For the second year in a row, North Carolina Football News has assembled a preseason FCS “All-North Carolina” team — our version of an Old North State all-conference list.
The group features the top projected players from our seven FCS programs — Campbell, Davidson, Elon, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central and Western Carolina.
We’ve tabbed a preseason Offensive MVP, Defensive MVP and Special Teams MVP, along with a first-team unit by position and an honorable mention list.
What matters most, of course, is how teams and players finish. But this group represents the ones we think could have the biggest impact as the 2024 season leaves the station next week:
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Offensive MVP
Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina) | QB
The trigger man behind the most prolific FCS offense in the nation in 2023 returns to Cullowhee for his junior season. Gonzales, from Ocala, Fla. (Trinity Catholic HS), already has been anointed the Southern Conference’s preseason offensive MVP and an All-American. He started 11 games for WCU in 2023, completing 204 of 310 passes for 2,803 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Defensive MVP
Caleb Curtain (Elon) | DB
Beware of throwing the ball — or running the ball — in his direction. The redshirt junior from Greensboro (Grimsley HS) has already garnered preseason All-America recognition from outlets like FCS Football Central, Stats Perform and Phil Steele for his ability to wreak havoc. CAA coaches voted him the preseason conference defensive player of the year. Curtain picked off four passes a year ago, broke up several more and finished with 80 tackles.
Special Teams MVP
Adam Zouagui (Davidson) | PK
With the Wildcats churning out yards and touchdowns by the bundle in 2023, Zouagui had many chances to put the finishing touches on drives. The sophomore from Reston, Va. (Hernon High) tied a Davidson record with 46 consecutive made PATs. He finished 54-of-55 on the season, earning honorable mention All-Pioneer Football League. Zouagui hit seven of nine field goals, including a career-best 50-yarder against Presbyterian.
First-Team Offense
QB – Cole Gonzales (Western Carolina)
RB – Mari Adams (Davidson)
RB – Branson Adams (Western Carolina)
RB – Kenji Christian (North Carolina A&T)
WR – Chandler Brayboy (Elon)
WR – AJ Colombo (Western Carolina)
WR – VJ Wilkins (Campbell)
TE – Cole Schneider (Gardner-Webb)
OL – Blake Whitmore (Western Carolina)
OL – Trevon Humphrey (North Carolina Central)
OL – Malik McDaniel (Davidson)
OL – Derek Simmons (Western Carolina)
OL – Korion Sharpe (North Carolina A&T)
First-Team Defense
DL – Julian Rawlins (Davidson)
DL – Jaden Taylor (North Carolina Central)
DL – Cazeem Moore (Elon)
DL – Ayden Bell (Gardner-Webb)
LB – CJ Tillman (Campbell)
LB – Marco Patierno (Elon)
LB – Max U’Ren (North Carolina Central)
LB – Trevor Moffitt (Gardner-Webb)
DB – Caleb Curtain (Elon)
DB – Karon Prunty (North Carolina A&T)
DB – Raequan Ousley (Gardner-Webb)
DB – Khalil Baker (Elon)
Special Teams
K – Adam Zouagui (Davidson)
P – Juan Velarde (North Carolina Central)
LS – Bobby Cleary (Campbell)
KR – Chandler Brayboy (Elon)
PR – Aaron Maione (Davidson)
Honorable Mention Offense
QB – Matthew Downing (Elon)
QB – Coulter Cleland (Davidson)
QB – Walker Harris (North Carolina Central)
QB – Ren Heffley (Gardner-Webb)
RB – Mason Sheron (Davidson)
RB – J’Mari Taylor (North Carolina Central)
RB – Carson Gresock (Gardner-Webb)
FB – Joshua George (North Carolina A&T)
WR – Joaquin Davis (North Carolina Central)
WR – Jordan Bly (Gardner-Webb)
WR – Calvin Jones (Western Carolina)
TE – Luke Bracey (North Carolina Central)
OL – Jabril Williams (Elon)
OL – Kyler Herring (Davidson)
OL – Ja’Quan Sprinkle (North Carolina Central)
OL – CJ Dawson (Gardner-Webb)
OL – Xavier Graham (Western Carolina)
Honorable Mention Defense
DL – Curtis Fann Jr (Western Carolina)
DL – Darryn Kindles (Davidson)
DL – Micah Nelson (Western Carolina)
DL – Kendrick DuJour (North Carolina Central)
DL – Chris Morgan (Western Carolina)
LB – Cam’ron Willis (Davidson)
LB – Brandon Tyson (Elon)
DB – Isaiah Greene (Campbell)
DB – Kole Jones (North Carolina Central)
DB – Daniel Carter (Davidson)
DB – CJ Williams (Western Carolina)
DB – Samaurie Dukes (Western Carolina)
Honorable Mention Special Teams
K – Jay Billingsley (GWU)
K – Jack Berkowitz (Elon)
P – Caleb Brickhouse (North Carolina A&T)
P – Nick Bigelow (Gardner-Webb)
P – Jeff Yurk (Elon)
LS – Colby Cross (Western Carolina)
LS – Jamie Wilson (Gardner-Webb)
LS – Sam Katz (North Carolina Central)
KR – VJ Wilkins (Campbell)
KR – Anthony Lowe (Gardner-Webb)
KR – Calvin Jones (Western Carolina)
PR – Jordan Bly (Gardner-Webb)
PR – AJ Colombo (Western Carolina)
AP – Edward Sayeed (Gardner-Webb)
