Weddington Warriors 2026 Season Preview

My colleagues have done a great job in previewing schools across North Carolina, and I will start previews with key players on schools within the Charlotte Metro Area. Previewing schools in the Charlotte Area can always be tricky in the new transfer era that we are in now, so if we preview a player who may have switched schools after a preview is completed, please forgive us.   The Weddington Warriors have become a powerhouse program in North Carolina, consistently having double-digit winning seasons and making deep playoff runs year in and year out. However, this version of the Warriors will look a lot different than in years past. A lot of seniors who provided a high level of production have graduated, and we have some new faces that are expected to step in and continue the winning tradition under championship Head Coach Andy Capone. Speaking of Capone, I expect this team to look like some of the teams he had early in his tenure with the Warriors. There are going to be some names we know, but the collective of the team will function in their success much more than the individual big names we have come to know the past few years. This is what makes Capone a great coach in my opinion. Let's take a look at some of the key players the Warriors will have this upcoming season.    Coming over from the Independence Patriots, Jared is one of the best quarterbacks in the state of North Carolina. Jared recently committed to play college football at Western Carolina, so congratulations to him on that great accomplishment. Jared has some excellent fundamentals in the pocket and delivers an accurate football on a consistent basis. Jared's dual-threat ability is something that you have to account for as well, and that will give Weddington a different look from the quarterback position this year. That should make them a little more unpredictable and difficult to defend overall.     Anthony shared the load last season with a talented senior teammate, but this season expect him to be the main threat from the running back position. Last season, Anthony averaged nearly 10 yards per carry, so it's safe to say that containing his ability is going to be paramount, especially as the Warriors work in a new set of receivers with a new quarterback early in the season. Anthony has the ability to be a threat in the passing game as well, so I expect him to be a very big key to the offensive attack all season long.     Makai comes into the Weddington program from Porter Ridge High School, and he's one of the best EDGE prospects in his class in North Carolina. I saw him up close recently at the CFI Carolinas MEGA Showcase, and he's stronger and more explosive in his pass rush overall. I think he's going to have a big season in a program that knows how to develop talented defensive linemen overall. Makai has several Division 1 offers already, and I think this year he gets deeper on the radar of Power 4 college football programs.     Ace is a talented defensive back who has developed into a college football recruit - he recently committed to play college football at Marshall University, so congratulations to him for that! Ace gives Weddington someone who can match up against a team's best receiver, something they haven't necessarily had consistently even through all of their success over the years. Ace is known for his speed - he does very well on the track and exhibits the long speed to stay with receivers all over the field.     We have had Bryce ranked highly at Prep Redzone North Carolina ever since his sophomore year, when he began to make a major impact up front on the Warriors' offensive line. Bryce committed to play college football at East Carolina earlier this offseason, so congrats to him! Bryce was heavily recruited and deservedly so. From his center position, Bryce has shown the ability to be a road grader in the running game and doesn't give up penetration up the middle in pass protection against defensive linemen. His performance is going to be vital with a lot of new faces on offense this season.     Eric is the brother of Makai, who we featured earlier, and he also comes over from Porter Ridge High School. Last season, Eric was a major impact player for a team that made the 2nd round of the state playoffs. As an inside linebacker, Eric will be a force against the running game and in pass coverage over the middle of the field. Eric has picked up a couple of well-deserved offers this summer, and with a good start to this upcoming season, I expect more offers to come his way sooner rather than later.

My colleagues have done a great job in previewing schools across North Carolina, and I will start previews with key players on schools within the Charlotte Metro Area. Previewing schools in the Charlotte Area can always be tricky in the new transfer era that we are in now, so if we preview a player who may have switched schools after a preview is completed, please forgive us.