The NC Super Team: the state’s top defensive high school football players of the year
Here are the defensive players who made the 2021 fall N.C. Super Team.
The N.C. offensive player of the year is Omarion Hampton of Cleveland High School. The defensive player of the year is James Pearce of Chambers High.
The coach of the year is Cardinal Gibbons Steven Wright.
(Click here to see the first team offense)
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: James Pearce, Chambers, 6-5, 220, Sr: Tennessee signee had 14 tackles for a loss plus 14.5 sacks. He had two safeties, nine pass breakups, two interceptions and three touchdowns.
DL: Jaybron Harvey, Southern Durham, 6-5, 210, Jr.: Power 5 target had 129 tackles, 28.5 sacks and an interception this season.
DL: Beau Atkinson, Leesville Road, 6-6, 240, Sr.: 74 tackles, 23.5 tackles for a loss, nine sacks. Signed with North Carolina.
DL: Jhyheem Pittman, Dudley, 6-3, 295, Sr.: 122 tackles, 28.5 sacks and 29 quarterback hurries for a 15-1 N.C. 3A state champion.
LB: Jalon Walker, Salisbury, 6-2, 225, Sr.: Georgia signee had 142 total tackles, 32 tackles for a loss, two sacks, a safety and a score. Under Armour All-American.
LB: Albert Redd, Glenn, 6-3, 227, Sr.: Carolina Bowl pick had 97 total tackles, including 20 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks and 30 quarterback hurries.
LB: Malaki Hamrick, Shelby, 6-4, 210, Sr.: UNC recruit was named MaxPreps’ NC player of the year. Had 132 tackles, 37 for a loss plus 19 sacks, a blocked punt and one defensive touchdown.
DB: Isaiah Crowell, East Forsyth, 5-10, 180, Sr.: N.C. State signee had 93 total tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, plus four sacks and an interception.
DB: Isaiah Brown-Murray, Hough, 5-9, 170, Sr.: 3-year starter had 39 tackles, 3 interceptions and one returned for touchdown. He blocked 3 punts and returned five kicks for scores.
DB: Stephen Davis II, Dudley, 6-0, 165, Sr: four interceptions, 16 passes defended, one forced fumble and 57 tackles for N.C. 3A state champions; father is Dudley coach
DB: EJ Gatling, Northeastern, 5-9, 170, Sr.: 1,542 yards total offense with 20 scores, plus 63 total tackles, one sack, four interceptions and two returned for touchdowns.
P: Bryce McFerson, Metrolina Christian, 6-1, 180, Sr.: Notre Dame recruit is a All-American who averaged 46 yards per punt and put six inside the 20. Rated the nation’s No. 1 punter by Kohl’s kicking.
PR: Mekhi Wall, Dudley, 5-10, 165, Sr.: Duke recruit had 1,014 receiving yards and 10 TDs, 160 kick return yards and 731 punt return yards. He averaged 40 yards per kick return.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Dashawn Davis, Hough, 6-2, 268, Sr.
DL: Santana Hopper, Shelby, 6-3, 250, Sr.
DL: Eli Hall, Crest, 6-4, 275, Sr.
DL:Anthony Mebane, Southern Durham, 6-4, 245, Jr.
LB: Mack David, West Forsyth, 6-0, 235, Sr.
LB: Paul Edens, Princeton, 6-0, 210, Sr.
LB: Torren Wright, AL Brown, 6-3, 220, Sr.
DB: Taivon Derisma, Chase, 6-0, 170, Sr.
DB: Jaxon King, Hoggard, 6-2, 185, Sr.
DB: Chris Peal, Providence Day, 6-2, 180, Jr.
DB: Stephon Jenkins, Hunt, 5-9, 150, Sr.
P: Andrew Conrad, East Forsyth, 5-11, 160, Sr.
PR: Tyler Mason, Mount Airy, 6-0, 185, Soph.
