in the past have seemingly underperformed on Friday nights, relative to their college potential, there's some quiet confidence that the Rams could have several bona fide stars on the field this season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Stars</h3>    Brown is the type of back who's built for a workhorse role. But Rolesville would benefit from a bit more balance this year after an overreliance on the Nebraska commit to be the majority of the offense last season. He's a between-the-tackles guy who excels at making one cut and getting up the field. Expect plenty of broken tackles and speed at the second level, too.     Roberts was used primarily as a deep threat last year, but he's a complete receiver who should have an expanded, versatile role this season. As a whole, there's less star power in the receiver room this year, which I don't think is a bad thing. Roberts should see an increased target share, and he won't just be running nine routes. The physical profile is enticing, as he has the size, strength, and speed to beat any defensive back in the state.     Broadie excelled last year as the secondary pass-rushing option opposite North Carolina commit Zavion Griffin-Haynes, but he played a bit undersized and with a less mature body type. Every indication is that he's transformed his body in the weight room, and the reviews coming out of SEC camps this summer are impressive. I'd expect a step forward for one of the fastest-rising prospects in the state.     Bryant is one of the more versatile safeties in the state and a true star. He moved from a box safety role closer to the line of scrimmage in 2024 to a true free safety in 2025. As he did so, his statistical profile shifted, and he racked up six interceptions as a junior. Perhaps more importantly, his range in the back opens up a ton of extra options for coverages and blitzes underneath.     Brown moves down from Virginia for the 2028 season, and he gives Rolesville a prototypical corner prospect to plug and play in a talented secondary that consistently puts players at the Division I level. Brown can play bump-and-run or off-man coverage, and his skill set gives the Rams' defense a lot of options.    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Biggest Losses</h3>   Zavion Griffin-Haynes | Edge- Griffin-Haynes' elite length and get-off impacted the game, even if the sack numbers are replaceable. He also ate up double-teams and freed up linebackers, so I'm interested to see how the Rams replace him.   Gavin Waddell | WR- Waddell led the Rams in receiving last year with over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. Now at Louisville, Waddell was Rolesville's primary underneath receiver, as he excelled after the catch.   Kaleb Williams | QB- Williams transferred in for one season and threw for nearly 2,500 yards. A dual-threat, he kept defenses honest. There's less star power in the quarterback room this year, but the Rams still feel confident there.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Breakout Candidates</h3>    There are few in the state who have raised their stock as much this offseason as Williams. Williams is probably the most technically-sound defensive back in an elite secondary. He wins in spite of his size and his confidence, attitude, and pure talent are fantastic. Expect huge things from the rising senior in 2026.     Rolesville's receiver room is one of the deepest in the state, so when the coaching staff singles out Nesbitt as a potential breakout, we listen. He's had a strong offseason on both the 7-on-7 and college camp circuits. I am not entirely sure exactly what his role will look like in 2026, but the Rams are high on both his potential to contribute this season.     While McHugh has been on our radar for a few years, dating back before his transfer into Rolesville last offseason, we haven't yet seen him take over as a starter on defense. That should change in 2026. He's healthy and should lead an interesting young linebacker room this season. Expect a breakout year for the talented college prospect.     As you can tell from his profile picture, Allen is a long-time scouting favorite of Prep Redzone, and he earned his top-15 ranking in the class of 2029 without a ton of varsity playing time. With a few key departures on the interior, Allen is expected to take on a much bigger role. He should thrive after a big offseason in the weight room.     White has flown under the radar on a solid offensive line unit, and his experience will be key in 2026. The Rams lose a few vets, and while they have some talented underclassmen, this offensive line is lacking in proven contributors. White has taken his game to another level, and he's attacked his recovery from a knee injury. Now fully healthy, the recent North Carolina Central commit should be a huge part of a strong offensive unit.    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Verdict</h3>   Rolesville's players and coaching staff will be the first to tell you that last season was a bit of a disappointment, given the expectations.   They've attacked the offseason with that in mind, and I think the team will look almost unrecognizable this year. The Rams expect to make a deep 8A playoff run, and we'll find out fairly early on if that belief is realistic. I have a season-opening matchup with a veteran Mallard Creek team circled, as we could learn a lot from the start of the year.   The main question I have is whether the offense has a Plan B or Plan C. Too often last year, if defenses held Brown at bay in the running game, the Rams were either too slow or unable to pivot, even if the raw passing numbers looked strong.   There's a high floor, given Rolesville's overall talent and schedule. But the team won't care about that if they struggle with some of the better teams in the state again. An early conference matchup with Millbrook could determine the CAP 8A conference winner, and I think it will be far more competitive than last year's loss.   The defense should be elite, and I expect the pass rush to actually improve over last season. If they can hold up in the running game against the better teams on the schedule, the Rams are probably back to contending in 2026.   A special thanks to Rolesville head coach Kevin Reddick for sharing his prospect sheet and thoughts on his team. Coaches, if you want your team featured in a team preview, <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeB9YBH_he_sOP-lhvI26XRh0P9vobS8PsVJy_5QCJ4jQLTvQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=118251332469799088451">fill out our preseason survey</a>. Want to send this report to someone who isn't a subscriber? 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The North Carolina high school football season begins in less than two months. Our team previews are one of our most popular features on Prep Redzone, and we're going deeper than ever with our 2026 edition. Let's kick them off with a detailed look at the 2026 Rolesville Rams.