With the Division III season kicking off this weekend, North Carolina Football News has assembled a preseason D3/NAIA All-North Carolina team — our version of a preseason all-conference lineup.
This group features the top projected players from our five Division III programs — Brevard, Greensboro, Guilford, Methodist and North Carolina Wesleyan — as well as our one NAIA program, St. Andrews.
We’ve selected a preseason Offensive MVP, Defensive MVP and Special Teams MVP, along with a first-team unit and honorable mention list.
We sought input from each of the schools, and what we got in return was a list heavy on skill players and lean on offensive and defensive linemen. That will be an area to watch as teams begin play. We’ll complete our season with a post-season D3/NAIA All-North Carolina team as well.
The first weekend of D3 action will see Greensboro hosting Guilford in the annual “Soup Bowl”, Methodist entertaining Shenandoah and North Carolina Wesleyan visiting Averett. Brevard will have one more week to get ready for its opener against Hampden-Sydney.
St. Andrews, meanwhile, opened its season last week against a D2 foe, falling to Erskine. The Knights will play at the D2 level again this week, traveling to Anderson, which is debuting its football program this season, on Saturday night.
Without further ado, here is our D3/NAIA All-North Carolina lineup:
Offensive MVP
Ethan Beamish (Brevard) | Quarterback
With several talented options to choose from, we went with the second-team All-USA South signal caller to lead our D3/NAIA offensive unit.
Beamish from Simpsonville, S.C. started his career at Limestone. Last season, he set Brevard records for passing yards (2,697), and passing touchdowns (23), helping the Tornados win five games in conference play. He enjoyed a 315-yard passing effort against LaGrange and crossed the 200-yard plateau in all 10 regular season contests. He completed four touchdown throws in three different games.
Defensive MVP
Max Steele (Greensboro) | Linebacker
The senior from Julian (Southeast Guilford HS) has had a monster career with the Pride. He led Greensboro in tackles a season ago (84), while also amassing 7.5 tackles-for-loss, three quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
Steele hit the 100-tackle mark in both 2021 (finished with 106) and 2022 (110). Over 30 career games, he has an even 300 career tackles (165 solo), 30 career tackles-for-loss and five sacks. He has forced a fumble in each of the past three seasons.
Special Teams MVP
Braxtyn Green (North Carolina Wesleyan) | Kicker/Punter
Having a dependable kicking game at any level can make a huge difference. The Battling Bishops welcome back the USA South’s Special Teams Player of the Year from 2023.
The two-sport standout (baseball/football) broke a school record a year ago with a 51-yard field goal. He hit 7-of-9 field goals for the season, averaged 36.3 yards per punt on 51 attempts and handled kickoffs. He capped off 18 Bishops touchdown drives with successful PATs.
First Team Offense
QB – Ethan Beamish (Brevard)
RB – Anthony Byrd (North Carolina Wesleyan)
RB – Chancellor Lee-Parker (Brevard)
RB – Sajari Love (Methodist)
WR – Zackary Orr (Brevard)
WR – Christian Drumgoole (North Carolina Wesleyan)
WR – Adam Douglas (Brevard)
OL – Desmond Barnes (North Carolina Wesleyan)
OL – Tyler Dawson (Methodist)
OL – Nick Hedricks (St. Andrews)
OL – Damian Judd (St. Andrews)
TE – Wes Kidd (Greensboro)
First-Team Defense
DL – Robert Dorsey (Brevard)
DL – Devin Chavis (Guilford)
DL – Bo Thompson (Guilford)
LB – Max Steele (Greensboro)
LB – Nick Iannone (Guilford)
LB – Eric Cooper (North Carolina Wesleyan)
LB – Eli Davis (Guilford)
DB – Larry Jones (Greensboro)
DB – Will Pailthorpe (Greensboro)
DB – Jaden James (Greensboro)
DB – Heath Lewis (St. Andrews)
DB – Dylan James (Brevard)
DB – James Woods (Brevard)
First-Team Specialists
K/P – Braxtyn Green (North Carolina Wesleyan)
PK – Hugo Taylor (Brevard)
RS – Ja’Shawn Harris (Greensboro)
RS – Juwon Lyons (St. Andrews)
Honorable Mention
QB – Jaelan Brown (Guilford)
RB – Christian Burgess (Greensboro)
RB – Malik Woodward (Guilford)
RB – Jakarey Gillis (Guilford)
RB – Paulie Menegay (Guilford)
WR – Juju Rice (Guilford)
WR – Tegan Griggs (Guilford)
WR – Cooper Hogan (Brevard)
WR – Shamar Privette (Greensboro)
WR – Mandre Ogletree (Greensboro)
WR/RS – Bryson Ausby (Methodist)
WR – Devon Roesch (St. Andrews)
DB – Jaylen Moore (Guilford)
DB/RS – Tristan Bailey (Guilford)
DB – Nigel Pearce (St. Andrews)
RS – Jay Daniels (Guilford)
