Last football season saw plenty of sophomore talent rise into the spotlight. Now a season later and a year older, those now-juniors are set to become their team’s main playmaker.
Here are 15 juniors to watch during the 2024 NCHSAA high school football season.
Camden Breazeale
Murphy | Defensive end
Breazeale had 108 tackles and eight sacks in an All-WNC campaign last season. Breazeale is part of a group of returning Bulldogs that will make a fierce defense.
Tre Graves
Hayesville | Running back
A year after splitting carries with Taylor McClure, Graves will be the main back for the Yellow Jackets. He had 826 yards on 147 carries with 11 touchdowns last season and added 55 tackles and two interceptions on defense.
Ely Hamrick
Reynolds | Quarterback
Hamrick will make a splash for the Rockets after transferring from IMG Academy. He threw for 1,244 yards, 18 touchdowns and no interceptions in nine games last year.
Cason Jones
Mountain Heritage | Tight end, Linebacker
Pick a side of the ball and Jones excelled at it. He had 63 carries for 617 yards, 18 receptions for 291 yards and 11 total touchdowns. He was second in the conference with 123 tackles and recorded 13 sacks. On special teams, he returned 13 kicks for 415 yards and one touchdown.
Benjamin Kessinger
Brevard | Quarterback
Kessinger was one of WNC’s best sophomore quarterbacks last season, throwing for 1,488 yards and 25 touchdowns on 65% completion. He led the Blue Devils to a 10-3 season and a conference championship.
Brevard quarterback Benjamin Kessinger throws a football during a passing drill at practice Nov. 14, 2023.
Zalen McCraw
Polk County | Linebacker
Although a Wolverines team that struggled last year is losing a couple top performers, they’re returning plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, led by McCraw and his 79 tackles and three sacks.
Zane McCraw
West…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/15-wnc-juniors-watch-during-090311576.html
Author : Asheville Citizen-Times
Publish date : 2024-06-18 09:03:11
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