2026 North Carolina High School Football Primer

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Well, friends, we've made it. Happy football season from us at Prep Redzone! We have a ton of weekly content planned this season, but before games kick off, I wanted to set the tone for the year. In this piece, you'll find preseason contenders for each class, Player of the Year predictions, and state championship picks. Buckle up; this is a fun one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 North Carolina High School Football Season Primer</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">All-State Teams:</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/2026-preseason-all-state-offense/"><strong>All-State Offense</strong><br></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/2026-preseason-all-state-defense/"><strong>All-State Defense/Special Teams</strong><br></a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/preseason-all-breakout-offense/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>All-Breakout Offense</strong><br></a><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/preseason-all-breakout-defense/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">All-Breakout Defense</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NCHSAA Predictions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 10:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2339661,"width":"384px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_9efd92.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2339661" style="width:384px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1030649' first='Ge'arey' last='Johnson']</strong> | QB | KIPP Pride<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1855258' first='Jr' last='Rowland']</strong> | Ath. | North East Carolina Prep<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2158953' first='Tyquan' last='Whitaker']</strong> | DB/WR | Wilson Prep<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1884222' first='Zakari' last='Woods']</strong> | Edge/QB | Northside-Pinetown<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2141097' first='Jackson' last='Bodenhamer']</strong> | WR/LB | North Stokes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> Last year, the East was much stronger than the West. Several teams in the East actually played in the "western" side of the bracket. Only three of my top 10, and none of my top 5, are in the West. That's not all that surprising, given the distribution of 1A teams across the state, but there's still talent in the Triad and Charlotte-area prep ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Wilson Prep</strong> over South Davidson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 10:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2339707,"width":"428px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_d997a3.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2339707" style="width:428px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2092909' first='Antonio' last='Draughn']</strong> | RB | Tarboro<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2003772' first='Tyson' last='Douglas-Brown']</strong> | QB | Corvian Community<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1041542' first='Ty' last='Sigler']</strong> | QB | CSD<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1815500' first='Jaden' last='Lewis']</strong> | RB/DB | East Bladen<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901324' first='Mekhi' last='Chavis']</strong> | IDL | Warren County<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1290996' first='Cameron' last='Clem']</strong> | RB | Murphy<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106564' first='Calvin' last='Lacewell']</strong> | RB/LB | Lakewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> Can anyone beat Tarboro? The Vikings lose a ton, but I can't in good conscience pick against them until someone proves they can stop them. Their 15-0 season last year included seven shutouts and wins against several top 5A teams. On paper, the Vikings aren't the most talented team in the class this year, but I won't believe they won't win another championship until I see it happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Tarboro</strong> over Corvian Community</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340019,"width":"402px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7787610619469028","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_7f5f84.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2340019" style="aspect-ratio:1.7787610619469028;width:402px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678635' first='Jalaythan' last='Mayfield']</strong> | LB | Lincolnton<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1678610' first='Rashad' last='Lynch']</strong> | QB | Lincolnton<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687752' first='Tyson' last='Williams']</strong> | Edge | Shelby<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1854319' first='Zak' last='Ishman']</strong> | QB | Northeastern<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1106521' first='JaRon' last='Ward']</strong> | QB | Hendersonville<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616304' first='Teo' last='McPhatter']</strong> | RB | Princeton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> The 3A class had an abnormally large number of productive passers last year. That group included Shelby quarterback Lan Farmer, who graduated this spring. Can the Golden Lions continue their dominance with a new passer? And do the teams that return elite passers have the ability to put up points on some of the top teams in the classification?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Lincolnton</strong> over Northeastern</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">4A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 10:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340021,"width":"403px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7831858407079646","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_e09663.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2340021" style="aspect-ratio:1.7831858407079646;width:403px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1050807' first='Tyson' last='Broadway']</strong> | QB | Reidsville<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607912' first='Elan' last='Lipford']</strong> | QB | Hibriten<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1608319' first='Max' last='Davis']</strong> | RB | Burns<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1715220' first='Jeremiah' last='Pope']</strong> | RB | Newton-Conover<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607810' first='Qualteau' last='Hawkins']</strong> | TE | Stuart W. Cramer<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664518' first='CJ' last='Person']</strong> | QB ! West Craven</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> Almost every top team in the 4A class has a key playmaker. At the same time, those stars accounted for a large share of their teams' offensive yardage last season. Which team(s) find secondary and tertiary players to draw coverage and move the chains? The teams that can spread the ball around enough to take pressure off their star players will have the best chance of success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Reidsville</strong> over West Craven</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">5A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 10:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340023,"width":"444px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.783132530120482","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_65f98a.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2340023" style="aspect-ratio:1.783132530120482;width:444px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1953755' first='Mez' last='Harris']</strong> | QB | Hunt<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607782' first='Aury' last='Greenfield']</strong> | QB | Robinson<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154024' first='Namajay' last='Thompson']</strong> | WR | Crest<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687459' first='Reginald' last='Gray']</strong> | QB | Northside-Jacksonville<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2065235' first='Kaveaun' last='Pless']</strong> | RB | South Point<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607779' first='Jaxon' last='Dollar']</strong> | TE | East Lincoln<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2074450' first='Jaheem' last='Jenkins']</strong> | RB | Hickory</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> A lot of the top 5A talent, especially at the quarterback position, is clustered around the top four or five teams. Can the teams in the 6-10 range break into the upper echelon of the class, or will the top few teams run away to the semifinals? With two teams from each of the East and the West at the top, this may be the class that gives us a Final Four with no surprises.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Hunt</strong> over Jay M. Robinson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">6A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340022,"width":"503px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7773851590106007","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_027cd3.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2340022" style="aspect-ratio:1.7773851590106007;width:503px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1328747' first='Lex' last='Sevilla']</strong> | QB | Middle Creek<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1895409' first='Amari' last='Pearson']</strong> | RB | Jacksonville<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='653512' first='Shon' last='Pone Jr'].</strong> | RB | Seventy-First<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610573' first='Adrian' last='Colon']</strong> | RB | Union Pines<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1953538' first='Tristan' last='Thompson-Wynn']</strong> | WR | T.C. Roberson<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1135515' first='Koby' last='Howard']</strong> | QB | Harnett Central<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1858055' first='Mike' last='McLean']</strong> | RB | Scotland<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607877' first='Vermont' last='Carmack']</strong> | WR | Dudley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> Six of the top 10, including four of the top five, will start new quarterbacks, several of whom have yet to attempt a varsity pass. Of the nine quarterbacks in the class with at least 2,000 passing yards last season, only Howard and Sevilla return. The intriguing part is that several of those teams are fairly excited about their new passers. Which new guys live up to the hype? That could be the difference between a five-win season and challenging for a championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Middle Creek</strong> over Ashbrook</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">7A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340034,"width":"466px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_2e1332-edited.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2340034" style="width:466px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1048930' first='Brody' last='Lowe']</strong> | QB | Grimsley<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1625015' first='Christian' last='Ormandy']</strong> | QB | Garner<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378921' first='Christian' last='Freeman']</strong> | RB | Southeast Raleigh<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1044292' first='Skylar' last='Alston']</strong> | LB | Cardinal Gibbons<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1217496' first='Jonathan' last='Dillon']</strong> | QB/Ath. | Southern Durham<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604676' first='Weston' last='Michalak']</strong> | QB | Mooresville<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616114' first='John' last='Evans Jr.']</strong> | RB | Reagan<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2137702' first='Damacio' last='Cueto']</strong> | QB | Clayton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> Once again, the 7A class is loaded, but it doesn't feel like the most wide-open, simply because Grimsley is so far ahead of the others. Do the Whirlies come back to earth after losing several key pieces, or will they continue their dominance?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Grimsley</strong> over Garner</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">8A Season Predictions</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340024,"width":"469px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.7850877192982457","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_f63e7e.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2340024" style="aspect-ratio:1.7850877192982457;width:469px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='254550' first='Ethan' last='Royal']</strong> | QB | Hough<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321007' first='Jamouri' last='Nichols']</strong> | QB | Chambers<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1553113' first='Rashad' last='Streets']</strong> | Edge | Millbrook<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378957' first='Amir' last='Brown']</strong> | RB | Rolesville<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2003853' first='Kaiden' last='Okam'] |</strong> Edge/DL | Mallard Creek<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616112' first='Jonah' last='El-Amin']</strong> | QB | Jordan<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422524' first='Josh' last='Dobson']</strong> | DB | Hough</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storyline:</strong> Hough's defense was impenetrable last year, and the Huskies reloaded via transfer. There's a strong group of teams in the 2-7 range. Mallard Creek, Rolesville, Jordan, and Chambers are trending up, while Millbrook returns a ton of production from last year's state runners-up squad. Can one of them step up and give the reigning 8A champions a game?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Pick:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Hough</strong> over Millbrook</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NCISAA Predictions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Note: Because of a lack of teams, I grouped together NCISAA Divisions I and II, and the 8-Man Ranks.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 10:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2340037,"width":"484px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/08/image_1cdc9f.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2340037" style="width:484px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year Candidates:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651159' first='Braylon' last='Clark']</strong> | WR | Providence Day<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1616140' first='Lucas' last='Lopez']</strong> | QB | Cannon School<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149027' first='Hez' last='Krider Jr'].</strong> | RB | HPCA<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1728224' first='Shiloh' last='Mukendi']</strong> | RB | Asheville School<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1654910' first='Mak' last='Anderson']</strong> | QB | Christ School<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610603' first='Tre' last='Geathers']</strong> | DB/LB | Providence Day<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1308876' first='Troy' last='Logan']</strong> | QB | Charlotte Latin<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1857981' first='Christopher' last='White']</strong> | WR | GRACE Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Storylines</strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Division I:</em> Providence Day's biggest competition in the NCISAA comes from outside the state of North Carolina (Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, GA). While we leave the coverage of the Eagles to our friends at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/georgia/">PRZGA</a>, we've heard the talk that they've closed the gap after Providence Day graduated a Power Four quarterback. But, the Chargers are confident in quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610601' first='Cole' last='Cater']</strong>, and if I had to guess, it's a vastly improved Cannon School that poses the biggest threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Division II:</em> Several of the top NCISAA D-II teams lost elite players at the skill positions. The team that returns all of its production and more is Fayetteville's Trinity Christian, which quietly added several key transfers. Can the offense give the Crusaders enough to make a championship push?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>8-Man:</em> Last year's undefeated Arendell Parrott team loaded up the non-conference with bigger, 11-man schools. The Patriots lose a ton, and Cary Christian and its signiture passing attack loom large after an 11-2 season with two losses to Arendell Parrott. Are these teams destined for another championship clash, or can someone else, perhaps Wake Christian or John Paul II step into the championship conversation?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Picks:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Division I: <strong>Providence Day</strong> over Cannon School</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Division II: <strong>Trinity Christian</strong> over HPCA</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>8-Man: <strong>Cary Christian</strong> over John Paul II</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Follow along throughout the year for player and team insights, coverage of all 11 North Carolina high school football classes, and prospect projections for the classes of 2027-2030? Keep me updated on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>). Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo Code Helms30 will give them 30% off their first billing cycle.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->