Preseason All-Breakout Offense

Here at Prep Redzone, we're excited for the season. Tuesday, we released our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/08/2026-preseason-all-state-offense/">Preseason All-State Offense</a> and made it free to read for all. While we cover the top prospects well, our bread and butter is our coverage of under-the-radar players. That's what this is. Here's our All-Breakout Team, filled with guys who will be household names by the end of the year.   Not a subscriber? Promo code Helms30 will get you 30% off your first billing cycle.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prep Redzone North Carolina Preseason All-Breakout Offense</h2>   Editor's Note: While breakout has many meanings, we're specifically focused on guys who will have much bigger statistical years in 2026 than in 2025. This doesn't mean that a guy has to be a varsity debutant to make the list, but we'll stay away from guys who had big years last season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Quarterback (1)</h3>   First-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2135309' first='Mason' last='Karras'] | Cardinal Gibbons   Second-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='1616112' first='Jonah' last='El-Amin'] | Jordan   Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id='1690456' first='Vida' last='Blue'] | Union Pines; [player_tooltip player_id='1610601' first='Cole' last='Cater'] | Providence Day; [player_tooltip player_id='1605503' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins'] | Kings Mountain   Analysis: It's hard to feel better about a group of breakouts. All first-year starters, these guys have all the talent in the world, and they're coaching staffs are doing the song and dance where they have to pretend they aren't as excited as they are. Karras ultimately gets the nod on the first team after a ton of internal debate, but all five of these guys should start all year and play well.   I wouldn't be surprised if any or all of these guys ranked among the state's best in passing yardage and touchdowns. All five of these teams have aspirations of deep playoff runs in 2026, so we should see plenty of their quarterbacks.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Running Back (2)</h3>   First-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2212134' first='Kyle' last='Albert'] | Topsail; [player_tooltip player_id='1953797' first='Zy' last='Pharr'] | Mooresville   Second-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='1781963' first='Truth' last='Caesar'] | Cardinal Gibbons; [player_tooltip player_id='1046458' first='Torrin' last='Stroud'] | Grimsley   Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id='2092909' first='Antonio' last='Draughn'] | Tarboro; [player_tooltip player_id='2058181' first='Donavan' last='Smith'] | Lakewood; <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/demaurion-thomas-wright/">Da'Mourion Thomas-Wright</a> | Butler   Analysis: There's a fun mixture of youth, talent, and improved opportunity in this group. Pharr struggled in a bad situation last year, moving from that to a Mooresville team with plenty of available carries behind a strong offensive line. Albert could lead freshmen in rushing this year.   Draughn played some last year, but averaged fewer than three carries per game. He should see his workload jump. Smith should also see increased opportunities for Lakewood, while an improved Butler team should allow Thomas-Wright to shine.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wide Receiver (3)</h3>   First-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='1192754' first='Caden' last='Jones'] | Southeast Raleigh; [player_tooltip player_id='2225419' first='Pap' last='Brown'] | Kinston; [player_tooltip player_id='2249677' first='Devin' last='Dukes'] | Mallard Creek   Second-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2170655' first='Alex' last='Cooper'] | Grimsley; [player_tooltip player_id='1613651' first='Thomas' last='Jenkins'] | SouthLake Christian; [player_tooltip player_id='1678655' first='Jahmere' last='Anderson'] | Hough   Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id='2243018' first='James' last='Chapman'] | Enloe; [player_tooltip player_id='2326464' first='Rudolph' last='Davis'] | Cannon School; [player_tooltip player_id='2325760' first='Jarrod' last='Smith'] | Westover   Analysis: I've heard no fewer than half a dozen coaches, recruiters, and players tell me Jones will have a massive season. He ran a laser 4.55-second 40 at the Carolinas Coaches Combine, then impressed in seven-on-sevens and was mentioned by several Southeast Raleigh players in the preseason.   Brown, Anderson, and Dukes return as veterans in offenses that lost plenty of receiving production. Cooper and Jenkins were on pace for huge seasons before injuries in the first month of the year took their 2025 seasons.   I used my three honorable mention slots to project some deep sleepers. Enloe and Westover return veteran, proven quarterbacks but lose almost all of their receiver production. I think those two can step in and surprise a lot of teams. Davis is a physical freak who should find a home on Cannon's talented offense after a transfer.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tight End (1)</h3>   First-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2220823' first='Ty' last='Pugh'] | Grimsley   Second-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2220829' first='Kelly' last='Bridges'] | Stuart Cramer   Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id='1607846' first='Noah' last='Congleton'] | Martin County; [player_tooltip player_id='2169854' first='Harris' last='Jones'] | Conley   Analysis: This is the position group where athletic potential is everything. Here, we have several physically imposing freaks who, if given the opportunity, could have massive years. It was a coin flip between Bridges and Pugh at No. 1. Both are tall, fast receiving tight ends with excellent ball skills. Pugh gets the nod as he replaces an FBS tight end while Bridges still sits behind one on the roster.   Congleton and Jones are a bit more established, but should be able to take the next step as receivers in 2026.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Line (5)</h3>   First-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='1858054' first='Kaiden' last='Melvin'] | Cleveland; [player_tooltip player_id='2243870' first='Saveion' last='Green'] | Reynolds; [player_tooltip player_id='2100368' first='Zachary' last='Brawner'] | Millbrook; [player_tooltip player_id='2067432' first='William' last='Gary'] | Trinity Christian; [player_tooltip player_id='1671214' first='Joseph' last='Franz'] | West Mecklenburg   Second-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2326447' first='Aubrey' last='Chapman'] | South Garner; [player_tooltip player_id='2325706' first='Portlan' last='Satterwhite'] | Rolesville; [player_tooltip player_id='2167978' first='Houser' last='Crowell'] | Bishop McGuinness; [player_tooltip player_id='1659012' first='Malik' last='Bennett'] | Northeast Guilford; [player_tooltip player_id='2169853' first='Jacolby' last='Amerson'] | Triton   Analysis: I'd love to lie and say I had the names of 10 likely offensive line stars with limited experience to this point, but I didn't. This list is compiled through plenty of conversations with coaches and players, a lot of research, and a bit of luck.   It's a mix of veterans who've waited patiently and young guys who could break out immedaitely. We've got impressive youngsters (Satterwhite), savvy vets (Chapman), and some who crafted a bigger role for themselves through work in the weight room (Brawner). Overall, I'll feel happy if five or six of these guys are worthy of a rankings debut or bump halfway through the season.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Flex (1)</h3>   Editor's Note: This group consists of players who will contribute offensively this year at multiple positions.   First-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2256472' first='Coy' last='Greer'] | Watauga   Second-Team: [player_tooltip player_id='2226284' first='Caleb' last='Jackson'] | Aycock   Honorable Mentions: [player_tooltip player_id='1631111' first='Amari' last='Sumner'] | West Craven; Javyn Hicks | Bunn; [player_tooltip player_id='1332088' first='Malachi' last='Gant'] | Chambers; [player_tooltip player_id='1855258' first='Jr' last='Rowland'] | Southeast Prep   Analysis: This group is an eclectic bunch. We have 1A do-it-all guys, big-school athletes, and intriguing multi-faceted players. Greer could be a two-way starter for Watauga. I'm intrigued to see what he can do at the quarterback position after catching a few passes at receiver last year.   Jackson turned heads at the Carolinas Coaches' Combine with excellent size and speed. There's an opportunity for an increased workload in Aycock's offense. Bunn loses its quarterback and a top receiver. Can Hicks step in and provide a spark? Sumner had 13 touches as a freshman and looks like he'll have a huge role in West Craven's offense in 2026.   How'd we do? Let me know your thoughts and who we left out by reaching out on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>). Stay tuned for the defensive half of our All-Breakout Team on Saturday.

Here at Prep Redzone, we're excited for the season. Tuesday, we released our Preseason All-State Offense and made it free to read for all. While we cover the top prospects well, our bread and butter is our coverage of under-the-radar players. That's what this is. Here's our All-Breakout Team, filled with guys who will be household names by the end of the year.