MVP doesn’t have to be a quarterback award, and Dudley has the defense to cause every team in the conference issues. Between Cotton, Southern Guilford transfer NaShon Overby, and Zayden Carter, the Dudley defensive line should wreak plenty of havoc.

Devin Cotton Devin Cotton 6'3" | 215 lbs | EDGE Dudley | 2027 State NC anchors one of the top defensive lines in the state and enters the season as one of North Carolina’s most productive pass rushers. After recording an incredible 21 sacks last season, Cotton has his sights set on another 20-plus sack campaign. While he thrives off the edge, he has the size and strength to slide inside at the next level, giving defenses valuable versatility. What truly separates Cotton is his relentless motor and intensity. He plays every snap at full speed, consistently disrupting offenses and making life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

Cotton is a long, lean edge rusher who burst onto the scene as a junior after another talented edge rusher transferred out. Cotton keeps his weight down as an all-state wrestler, and you can see that background in the way he uses his hands. He’s likely to get better as a run defender, and he showed continue to develop his pass-rushing arsenal.

Cotton came out of nowhere last season to be one of the state’s leading pass rushers. Now, he’s far more well-known and isn’t flying under the radar anymore. He’s a lengthy edge rusher who can rush the passer (obviously) or crash down and attack the running game.

Cotton was our biggest mover at edge rusher, something that tends to happen after a 21-sack season at the 6A level. Since August, he’s our biggest riser in the class, regardless of position, going from unranked to 85th in a matter of months. There’s some untapped potential, as he has room to add more weight and improve his power. Still, he knows how to get after the quarterback.

Dudley lost a premier pass-rusher in the weeks before the season, and Cotton has more than answered the call. The length junior has 13 sacks through eight games, and he’s been nominated for multiple player of the week awards. He wins mostly off of athleticism, so he still has some untapped potential as a scary pass-rusher.