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 I FBS ranks. This list highlights many of the top playmakers across North Carolina’s seven FBS programs heading into the fall, including Duke, NC State, UNC, Wake Forest, App State, East Carolina and Charlotte.
This is not a final ballot by any stretch. Players will rise, newcomers will emerge and every athlete in the state remains eligible for weekly and year-end honors. Think of this as the starting point — a preseason snapshot of names to watch.
🏈 FBS Player of the Year Watch List – 2025
Offensive Player of the Year Watch List
Quarterbacks
AJ Swann (Appalachian State)
CJ Bailey (NC State)
Darian Mensah (Duke)
Gio Lopez (North Carolina)
Katin Houser (East Carolina)
Running backs
Davion Gause (North Carolina)
Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)
Hollywood Smothers (NC State)
Jaquez Moore (Duke)
London Montgomery (East Carolina)
Marlon Gunn Jr. (East Carolina)
Parker Jenkins (East Carolina)
Peyton Jones (Duke)
Rashod Dubinion (Appalachian State)
Wide receivers/tight ends
Anthony Smith (East Carolina)
Dalton Stroman (Appalachian State)
Jake Young (Charlotte)
Jaden Barnes (Appalachian State)
Jayden McGowan (Charlotte)
Justin Joly (NC State)
Noah Rogers (NC State)
Offensive line
Anthony Carter (NC State)
Austin Blaske (North Carolina)
Brian Parker II (Duke)
Chad Lindberg (UNC)
Daniel King (North Carolina)
Fa’lalili Fa’amoe (Wake Forest)
Jacarrius Peak (NC State)
Jayden Ramsey (Appalachian State)
Jonny King (Charlotte)
Jimarion McCrimon (East Carolina)
Matt Craycraft (Duke)
Defensive Player of the Year Watch List
Defensive Line
Braden Mullen (Charlotte)
Brandon Cleveland (NC State)
Bryce Davis (Duke)
J.D. Lampley (East Carolina)
Linebackers
Andrew Simpson (North Carolina)
Bradley Gompers (Duke)
Caden Fordham (NC State)
Dylan Hazen (Wake Forest)
Kyle Arnholdt (Appalachian State)
Nick Morris (Duke)
Reid Williford (Charlotte)
Sean Brown (NC State)
Defensive Backs
Chandler Rivers (Duke)
Davaughn Patterson (Wake Forest)
Ethan Johnson (Appalachian State)
Ja’Marley Riddle (East Carolina)
Jordy Lowery (East Carolina)
Marcus Allen (North Carolina)
Nick Andersen (Wake Forest)
Terry Moore (Duke)
Thaddeus Dixon (Duke)
Will Hardy (North Carolina)
Special Teams Player of the Year Watch List
Andrew Conrad (East Carolina): placekicker
Brock Spalding (East Carolina): punt return
Caden Noonkester (NC State): punter
Henry Rutledge (Charlotte): kick return/all-purpose
Ian Ratliff (Appalachian State): punter
Kade Reynoldson (Duke): punter
Kanoah Vinesett (NC State): placekicker
Matthew Dennis (Wake Forest): placekicker
Spencer Triplett (North Carolina): long snapper
Todd Pelino (Duke): placekicker
📝 This is only the beginning
Earlier this week, we published our D2 player watch list and our FCS player watch list. With Division III football starting next week, we’ll publish our D3 list before the first game.
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.
