Yon, like Wilbert, represents an impressive recruiting win for the Eagles over several other highly-touted programs. Initially an athlete in our system, it became increasingly clear late last season and into this offseason that Yon was being recruited as a safety, his best position. The Eagles are getting a guy with fantastic athleticism and outstanding ball production. He picked off four passes and forced two fumbles, showing his versatility and two-way skill set. Because of his smaller size and ridiculous range, he’ll likely be best used as a deep, middle-of-the-field safety. That said, I’ve never seen a Grimsley defensive back who can’t come down and play man in the slot. That positional versatility likely gives him the chance to play early at the next level, and NC Central fans should be excited to land such a talent.

Makai Yon Makai Yon 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Grimsley | 2027 State NC is one of the leaders in Grimsley’s secondary and a true playmaker at safety. The 5’10”, 185-pound defensive back has the size and physicality to be an effective tackler, but his biggest strength is his ball-hawking ability. Yon has a knack for finding the football and creating turnovers, and he proved it on the biggest stage by recording a game-sealing interception in last season’s state championship victory. Expect him to once again be one of the defensive leaders for the Whirlies this fall.

Yon really stepped up as a leader of the Grimsley defense in 2025, despite being one of only a few underclassman starters. His ball skills are excellent, and he loves to hit, despite his size. He didn’t play much on offense this season, but he has the ability to play in the slot, and his defensive versatility opens up a lot of schematic advantages for the Whirlies.

Makai Yon Makai Yon 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Grimsley | 2027 State NC proved to be the ultimate two-way difference-maker for Grimsley and came up huge when it mattered most. In a game filled with stars, Yon delivered the defining moment on defense — jumping the route for a clutch interception and taking it back to the house.

That pick-six sealed the game, pushed it out of reach, and completely flipped the momentum in Grimsley’s favor. His instincts, ball skills, and competitiveness showed up on the biggest stage, and it was no surprise to see him voted Defensive Player of the Game.

Makai had the play of the game defensively, making the tackle on the attempted two-point conversion to seal the victory for the Whirlies in overtime. Over the summer, Makai picked up his first offer from Gardner-Webb, which obviously had a good eye for talent. I love Makai’s speed and athleticism overall, and am excited to see where he goes from here. In total for the game, Makai finished with 4 tackles and one pass breakup officially.