Happy New Year!

HighSchoolOT is back with a way-too-early statewide Top 25 for the 2025 football season in North Carolina.

West Charlotte, the defending N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state champion, is in the No. 1 spot in this very early look at the next season. The Lions’ impressive playoff run was led by star performances from sophomores and juniors.

Grimsley, the defending 4A champion and No. 1 finisher in the HSOT Top 25 for 2024, is at No. 2 for now. The Whirlies have to replace the state’s best defensive player and best running back, but national No. 1 overall recruit Faizon Brandon will be a senior next season. Unlike this past season, his entire arsenal of receivers is set to be back in 2025.

West Charlotte is set to be a favorite in the new 8A classification next year, while the 7A conversation will start with Grimsley.

Weddington has to find a new quarterback again, but the Warriors’ might on the defensive side of the ball is good enough to have them finish out the top three.

Providence Day, the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I runner-up, is ranked at No. 4 despite losing 5-star offensive tackle David Sanders. The Chargers are loaded in the class of 2026, with Power 4 prospects at quarterback, wide receiver, and still on the offensive line.

Hough needs a new quarterback like Weddington, but the Huskies have a clear answer in rising junior Ethan Royal, who has already received verbal FBS offers. Hough managed to successfully reboot its pass rush in 2024 and it will have to do it again in 2025. But the state’s best cornerback Samari Matthews will be ready to do his part to stop opposing offenses.

Way-Too-Early Top 25

(With last year’s final overall record)

1. West Charlotte (13-2)
2. Grimsley (16-0)
3. Weddington (13-1)
4. Providence Day (9-3)
5. Hough (12-2)
6. Cardinal Gibbons (12-2)
7. Mooresville (11-2)
8. Rolesville (14-2)
9. Richmond (10-3)
10. Reagan (6-5)
11. Crest (10-3)
12. Millbrook (11-2)
13. Reidsville (11-1)
14. Clayton (10-2)
15. Independence (10-2)
16. West Forsyth (8-4)
17. Hoggard (12-2)
18. Shelby (11-3)
19. Ashbrook (10-3)
20. Erwin (10-2)
21. Leesville Road (10-2)
22. Tarboro (14-1)
23. Myers Park (4-6)
24. Terry Sanford (9-3)
25. Kinston (9-5)

The Next 25 Considered

(In alphabetical order)

• Charlotte Catholic (9-3)
• Cleveland (13-1)
• Dudley (13-1)
• East Forsyth (13-1)
• East Lincoln (7-4)
• Garner (8-4)
• Havelock (12-2)
• Hickory (14-1)
• J.H. Rose (5-9)
• Jacksonville (12-2)
• Jay M. Robinson (12-1)
• Kings Mountain (9-3)
• Lake Norman (7-4)
• Laney (6-5)
• Mallard Creek (10-3)
• Monroe (15-0)
• New Bern (9-3)
• North Lincoln (12-2)
• Northeastern (15-1)
• Northern Nash (10-1)
• Northwest Guilford (9-3)
• Page (3-8)
• Seventy-First (15-1)
• Southeast Raleigh (7-4)
• Southern Durham (10-3)