In the month of April, HSOT Insiders will receive daily articles to preview the 2025 high school football season in North Carolina.

Today, we have a breakdown of some of the freshmen who stood out on varsity during the 2024 season. We’ll get back to the returning stat leaders with 7A quarterbacks tomorrow.

Get Caught Up on the Coverage from this Offseason

Oliver Alexander, DL, North Raleigh Christian Academy

• Alexander was a productive player for NRCA. He finished with 32 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, five sacks, and seven quarterback hurries.

Reed Ammons, QB, Lakewood

• The athlete threw for 764 yards while completing 57.6% of his passes and found the end zone seven times. He threw five picks. As a rusher, the freshman had 247 yards and five touchdowns.

Graysen Barringer, DL, Atkins

• Coach Johmar Barringer’s nephew made 72 total tackles, four tackles for a loss, a sack, and a forced fumble for the Camels.

Connor Brinton, RB, Asheboro

• Brinton stood out on the Blue Comets’ varsity team as he rushed for 1,076 yards and seven touchdowns in his debut season.

Kingston Chandler, DL, Ragsdale

• One of a handful of exciting class of 2028 defensive linemen, Chandler had 11 tackles, four tackles for a loss, and three sacks for Ragsdale.

Braylon Clark, WR, Charlotte Country Day

• Already a noted college prospect, Clark had 38 receptions for 578 yards and four touchdowns in his debut season.

Kaden Craft, QB, Lake Norman

• Craft’s arm talent has people buzzing. For Lake Norman, the freshman thew for 1,171 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns.

Tobias Cromartie, RB, Union

• Cromartie had one of the most memorable freshman seasons from a Union player we can remember. He rushed for 1,077 yards and five touchdowns.

Rhett Decker, RB, Christ the King

• Decker made his mark early on Brian Decker’s CTK squad, rushing for 675 yards and nine touchdowns.

Danny DeFilippo, LB, Camden County

• One of the most productive freshmen linebackers, DeFilippo had 97 total tackles, seven tackles for a loss, a half sack, and a fumble recovery.

Mohamed Donzo, DE, Trinity Christian

• Donzo is going to be an interesting player to monitor for the Crusaders after his 67-tackle, 10-tackle for a loss, five-sack freshman campaign.

Dejon Douglas, LB, Butler

• After a frustrating, injury-plagued season, Butler has some things to be excited about for the future. Douglas had 61 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, a sack, an interception, and two pass breakups during his freshman campaign.

John Evans Jr, RB, Reagan

• Evans Jr. was thrust into the varsity spotlight early and did well with his opportunity. He had 922 yards and eight touchdowns on 166 carries.

Antonio Felton, ATH, KIPP Pride

• Felton was a major part of KIPP Pride’s turnaround season. The freshman had 352 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on offense. On defense, he was even better. Felton had 59 total tackles and four interceptions from his defensive back spot.

Xavier Hall, TE, Lakewood

• While he was more impressive on the basketball floor, the 6-foot-8 tight end is going to cause problems for three more years. He had eight receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown.

Landen Harding, DL, Jay M. Robinson

• Harding is aleady known to some college coaches thanks to his 4 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and eight sacks as a freshman.

Grady Harrigill, OLB, Parkwood

• One of a handful of intruiging class of 2028 players at Parkwood, Harrigill made 51 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, and an interception.

Makai Henriquez, LB, Porter Ridge

• With 56 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble, Henriquez was as productive as you could ask a freshman linebacker to be.

Blake Hopkins, DL, Parkwood

• Parkwood got 50 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, a half sack, and a forced fumble out of the young Hopkins in 2024.

Curtis Johnson, RB, North Buncombe

• North Buncombe will be excited to have Jackson back after he rushed for 335 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per attempt. He also had 28 tackles and three pass breakups on defense.

Lej’end Lockwood, LB, Butler

• The linebacker was a bright spot for Butler as he accumulated 87 total tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, a pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries.

Braylen Loftin, ATH, Fike

• Loftin was super impressive as a freshman at Fike as he came up with 25 tackles, four interceptions, and three pass breakups on defense along with his 271 receiving yards and a touchdown on offense.

Lucas Lopez, QB, Cannon School

• The quarterback threw for 1,451 yards on 60.9% completion with 19 touchdowns to just five interceptions.

RJ Lynch, WR, Lincolnton

• Lynch was one of the most exciting rookies in North Carolina as he had 41 receptions for 537 yards, and nine touchdowns while also rushing for 270 yards and two scores. Defensively, he made 24 tackles, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.

Grady Mahaffey, DB, Lejeune

• A defensive back, Mahaffey was a difference-maker for the Devilpups. He had over 100 total tackles, five interceptions, three interceptions returned for a touchdown, and a forced fumble. On offense, he had 367 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Zion Malloy, DB, Page

• The athlete already has some college attention after producing 214 receiving yards with four touchdowns on offense and 17 tackles, five tackles for a loss, an interception, and four pass breakups for the Pirates.

Creig Matthews, ATH, Western Harnett

• Matthews was one of the Eagles’ better players as a freshman, rushing for 350 yards with two touchdowns and making 27 tackles with two interceptions on defense.

Teo McPhatter, RB, Princeton

• An instant star, McPhatter rushed for an absurd 1,739 yards and 27 touchdowns in his debut campagin for the Bulldogs. Both numbers were easily the best of any freshman in North Carolina. He also had three inteceptions on defense.

Draeton Nance, QB, Davie County

• A rare freshman starting quarterback, Nance impressively completed 66.8% of his passes for 1,623 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

JaSiaha Nance, ATH, Seventy-First

• Nance was worked into the varsity team over the year and ended up starting the 3A state championship game at quarterback in place of his injured brother DeAndre. Jasiaha had 231 receiving yards and a touchdown on a senior-heavy offense.

Sebastian O’Keefe, RB, Terry Sanford

• Even in a crowded backfield, O’Keefe showed his upside with 513 yards and two touchdowns on 70 carries.

Izzy Payne, RB, St. Sephens

• Payne was a bright spot for the Indians, rushing for 700 yards and five touchdowns on 153 attempts.

Blake Pennington, North Moore

• Pennington’s older brother Colby is one of the best players in North Moore history. Blake was a standout linebacker as a freshman. He had 110 total tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, five sacks, and an interception.

Lonnie Porter, QB, Lumberton

• The passer completed 63.4% of his passes for 567 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also had a rushing touchdown.

Skyer Potts, LB, Albemarle

• Potts made 73 total tackles, six tackles for a loss, and one sack as a freshman.

Andre Ramseur Jr., WR, Mountain Island Charter

• Ramseur led all freshmen in receiving by a wide margin. He had 829 yards and seven touchdowns on 56 receptions.

Ryan Rizzuti, QB, Myers Park

• Forced into the lineup due to an injury to a senior, Rizzuti made the most of his opportunity with 913 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Aaron Sadler, RB, Green Level

• Sadler replaced his older brother Symon with an impressive 836 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.

RJ Sherrod, DB, Piedmont

• Sherrod had 328 scrimmage yards on offense and 35 tackles with two interceptions and a touchdown on defense.

Chris Simmons, DB, Southern Guilford

• Simmons recorded 21 tackles, three interceptions, 14 pass breakups, and a forced fumble for the Storm. He was one of the most productive freshman defensive backs.

Jakis Smith, WR, R-S Central

• Smith had a nice start to his varsity career with 284 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, 96 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown.

Nicholas Smith, QB, E.E. Smith

• The class of 2028 passer showed some promise in limited varsity action as he threw for 560 yards, six touchdowns, three interceptions and rushed for 211 yards and three touchdowns.

Ennis Stiles, RB, Jay M. Robinson

• Stiles has early college offers. He rushed for 834 yards and six touchdowns for a very good Jay M. Robinson team.

Tyler Surles, DE, Parkwood

• The defensive end produced 42 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, and one sack in his debut campaign.

Keoni Terukina, LB, Dixon

• The Bulldogs had nice contrubtions from Terukina, who made 48 tackles, four tackles for a loss, a sack, and a forced fumble.

Knowshaun Taylor, RB, Parkwood

• Taylor made his mark with 551 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns in his debut season with the Wolfpack.

Azhir Waddell, OL, Dudley

• Waddell instantly started on Dudley’s offensive line, making him one of the most important freshmen in 3A. He’s already 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds.

Grayson Williams, OL, Southeast Raleigh

• The offensive tackle was an instant standout on Southeast Raleigh’s offensive line. He is 6-foot-4, 280 pounds. He already has some Power 4 opportunities.

Zamari Williamson, QB, Page

• Williamson threw for 703 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions and made himself a threat on the ground with 77 yards and four scores.

Jamil Wilson, LB, West Charlotte

• The freshman had a nice role for the 3A state champions, making 73 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, an interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.

Garrett Young, ILB/FB, Franklin

• The latest in a long line of successful Youngs at Franklin, Garrett had 62 tackles, four tackles for a loss, five pressures, an interception, two forced fumbles, and a recovery on defense to go with his 196 rushing yards and a touchdown on offense.

---

HSOT Insiders should stay tuned to the site throughout the spring and summer months for more football preview articles.