Football

Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Sacks & Takeaways

HighSchoolOT is back with more football preview coverage in the spring. Today, a look at the best statistically returning defenders in the 3A classification.
Posted 2024-04-23T20:36:47+00:00 - Updated 2024-04-23T20:16:00+00:00
Jackson Forrest of Northwest Cabarrus. Robinson won the Piedmont conference, and remained unbeaten with a dazzling second half defensive performance in a 21-13 home win over Northwest Cabarrus on October 19, 2023 (Photo: Evan Moesta/HighSchoolOT)
By 
Joel Bryant

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 3A 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.

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Top Returning 3A 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. Jackson Forrest, senior LB, Northwest Cabarrus — 1.5 Sacks/Game

2. Isaiah Campbell, senior DL, Southern Durham — 1.455 Sacks/Game

3. Ronnie Hooker, senior DE, Lee County — 1.25 Sacks/Game

4. Garrison Dibble, senior DL, Atkins — 1.1 Sacks/Game

5. Christopher Bishpam, junior DL, Havelock — 1.071 Sacks/Game

6. Marquan Footman, senior DE, Cape Fear — 1.042 Sacks/Game

7. Tyler Nash, senior OLB, West Henderson — 1.0 Sacks/Game (14 games played)

8. Elijah Littlejohn, junior EDGE, West Charlotte — 1.0 Sacks/Game (12 games played)

9. Nick Johnson, senior DE, White Oak — 1.0 Sacks/Game (11 games played)

T10. Jaylin Jessup, junior LB, Westover — 1.0 Sacks/Game (8 games played)

T10. Zymir Bobbitt, junior ATH, Franklinton — 1.0 Sacks/Game (8 games played)

12. Jordan Rouse, junior DT, North Gaston — 0.857 Sacks/Game

13. Semaj George, junior OLB, Havelock — 0.75 Sacks/Game (12 games played)

14. Easton McLain, senior DE, Person — 0.75 Sacks/Game (8 games played)

15. Wright Collins, senior DE, J.H. Rose — 0.731 Sacks/Game

Finalized schedules for the 2024 North Carolina high school football season

Top Returning 3A 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. Brandon Batts, senior CB, Hunt — 0.667 INT/Game

2. Khimani Nolan, junior DB, Havelock — 0.643 INT/Game

3. William Clinkscales, senior SAF, Western Alamance — 0.6 INT/Game

T4. Jamison Avila, senior DB, White Oak — 0.5 INT/Game (10 games played)

T4. Kaison Phillips, senior SAF, Ledford — 0.5 INT/Game (10 games played)

6. Steven Murray, senior DB, Eastern Guilford — 0.46 INT/Game

T7. David Wignot, senior SAF, Lake Norman Charter — 0.444 INT/Game (9 games played)

T7. Nate Mummert, senior SAF, Richlands — 0.444 INT/Game (9 games played)

T9. Jaquial Bagley, senior DB, Jacksonville — 0.429 INT/Game (7 games played)

T9. Jaidyn Muazzin, senior DB, Ashbrook — 0.429 INT/Game (7 games played)

11. Zion Ikeme, sophomore DB, A.C. Reynolds — 0.417 INT/Game

T12. Cameron Napier, junior LB, Northside-Jacksonville — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)

T12. John Elkerson, junior DB, Person — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)

T12. Eli Ward, senior DB, Rockingham County — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)

T12. Braylon Dezarn, senior DB, Franklin — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)

T12. Brady Ross, junior DB, Rockingham County — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)

2023-2024 North Carolina high school football coaching changes

    Top Returning 3A 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. Ryan Bassani, senior ILB, North Lincoln — 0.667 FF/Game

    2. Jackson Forrest, senior LB, Northwest Cabarrus — 0.583 FF/Game

    3. Jaylin Jessup, junior LB, Westover — 0.5 FF/Game

    4. Barian Strickland, senior LB, Northern Nash — 0.462 FF/Game

    5. Samari Smith, junior DB, Eastern Guilford — 0.46 FF/Game

    6. Marquan Footman, senior DE, Cape Fear — 0.333 FF/Game (12 games played)

    T7. Avery Washington, senior DE, Eastern Guilford — 0.333 FF/Game (9 games played)

    T7. Evan Johnson, senior OLB, Lake Norman Charter — 0.333 FF/Game (9 games played)

    T9. Jacoree Smith, senior DL, Ben L. Smith — 0.3 FF/Game (10 games played)

    T9. Ian Gill, senior DL, Ben L. Smith — 0.3 FF/Game (10 games played)

    T9. Jackson Davis, junior OLB, Erwin — 0.3 FF/Game (10 games played)

    T12. Evan Caywood, senior DB, Enka — 0.286 FF/Game

    T12. Taeshawn Alston, senior EDGE, Vance County — 0.286 FF/Game

    T12. Javonta Daniels, senior LB, West Brunswick — 0.286 FF/Game

    T15. Shade Green, senior MLB, Eastern Guilford — 0.272727272727273 FF/Game (11 games played)

    T15. Jermiyah Dixon, senior LB, West Carteret — 0.272727272727273 FF/Game (11 games played)

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