- BEST IN STATE -

Bulldogs, Bears, Broncos top our ‘Best In State’ preseason D2 power rankings

Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne and Fayetteville State look like teams to beat in NC

Eric Lusk

Published

August 24, 2023

Wingate's 2023 football team will start the season at the top of our D2 power rankings.

A pair of nationally ranked programs and the defending champions of the CIAA headline our “Best In State” Division II football preseason power rankings.

North Carolina features 14 colleges and universities that play football at the NCAA D2 level. Each week during the season, we’ll assemble who we believe comprise the top seven schools from that group.

The Wingate Bulldogs and Lenoir-Rhyne Bears, both from the South Atlantic Conference, start the year atop our D2 rankings. Wingate has been ranked 18^th and 21^st in the major Division II national preseason polls, D2Football.com and AFCA Coaches. Lenoir-Rhyne is listed 23^rd and 25^th, respectively.

Not far behind in our power rankings are the Fayetteville State Broncos, who have played in the past five CIAA title games – winning the championship outright a year ago after four near misses.

—> CLICK HERE for our Best In State FCS preseason power rankings

—> CLICK HERE for our Best In State FBS preseason power rankings

**Our preseason power poll for NCAA Division II in North Carolina.**

Here is a breakdown of our preseason top seven:

1. Wingate Bulldogs (11-3 in 2022): Coach Joe Reich’s team made a surprise playoff run a year ago, winning two games before falling to West Florida. Defense proved the calling card and looks to be the strength of the team again this season. Four Bulldogs – Marquise Fleming (DL), Jaquan Edwards (LB), Tre Morrison (DB) and Jaheim Mullen (DB) – earned preseason All-South Atlantic Conference recognition.

2. Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (8-3): The Bears missed the post-season a year ago for the first time in four years. Seven All-SAC preseason selections, like running back Dwayne McGee, defensive lineman Andre Jefferson and linebacker Jon Ross Maye, should help put the Bears back in contention to start another post-season streak.

3. Fayetteville State Broncos (9-3): Coach Richard Hayes has built a CIAA South Division powerhouse. The Broncos have been chasing the overall league title for several years and now will have to fend off challengers from the top of the mountain. The coach said his entire offensive line returns along with preseason All-CIAA selections like Tyler Fleming, Michael Todd, Cameron Merrell and Kentrell Caldwell.

4. Mars Hill Lions (7-3): While Wingate accounted for many of the SAC’s end-of-season headlines a year ago, the Lions nearly swiped the conference championship. Mars Hill led Newberry in the fourth quarter of the title game before falling 27-24. Coach Tim Clifton’s group has been picked fifth overall in the SAC but plays in the Mountain Division opposite Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne. Keep an eye on linebacker Landon Honeycutt (90 tackles, 5 sacks, 15 tackles-for-loss) – one of the best in D2.

5. Shaw Bears (4-6): Here’s a team that believes it has a legitimate shot at challenging Fayetteville State’s dominance in the CIAA South. Running back Sidney Gibbs, one of the top rushers in the state for Division II, will help lead the charge.

6. UNC Pembroke Braves (5-6): After taking Chowan to the CIAA title game last season, coach Mark Hall moves to Pembroke. He’s brought in a number of new players (some from Chowan), and UNC-P could make waves in the Mountain East Conference this season. (The Braves play Fayetteville State in what should be a dandy of an opener).

7. Barton Bulldogs (4-7): One of the top rushers in Division 2, Jordan Terrell, returns and hopes to help lead the ‘Dogs into the upper echelon of the SAC. Terrell picked up 1,632 yards a year ago – fifth-best among D2 players. He average more than 148 yards per contest.

In the mix: A number of schools will challenge to join this list as the season progresses. Keep an eye on Johnson C. Smith, Winston-Salem State, Catawba and St. Augustine’s. Catawba has a new coach in Tyler Haines, who served as OC for national semifinalist Shepherd University a year ago. Johnson C. Smith has made major upgrades to its program. Winston-Salem State believes it has improved on offense. St. Augustine’s also has new leadership in coach Howard Feggins, who directed Fayetteville State’s offense a year ago.