15 WNC juniors to watch during 2024 NCHSAA football season

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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