2026 Preview: North Central Knights

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions through July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Simply head to our subscription page</a> and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.   Leadership has been a key aspect of the summer workouts for the North Central Knights. For quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1820699' first='Brayden' last='Price'] that means holding guys accountable when they're late to a workout or don't even bother to show.   "Holding people accountable is what we're really trying to be harsh with," Price said at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Westwood High School. "We can't do anything if nobody shows up, so us leaders have really been getting on people for that when it happens."   With kickoff of the 2026 season just a few weeks away, the leadership and accountability aspects from the leaders of the North Central time is falling in line with the message that head coach Daniel Sisk has been preaching throughout the offseason of staying in the weight room and staying conditioned.   "Coach has really been making sure we're staying conditioned and getting our work in, not only on the field but also off and away from the field," wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1847467' first='Logan' last='Stokes'] said. "If we can get our work in away from the field, that shows how committed we are this season and how we can always be getting better."   The Knights are returning 11 starters this season, six on offense and five on defense and they are a fast group all over the place. Along with Price and Stokes, North Central returns running back [player_tooltip player_id='1816211' first='Johnathan' last='Coats'] and wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1823266' first='Zayden' last='Burch'] along two offensive linemen in [player_tooltip player_id='1840066' first='Jacob' last='Liabastre'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1816400' first='Gavin' last='Anderson'] both of which started every game last season.   Defensively, it'll be a group of [player_tooltip player_id='1820700' first='Tyler' last='Sumpter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820697' first='Jake' last='Catledge'] along with some of the previously mentioned offensive players that are the returning and experienced players on the defensive side of the ball.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1820699' first='Brayden' last='Price'] QB, 2027 - Price (pictured above) will be in his fourth year as the starter at quarterback and is the definition of a dual threat quarterback. In the air, Price threw for 744 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He added 399 rushing yards and eight more touchdowns with his legs. He was also a ballhawk in the secondary, collecting a team-high four interceptions.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816211' first='Johnathan' last='Coats'] RB, 2027 - Coats was the lead man in the backfield last season with 128 attempts for 548 yards and four touchdowns. He was also productive catching passes out of the backfield (four catches, 26 yards) and defensively (10 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack). Much of the same is expected again this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823266' first='Zayden' last='Burch'] WR, 2027 - Much like his two teammates mentioned above, Burch will play both sides of the ball and be productive in doing so. His defense was impressive last season, as he was a part of forcing five turnovers (three interceptions, two forced fumbles).   [player_tooltip player_id='1847467' first='Logan' last='Stokes'] ATH, 2027 - Stokes is another one of those fast players that Sisk talked about having so many of and his offseason has been geared toward making a transition from receiver to more of a hybrid and h-back to help with getting more touches. He hauled in 45 catches last season and with that number likely going down, it's expected that his 2025 rushing attempts total of one will heavily increase.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1821790' first='Bryson' last='Eubanks'] EDGE, 2028 - Eubanks put together a solid sophomore season with 27 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery. He has excellent speed and instincts that allow him to be the first guy in the hole and perform well in open field tackling. He can also line up at running back and be a powerful, downhill back in short yardage situations.    BIGGEST LOSSES   Cassidy Horton OL - Horton is one of three offensive linemen along with Jackson Rogers and Zaimain Bennett that will have to be replaced. Each of the three are currently playing at the collegiate level.   Quayson Peoples LB - Peoples was the heartbeat of the defense last season and replacing his production will certainly be a challenge for whoever is asked to step into that role.   UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL   [player_tooltip player_id='1824879' first='Camauri' last='Kelley'] EDGE, 2028 - Kelley appeared in just one game last season but will have to step into a bigger role this year with the loss of several defensive players. With very little experience so far, the first couple of games this season will be huge for his development.   [player_tooltip player_id='1817749' first='Tazion' last='Boyd'] ATH, 2029 - Boyd played a little bit at receiver and corner last season, and he made an impact right away as a freshman, He hauled in six catches for 124 yards and scored twice, as well as posting 16 tackles on defense. He's another fast skill position player that Sisk is so excited about having.    Sumpter's name was mentioned by his coach several times and he'll be asked to do a lot in his junior season.   He has an extremely quick first step off the line and can disrupt nearly any play in the backfield. He doesn't quit on any play and with a full offseason to get stronger and learn more about the position, he could be in for a monster season.

In honor of the five-site Prep RedZone Media Days series this June and July, we're giving everyone a 50% offer code on all subscriptions through July 31. Get access to more than 100 team previews and everything else we have in store for readers as we gear up for the 2026 football season. Simply head to our subscription page and use the code "przscmediaday2026" at checkout to take advantage of the savings.

Leadership has been a key aspect of the summer workouts for the North Central Knights. For quarterback Brayden Price Brayden Price 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH/DB North Central | 2027 State SC that means holding guys accountable when they're late to a workout or don't even bother to show.

"Holding people accountable is what we're really trying to be harsh with," Price said at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Westwood High School. "We can't do anything if nobody shows up, so us leaders have really been getting on people for that when it happens."

With kickoff of the 2026 season just a few weeks away, the leadership and accountability aspects from the leaders of the North Central time is falling in line with the message that head coach Daniel Sisk has been preaching throughout the offseason of staying in the weight room and staying conditioned.

"Coach has really been making sure we're staying conditioned and getting our work in, not only on the field but also off and away from the field," wide receiver Logan Stokes Logan Stokes 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR SC said. "If we can get our work in away from the field, that shows how committed we are this season and how we can always be getting better."

The Knights are returning 11 starters this season, six on offense and five on defense and they are a fast group all over the place. Along with Price and Stokes, North Central returns running back Johnathan Coats Johnathan Coats 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB/DB North Central | 2027 SC and wide receiver Zayden Burch Zayden Burch 6'1" | 140 lbs | WR North Central | 2027 SC along two offensive linemen in Jacob Liabastre Jacob Liabastre 6'0" | 250 lbs | OL SC and Gavin Anderson Gavin Anderson 5'9" | 240 lbs | OL North Central | 2028 SC both of which started every game last season.

Defensively, it'll be a group of Tyler Sumpter and Jake Catledge Jake Catledge 5'9" | 200 lbs | TE North Central | 2027 SC along with some of the previously mentioned offensive players that are the returning and experienced players on the defensive side of the ball.

STARS SET TO SHINE

Brayden Price Brayden Price 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH/DB North Central | 2027 State SC QB, 2027 - Price (pictured above) will be in his fourth year as the starter at quarterback and is the definition of a dual threat quarterback. In the air, Price threw for 744 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. He added 399 rushing yards and eight more touchdowns with his legs. He was also a ballhawk in the secondary, collecting a team-high four interceptions.

Johnathan Coats Johnathan Coats 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB/DB North Central | 2027 SC RB, 2027 - Coats was the lead man in the backfield last season with 128 attempts for 548 yards and four touchdowns. He was also productive catching passes out of the backfield (four catches, 26 yards) and defensively (10 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack). Much of the same is expected again this season.

Zayden Burch Zayden Burch 6'1" | 140 lbs | WR North Central | 2027 SC WR, 2027 - Much like his two teammates mentioned above, Burch will play both sides of the ball and be productive in doing so. His defense was impressive last season, as he was a part of forcing five turnovers (three interceptions, two forced fumbles).

Logan Stokes Logan Stokes 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR SC ATH, 2027 - Stokes is another one of those fast players that Sisk talked about having so many of and his offseason has been geared toward making a transition from receiver to more of a hybrid and h-back to help with getting more touches. He hauled in 45 catches last season and with that number likely going down, it's expected that his 2025 rushing attempts total of one will heavily increase.

FILM REVIEW

Bryson Eubanks Bryson Eubanks 5'10" | 145 lbs | EDGE North Central | 2028 SC EDGE, 2028 - Eubanks put together a solid sophomore season with 27 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery. He has excellent speed and instincts that allow him to be the first guy in the hole and perform well in open field tackling. He can also line up at running back and be a powerful, downhill back in short yardage situations.

BIGGEST LOSSES

Cassidy Horton OL - Horton is one of three offensive linemen along with Jackson Rogers and Zaimain Bennett that will have to be replaced. Each of the three are currently playing at the collegiate level.

Quayson Peoples LB - Peoples was the heartbeat of the defense last season and replacing his production will certainly be a challenge for whoever is asked to step into that role.

UP-AND-COMING POTENTIAL

Camauri Kelley Camauri Kelley 5'9" | 190 lbs | EDGE North Central | 2028 SC EDGE, 2028 - Kelley appeared in just one game last season but will have to step into a bigger role this year with the loss of several defensive players. With very little experience so far, the first couple of games this season will be huge for his development.

Tazion Boyd Tazion Boyd 5'7" | 125 lbs | DB North Central | 2029 SC ATH, 2029 - Boyd played a little bit at receiver and corner last season, and he made an impact right away as a freshman, He hauled in six catches for 124 yards and scored twice, as well as posting 16 tackles on defense. He's another fast skill position player that Sisk is so excited about having.