The 2025 North Carolina college football season has arrived, and with it comes our first-ever NC Football News Player of the Year awards.
We’ll honor the top standouts from across North Carolina’s 33 college programs each week throughout the season, then crown the top Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Year in December/January.
Below is our preseason player watch list from the Division II ranks. This list highlights many of the top playmakers across North Carolina’s 13 D2 programs heading into the fall. D2 is our state’s largest division.
This is not a final ballot. Players will rise, newcomers will emerge and every athlete in the state remains eligible for weekly honors. Think of this as the starting point — a preseason snapshot of names to watch.
🏈 Division II Player of the Year Watch List — 2025
Offensive Player of the Year Watch List
Quarterbacks
- Daylin Lee (Winston-Salem State) — “Face of the franchise” talent will be key to Rams’ CIAA ascendency (1,728 passing yards, 14 TDs in 2024)
- JR Martin (Mars Hill) — Third season piloting Lions’ offense (2,112 pass, 398 rush, 11 pass TDs, 11 rush TDs in 2024)
- Kelvin Durham (Johnson C. Smith) — Former Fort Valley State QB reunites with Coach Flowers (5,900+ career passing yards, 56 TDs)
- Maurice Smith (Chowan) — Dual-threat, led Hawks in rushing and passing in 2024
- Preston Brown (Catawba) — 1,019 passing yards, 10 TDs before injury cut 2024 season short
Running Backs
- Christian Rutledge (Shaw) — Next man up to lead Bears’ rushing attack
- Dakauri Davis (Barton) — Nearly 500 rushing yards, 3 TDs in 2024
- Jackson Parrish (Barton) — Emerged as elite back in late 2024 after earning starting spot
- Joel Felder (UNC Pembroke) — West Virginia State transfer piled up 2,000+ rushing yards and 26 TDs over the past two seasons, adding 576 receiving yards and 6 scores in 2024.
- Jon Gullette (Mars Hill) — 1,400+ rushing and 500+ receiving yards over past two seasons
- Kevin Lalin (Catawba) — Limestone transfer ran for 1,209 yards and 8 TDs in 2024
- LJ Turner (Lenoir-Rhyne) — D2 All-American, transfer from Catawba/West Virginia will join loaded backfield
- Quece Williams (Catawba) — 463 yards and 7 TDs on 100 carries last season
- Zayvion Turner-Knox (Lenoir-Rhyne) — Racked up 356 yards, 4 TDs in first three games of 2024 before injury
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
- Bo Pryor (Catawba) — 1,604 career receiving yards, 14 TDs during lengthy Catawba career
- Brevin Caldwell (Johnson C. Smith) — 1,000-yard receiver in 2024; All-American on D2Football.com Elite 100 preseason list
- Carlos Estronza (Wingate) — 27 catches, 339 yards, 2 TDs for SAC champions
- Davontay Deloatch (Winston-Salem State) — Livingstone transfer adds depth to Rams’ passing attack
- Jakobe Lane (Chowan) — 64 catches, 755 yards, 4 TDs in 2024
- JaQuan Albright (UNC Pembroke) — Multi-faceted weapon (517 receiving yards, 6 TDs; plus 209 rushing yards, 4 TDs)
- Que Kennedy (UNC Pembroke) — 522 yards, 4 TDs on 33 receptions last season for prolific offense
- Songa Yates (Lenoir-Rhyne) — 51 catches, 723 yards, 3 TDs in 2024
- Devin Cunningham (WSSU) — Veteran TE, preseason All-CIAA
Offensive Line
- Avery Swinton (Catawba) — All-conference performer for 2nd-ranked SAC offense
- Benjamin Hicks (Fayetteville State) — 6-4, 320-pound CIAA All-Rookie pick in 2024
- Dallas Foard (Catawba) — South Carolina State transfer, All-Piedmont SAC honoree
- Elijah Gordon (WSSU) — Preseason All-CIAA selection
- Hunter Turner (UNC Pembroke) — Conference Carolinas preseason watch list
- Porfirio Acosta (Wingate) — All-conference lineman for SAC champions
- Ryan Whetzel II (Lenoir-Rhyne) — 22 games played, 11 starts in 2024
Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
Defensive Line
- Davion Watkins (Livingstone) — Led team with 15.0 TFLs and 6.5 sacks in 2024
- Joshua Hightower (Barton) — 46 tackles in 2024, disruptive presence
- Kai Russell (Wingate) — D2 Elite 100 pick, 12.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks last season
- Lamone Hill Jr (JCSU) — Preseason All-CIAA pick, consistent playmaker
- Maddox Aprile (Lenoir-Rhyne) — 38 tackles, 6 TFLs, 3 sacks in 2024 after transfer from Keiser
- Sakarris Morrison (Mars Hill) — 3rd-leading tackler, 4.5 TFLs in 2024
Linebackers
- Cameron Richardson (Chowan) — 47 tackles, 5.0 TFLs in 2024
- Demorian Smith (ECSU) — WCU transfer led Vikings with 61 tackles, 9 TFLs in 2024
- Desmond Greene (Lenoir-Rhyne) — D2Football Elite 100 watch list; 7 INTs at Southwestern Oklahoma
- Evan VanMeter (UNC Pembroke) — 62 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles in 2024
- Jaiden Nesbit (UNC Pembroke) — 58 tackles, 1 INT, strong duo with VanMeter
- Jamari Slade (Fayetteville State) — Team-high 77 tackles, 3 PBUs in 2024
- Keno Jones (Barton) — 64 career tackles, 7.5 TFLs
- Quewon Hilliard (Shaw) — Coastal Carolina transfer, led Shaw in tackles
Defensive Backs
- Brandon Perry (Wingate) — 2 INTs, 7 PBUs for SAC champions
- Cam Williams (JCSU) — D2Football Elite 100 watch list, 3 INTs, 11 PBUs at Miles College
- Cherron Holt (Mars Hill) — 3 INTs in 2024
- Daryl Taybron (JCSU) — Blocked 2 kicks, had 1 INT in 2024
- Evan Simons (Catawba) — 127 tackles, 10 forced fumbles in past two years
- Keyshawn Monk (Fayetteville State) — Veteran safety expected to anchor secondary
- Marquise Raspberry (UNC Pembroke) — 41 tackles, 7 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 2 INTs in 2024
Special Teams Player of the Year Watch List
- AP Kha’lil Eason (WSSU) — All-American return man; 3 kickoff return TDs in 2024 at New Haven, Harlon Hill finalist
- K Caleb Bonesteel (Wingate) — MVP of SAC title game (5 FGs, 2 PATs vs. Carson-Newman)
- K Jake Brown (UNC Pembroke) — Led NC D2 kickers with 92 points in 2024 (transfer from Lenoir-Rhyne)
- K Jason Zapata (Livingstone) — 7-for-9 FGs in 2024, long of 49 yards
- K/P Lon Teachey (Mars Hill) — 9-for-11 FGs, 28 PATs in 2024
- KR Jakobe Lane (Chowan) — 92-yard kickoff return TD in 2024 among highlights
- P Darius Satterfield (ECSU) — Seven 50+ yard punts, including a 61-yarder vs. Bowie State
- P Seth Bowen (UNC Pembroke) — Averaged 42.8 yards per punt on 63 attempts in 2024
- PR Terrance Holland (ECSU) — Nearly 600 return yards in 2024; preseason All-CIAA
📝 This is only the beginning
We still have FCS, FBS and D3 watch lists to publish. Throughout the fall, we’ll spotlight standout performances with weekly awards, keeping the conversation fresh and recognizing players who shine on game day.
In November, we’ll narrow things down to a finalists list, and once the 2025 season is complete, we’ll announce our NC Football News Player of the Year Award winners across all divisions.
