Check the preseason polls for Division II football conferences based in this region, and you’ll see a lot of North Carolina schools at or near the top:
* Lenoir-Rhyne picked to win the South Atlantic.
* Wingate predicted right behind the Bears, with Mars Hill not far behind in fourth.
* UNC Pembroke tabbed as the No. 2 team in the preseason Mountain East rankings behind nationally ranked Charleston.
* Fayetteville State and Johnson C. Smith picked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in the tradition-rich CIAA.
In short, the Old North State is home to a lot of D2 football — and a lot of good D2 football. Which makes assembling our “All-North Carolina” team power rankings for this division quite the challenge this time of year.
But we’ll do our best, knowing that whether we get it right, wrong or somewhere in between, we’re getting ready to be treated to an entertaining and competitive season ahead.
Without further ado, here’s how we see the state’s D2 landscape shaping up with the first games on deck this week:
1. Wingate Bulldogs | SAC | 8-3 in 2023
We’re going against the grain with our pick for the top spot. Yes, Lenoir-Rhyne is the SAC favorite per the league’s coaches. Yes, the Bears won 13 games a year ago and made the national semifinals. Yes, they are the only North Carolina team to earn a spot in the D2 preseason national rankings.
But Lenoir-Rhyne also has been through a tremendous amount of upheaval in the off-season. The Bears bring in a new coaching staff (Doug Socha) after Mike Jacobs took the Mercer job and have had to retool the roster at a number of spots.
We’ll give Wingate the slight edge based on the experience and stability factors. The Bulldogs have a new coach, too, in Rashaan Jordan but he’s been with the program as the defensive coordinator for a number of years. Since defense has been the program’s mainstay, we see a fairly seamless transition in the works for the ‘Dogs.
We like that Wingate returns its starting quarterback, SAC freshman of the year Brooks Bentley. We also like that six (!!) lineman — three on defense and three on offense — make the SAC’s preseason all-conference team (OL Porfirio Acosta, OL Erwil Anthony, OL Blake Martin, DL Marquise Fleming, DL Daniel Morrison, DL Bryan Bordeaux).
Wingate has the foundation pieces in place to be the standard-bearer for our state, including a wrecking ball defensive end in Fleming, who earned All-America honors a year ago and was named the region’s best defender.
And, the Bulldogs were the only team to beat Lenoir-Rhyne in the regular season a year ago — 34-31 in one of the most competitive and thrilling games of the year, decided late in the fourth. We can’t wait for the rematch Nov. 2 in Hickory.
2. Lenoir-Rhyne Bears | SAC | 13-2
While we gave Wingate the initial edge in our preseason power rankings, it’s not like the sky is falling in Hickory. The new coach, Doug Socha, won a national championship last season at NAIA Keiser University in Florida. He’s brought many players from that team with him, plus the cupboard may have needed refilling but isn’t exactly bare.
Andre Jefferson (defensive end) has been mentioned as a genuine NFL prospect after an all-conference 2023. Wide receiver DeAree Rogers might be the most dangerous play-maker/kick returner in the state. Jalen Ferguson is a proven quarterback. Songa Yates gives the Bears another receiving weapon.
And now, by picking them second behind Wingate, we may have just given Lenoir-Rhyne a bit of bulletin board material to use for the season ahead.
Did we say we can’t wait for Wingate at Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 2?
3. UNC Pembroke Braves | MEC | 7-3
Another team with a loaded roster, the Braves return many of the key pieces from last year’s strong finish. Two early season losses kept UNCP out of the playoff conversation, but few teams were playing as well as the Braves to close the season.
After falling by 10 at Frostburg State, coach Mark Hall’s group went on an absolute tear — demolishing Fairmont State 49-7, West Virginia Wesleyan 56-0, Glenville State 49-0 and Concord 68-21.
Jamae Blank is yet another talented D2 defensive lineman (Blank, Jefferson and Fleming all appear in D2Football.com’s preseason Elite 100 list). Quarterback Colin Johnson is a dual-threat, while running back Sincere Baines returns after earning conference freshman of the year recognition in ’23.
We’re also excited about this week’s season opener, which features Wingate visiting UNC Pembroke on Saturday night — a result that could reshape these rankings quickly if it falls the Braves’ way.
4. Mars Hill Lions | SAC | 8-2
The Lions have been kings of the “oh so close” club the past few years. They couldn’t hold a fourth-quarter lead against Newberry in the 2022 SAC championship and dropped a double-overtime contest at Tusculum last year that would have put them back in the title tilt.
Could this be the year the championship hardware returns to The Hill? Veteran coach Tim Clifton returns an assortment of veteran players with all-conference honors attached to their resumes — quarterback JR Martin, running back Jon Gullette, wide receiver Malik Laurent, tight end Beau DeBerry, defensive lineman Boris Lewis, linebacker Dexter Fitzpatrick, defensive back Tristan Rankin.
This group knows how to win, including an early season “W” over Wingate a year ago.
Did we say we can’t wait for that rematch: Mars Hill at Wingate on Sept. 28 (and a Mars Hill home game against Lenoir-Rhyne on Sept. 21)?
5. Fayetteville State Broncos | CIAA | 8-3
Death. Taxes. Fayetteville State playing in the CIAA title game. It certainly has seemed that way of late. The Broncos have played in the last six CIAA championship contests, winning the trophy in 2022.
FSU reeled off an improbable eight-game winning streak in league play last season, often defying underwhelming stat performances with victorious numbers on the final scoreboard.
Things will be different in the CIAA this year, with the league doing away with divisional play. The Broncos must do more than beat Southern foes to return to Salem, Va. They do avoid defending champion Virginia Union on the schedule but must play Virginia State and Bowie along with the usual in-state rivals.
Did we say that we’re excited about the Fayetteville State at UNC Pembroke game on Sept. 7? This match-up came down to a last-second field goal from the Braves a year ago.
6. Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls | CIAA | 7-4
You have to go back a decade to find another seven-win campaign for the Golden Bulls. But coach Maurice Flowers believes he is transforming the once dormant program into a regular contender in the CIAA.
Johnson C. Smith’s No. 4 ranking in the conference’s preseason balloting reflects that. JCSU had one of the stingiest defenses in all of D2 football year ago, and players like linebacker Benari Black return to lead the way again.
With five conference home games, the Golden Bulls will be a group to watch again this season. Did we say that we can’t wait to see the Bulls host Fayetteville State in its final home game Nov. 2. Will that match-up have CIAA title-game implications?
7. Catawba Indians | SAC | 5-6
The Indians had nowhere to go but up in Tyler Haines’ first season after the program posted just one win in 2022. But the Indians may have gone more “up” than many anticipated.
Catawba plays in a crowded SAC Piedmont Division, but this group could make noise as it tries to jump into the conference’s upper echelon. Quarterback Preston Brown, who led the state in passing yards for a stretch last season, returns. So does one of his top targets, Bo Pryor, and the team’s top running back, Marquece Williams. The defensive backfield — returnees like all-conference performers Jakarri Martin II and Deno Wardlow — looks solid.
Did we say that we’re excited that Catawba plays both Wingate and Lenoir-Rhyne late in the season?
Ranking the rest of the state’s D2 programs:
8. Winston-Salem State | CIAA | 4-6
Rams riding the arm of quarterback Daylin Lee and a fierce defensive line in a quest to return to CIAA’s elite
9. Barton Bulldogs | SAC | 6-5
“Founding Fathers” of the newly revived program — Jordan Terrell, Kameron Johnson, Jaquan Lynch, Shane Perry — built a solid foundation but will be tough to replace.
10. Shaw Bears | CIAA | 3-7
Ready to take the next step forward toward an upper division finish in CIAA.
11. Livingstone | CIAA | 4-6
Blue Bears’ linebacker Jaden Echols can leave ball-carriers black and blue.
12. Elizabeth City State | CIAA | 3-7
Zechariah Adams-Duckson could be one of the top rushers in the CIAA
13. Chowan | Gulf South | 0-10
Last year in the ultra-competitive Gulf South, then on to Conference Carolinas, where competition should be a better fit
Note: St. Augustine’s also competes in the CIAA, but the school has opted not to field a football team this fall while it works through financial and accreditation issues.
