Top Players in 8-Man Football

This summer, we've spent time highlighting players from various small schools and associations, covering players from the 1A-4A classes in NCHSAA and from the NCISAA ranks. Here, we're going even smaller, breaking down a few of the top 8-man players. North Carolina has a history of producing top 8-man players who then go on to thrive at the 11-man game in college. There are several top prospects across the 8-man ranks, and here we're breaking down some of the best.   *Get 30% off your first billing cycle with promo code Helms30*   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top 8-Man Football Players in North Carolina</h2>    Kalisiak is currently our top-ranked 8-man player in the 2027 class, and he's coming off a massive junior year for Cary Christian. He's the leading returning receiver after going for over 1,200 yards as a junior. He also ran for over 150 yards and six touchdowns, and returns with the second-most tackles on the team. He's versatile, shifty, and fast, able to operate well in tight spaces.     Laws is one of the better edge rushers in the 2029 class, regardless of classification. He's quick off the line and thrives at getting after the quarterback. He more than held his own against older players from bigger schools at our Prep Redzone Exposure Camp in early May, and I like the way he moves in space. That could mean he eventually moves to linebacker to help his recruitment, but he looks like a guy who could have a great career at the high school level and beyond.     Beamon is a three-sport athlete, excelling on the baseball diamond and holding a ranking from our friends at Prep Hoops. He's not a bad football player, either. In fact, he's the top returning passer in the state at the 8-man level. Last season, he threw for over 2,100 yards and 21 touchdowns for Community Christian     Wright is one of the most productive players at the 8-man level, and he's doing it on both sides of the ball. As a junior, he led the 8-man ranks with seven interceptions, adding 65 tackles and two forced fumbles. As a running back, he was explosive, averaging 10 yards per carry on 38 touches, with four touchdowns. That's right around his average as a sophomore, too, when he ran for 221 yards on 22 carries.     If you want proof that 8-man players can go on to play at the next level, look no further than Arendell-Parrott, which has placed multiple players in the college ranks. Grady not only looks like the next, but he already has scholarship opportunities. A tackling machine, Grady has great size and sideline-to-sideline speed for North Carolina's reigning 8-man Champions. Expect a big year from Grady, who had over 100 tackles and four sacks as a junior.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other 8-Man Players To Know</h2>   Sylas Rouse | RB- Arendell-Parrott   Vincent Wilson | RB/DB | Faith Christian   Marcus Reinalda | LB/Edge | Cary Christian   Our preseason coverage is just getting started. 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 survey</a>.

This summer, we've spent time highlighting players from various small schools and associations, covering players from the 1A-4A classes in NCHSAA and from the NCISAA ranks. Here, we're going even smaller, breaking down a few of the top 8-man players. North Carolina has a history of producing top 8-man players who then go on to thrive at the 11-man game in college. There are several top prospects across the 8-man ranks, and here we're breaking down some of the best.