Throughout the month of April, we'll have some kind of football preview coverage released to HSOT Insiders each day.
Today is a look at the top statistically returning big-play defenders in the 2A classification. We are looking at three areas: sacks, interceptions, and forced fumbles. The only requirement is that they played in seven games last season.
In the past, we've done articles for top individual tackling returners. That will not be the case this season. Since stats aren't really standardized in high school and each team has their own way of doing it, there is not a good way to compare players' tackling from those in other programs. Some teams only report solo tackles, while other teams will have a handful of guys with over 100 assist tackles. This year, those articles will be team-based. They will rank the teams by the percentage returning from their group tackling production in 2023.
We are using the individual stats for Sacks/Game, Interceptions/Game, and Forced Fumbles/Game because those categories are more cut-and-dry (and to be honest, not as disputable as some of the tackle numbers that are reported). We are using the efficiency per-game stats because the bulk numbers like total sacks and total interceptions can be deceiving and don't always correlate year-to-year.
Note: If your player's stats have not been published to MaxPreps or have not been sent to me, they are not going to be included below.
HSOT Insiders: Prepare for the 2024 football season
Top Returning 2A Defensive Leaders: Sacks per Game
Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 games to qualify: 7. Ties broken by games played.
1. Ryan Connotillo, senior DL, Pine Lake Prep — 1.455 Sacks/Game (11 games played)
2. O'Maurie Phillips, senior OLB, Farmville Central — 1.042 Sacks/Game (12 games played)
3. Brycen White, senior EDGE, South Granville — 1.0 Sacks/Game (11 games played)
4. Zion Brown, senior DE, Brevard — 0.75 Sacks/Game (12 games played)
5. Xavier Johnson, senior MLB, North Forsyth — 0.75 Sacks/Game (10 games played)
6. Zion Godley, senior DL, Walkertown — 0.75 Sacks/Game (8 games played)
T7. Jyveon Harris, senior DT, Camden County — 0.7 Sacks/Game (10 games played)
T7. Keshon Tripp, senior LB, Holmes — 0.7 Sacks/Game (10 games played)
T9. Oliver Morris, senior DE, Community School of Davidson — 0.692 Sacks/Game (13 games played)
T9. Yoel Deleon, senior OLB, Monroe — 0.692 Sacks/Game (13 games played)
11. Marshall McGowan, senior LB, Burns — 0.667 Sacks/Game (12 games played)
12. De'Zhian Roberts, junior DT, St. Pauls — 0.65 Sacks/Game (10 games played)
T13. Raheim Misher, senior OLB, Maiden — 0.636 Sacks/Game (11 games played)
T13. Gavin Helms, senior DE, North Stanly — 0.636 Sacks/Game (11 games played)
15. Antwan McKoy, sophomore DL, St. Pauls — 0.625 Sacks/Game (8 games played)
Top Returning 2A Defensive Leaders: Interceptions per Game
Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 games to qualify: 7. Ties broken by most games played.
1. Nicholas Gregory, junior CB, Seaforth — 0.75 INT/Game (8 games played)
2. Bennie Howard, senior DB, Salisbury — 0.667 INT/Game (12 games played)
T3. Quaydon Holder, senior CB, Southwest Onslow — 0.556 INT/Game (9 games played)
T3. Michael Suggs Jr., senior OLB, Greene Central — 0.556 INT/Game (9 games played)
T3. Chase Farlow, senior SAF, Randleman — 0.556 INT/Game (9 games played)
T3. Nicholas Glover, junior DB, Jordan-Matthews — 0.556 INT/Game (9 games played)
7. Tyshaun Goldston, senior DB, Randleman — 0.5 INT/Game (12 games played)
T8. Jaylan Hester, senior DB, J.F. Webb — 0.5 INT/Game (10 games played)
T8. Gianni Jacobs, junior OLB, Hendersonville — 0.5 INT/Game (10 games played)
10. Cam Nelson, senior SAF, Trinity — 0.455 INT/Game (11 games played)
11. Tylik Henry, senior CB, Lexington — 0.444 INT/Game (9 games played)
T12. Micah McCoy, senior ATH, Community School of Davidson — 0.417 INT/Game (12 games played)
T12. Micah Webster, senior DB, West Stokes — 0.417 INT/Game (12 games played)
T14. Cedrick Zeno, senior CB, Anson — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)
T14. Treyvion Bell, senior SAF, North Forsyth — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)
Top Returning 2A Defensive Leaders: Forced Fumbles per Game
Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum number of 2023 games to qualify: 7. Ties broken by most games played.
1. Nhymezz Lockett, senior DT, Southwest Onslow — 0.75 FF/Game (8 games played)
2. Blake McClellan, senior OLB, East Rutherford — 0.55 FF/Game (11 games played)
3. Josh Barnette, senior LB, J.F. Webb — 0.5 FF/Game (8 games played)
4. Eli Williard, junior NG, North Johnston — 0.455 FF/Game (11 games played)
5. Omirion Barber, senior DL, Hendersonville — 0.4 FF/Game (10 games played)
6. Oliver Morris, senior DE, Community School of Davidson — 0.385 FF/Game (13 games played)
7. Zalen Aki Watkins, senior DE, East Rutherford — 0.364 FF/Game (11 games played)
8. Jordan Young, senior DB, Monroe — 0.333 FF/Game (12 games played)
9. David Greenway, senior MLB, Seaforth — 0.3 FF/Game (10 games played)
T10. Jlynn Sheff, senior DL, Walkertown — 0.286 FF/Game (7 games played)
T10. Jaqualin Liles, senior ATH, Anson — 0.286 FF/Game (7 games played)
T10. Thomas Perez, senior OLB, Midway — 0.286 FF/Game (7 games played)
T13. Jack Smith, senior DL, Pine Lake Prep — 0.273 FF/Game (11 games played)
T13. Landen Bond, senior ILB, East Duplin — 0.273 FF/Game (11 games played)
T15. Zion Brown, senior DE, Brevard — 0.25 FF/Game (12 games played)
T15. Judson Weavver, senior DE, Brevard — 0.25 FF/Game (12 games played)
T15. Quay Darden, junior DE, SouthWest Edgecombe — 0.25 FF/Game (12 games played)
T15. Keegan Bostic, senior OLB, West Lincoln — 0.25 FF/Game (12 games played)
T15. Parker Gay, senior DE, SouthWest Edgecombe — 0.25 FF/Game (12 games played)
T15. Hampton Reed, junior DB, Maiden — 0.25 FF/Game (12 games played)
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