For each week of the 2024 high school football season, HighSchoolOT will release the Starting 22. It lists the best performances from every position across North Carolina.

Coaches should send in performance nominations to [email protected] for consideration each week. Players cannot have a repeat selection later in the year, as the goal of this is to shine the light on as many players as possible.

See the Starting 22 from this season’s previous weeks:

Offense

QB — Trey Jones, senior, Northeastern

• Northeastern’s senior quarterback completed 21 of his 27 passing attempts for 414 yards and three touchdowns in the Eagles’ big win over Rocky Mount.

RB — Isaiah Lackey, senior, Hickory

• The powerful Lackey rushed for 160 yards and five touchdowns on 23 carries in 3A Hickory’s 69-27 win over Cox Mill. Lackey is 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds.

RB — Tareavion Mageo, senior, White Oak

• The 5-foot-11, 180-pound rusher had 29 carries for 220 yards and four touchdowns in White Oak’s 48-6 win over Onslow County foe Northside-Jacksonville.

WR — Jaylon McKoy, senior, North Stanly

• McKoy had six receptions for 125 yards and three touchdowns in North Stanly’s thrilling 38-37 two overtime win over county rival West Stanly.

WR — Macari House, senior, Salisbury

• House had six receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns in the Hornets’ 38–7 rout over Person.

FLEX — Maddox Greene, Senior QB, Watauga

• The Pioneers’ quarterback completed 10 of 14 passing attempts for 126 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions in a win over a 3A threat in A.C. Reynolds. Greene also rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries.

OL — Tai Buster, senior, A.L. Brown

• The Wonders from Kannapolis rushed for 304 yards and three touchdowns in a rivalry win over South Rowan. They also were able to throw for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Buster is a 6-foot-5, 285-pound Auburn commit.

OL — Wyatt Parker, senior, Piedmont

• Despite a loss to South Iredell, Piedmont rushed for 295 yards and a touchdown. Wyatt Parker is a 6-foot-4, 300-pound left guard who has college opportunities. He was also solid in pass protection against South Iredell.

OL — Rahshad Swinton, junior, Hickory

• The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Swinton has been playing right guard for Hickory after mostly playing on the defensive line last year. He is a powerful blocker and has contributed to Hickory’s running game remaining one of the best in North Carolina.

OL — Jonathan Stokes, senior, Randleman

• Stokes, an East Carolina commit, has helped the Randleman offense keep it moving against some good defenses this season. The interior offensive lineman is 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds. He has good physicality.

OL — Michael Gibbs, senior, Hoggard

• Hoggard annihilated J.H. Rose by a score of 45-6 and Gibbs and the Vikings’ offensive line had a lot to do with it. Hoggard rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns and found 183 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Defense

DL — Destin Locklear, senior, Lumberton

• The left defensive end coughed problems for Red Springs all night as he totaled nine combined stops, four tackles for a loss, a sack, and some big quarterback pressures.

DL — Ben Boulware, junior, Oak Grove

• The junior Power 4 prospect was credited with six total tackles, including two tackles for a loss, in the Grizzlies’ 41-14 win over an improved North Forsyth team.

DL — Christopher Bispham, junior, Havelock

• Bispham is an extraordinary disrupter at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds. Against a county opponent in West Craven, Bispham made five total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and a sack. His impact goes beyond the box score, though.

DL — Iziah Davis, senior, Montgomery Central

• The 6-foot-3, 183-pound outside linebacker was credited with nine solo tackles and four sacks in Montgomery Central’s 46-6 win over Orange.

LB — Dawson Crosby, sophomore, East Columbus

• Crosby has had a nice sophomore year for a 1A East Columbus team that has been a bit more competitive this year. In a 26-19 loss to 2A West Bladen, Crosby finished with 10 solo tackles, two tackles for a loss, and a sack.

LB — Quinton Cypher, sophomore, Millbrook

• The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker had 17 total tackles, five tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a pass breakup in Millbrook’s 45-14 blowout win over Broughton.

LB — Makai Hernandez, freshman, Porter Ridge

• In Porter Ridge’s 41-7 blowout win over a West Cabarrus squad that has had a nice start otherwise, the freshman accumulated nine total tackles, four tackles for a loss, and three sacks. The 6-foot-2 Hernandez also has an interception this season.

DB — Brett Rowland, junior, Hickory

• The junior safety has intercepted a pass in all three of the Red Tornadoes’ games this season. In Hickory’s 69-27 win over Cox Mill, Rowland had two interceptions.

DB — Jamison Avila, senior, White Oak

• Avila led all North Carolina players last week with three interceptions in White Oak’s 48-6 win over Northside-Jacksonville.

DB — Joe McGirt, senior, Charlotte Latin

• McGirt helped Latin improve its record to 5-0 with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, in the Hawks’ blowout win over the Carolina Bearcats.

FLEX — Jayden Holder, junior LB, Erwin

• In a 27-21 victory over a strong West Henderson program, Holder finished with 11 total tackles and three sacks.

Source: highschoolot.com