North Carolina’s Division III college football programs may not offer as much spotlight as other levels of play, but the five teams that compete in the Old North State continue to produce some of the most productive, competitive and underappreciated players in the state.
The 2025 season delivered no shortage of standout performances from Brevard, Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina Wesleyan and Methodist. This year’s NC Football News All-North Carolina D3 awards team recognizes the players who consistently impacted games, elevated their teams and defined the season at the non-scholarship level.
Our selections were based on a combination of production, conference and national honors, game-changing moments and overall influence on their programs. We recognize three players of the year, a 23-member first-team unit and honor roll.
Explore NC Football News’ other All-North Carolina awards teams:
🏈 FCS All-North Carolina Team + Players of the Year
🏈 D2 All-North Carolina Team + Players of the Year
🏆 North Carolina D3 Players of the Year
Offensive Player of the Year
Nahjiir Seagraves, RB, NC Wesleyan
Seagraves, a junior from Southern Pines (Pinecrest HS), was the lead engine behind North Carolina Wesleyan’s offense, earning USA South Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors after a dominant nine-game stretch that saw him rush for 1,236 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He averaged 137.3 rushing yards per game, topped 100 yards in eight of nine contests and posted multiple monster performances, including a 209-yard, three-touchdown day against Belhaven. Whether grinding out tough yards or breaking explosive runs, Seagraves consistently dictated game flow and defensive game plans.
NC college rushers reached the 100-yard plateau 99 times this past season (bowl games pending).
We charted all 99 performances! Check out who went for the most yards, who hit 100 the most times, who tallied the most TDs + more
Story: https://t.co/BVU62wdhDS pic.twitter.com/9kpcldVMa9— NC Football News (@NCFootballNews) December 9, 2025
Defensive Player of the Year
Travis Burton, EDGE, Guilford
Burton didn’t just stand out in North Carolina — he stood out nationally.
The Guilford sophomore from Pikeville (C.B. Aycock HS) earned D3Football.com All-American honors, first-team All-Region and first-team All-ODAC after producing one of the most disruptive defensive seasons in Division III football. Burton finished with 12 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss and 81 total tackles, ranking among the national leaders in multiple categories.
His 2.94 tackles for loss per game led all divisions of NCAA football, a remarkable feat that underscored just how dominant he was snap after snap.
Special Teams Player of the Year
Jeremyah Lane, WR/RS, Brevard
Few players in North Carolina Division III impacted special teams the way Jeremyah Lane did.
Lane ranked first in all of Division III with 967 combined kick and punt return yards, earning D3Football.com National Team of the Week honors along the way. He recorded four return touchdowns (2 kickoffs, 2 punts), flipping field position and momentum with regularity.
More than just a return specialist, Lane also contributed offensively, making him one of the most electric all-around threats in North Carolina’s D3 ranks.
🥇 D3 First Team All-North Carolina
Offense
QB – Ethan Beamish, Brevard
Beamish, who is now Brevard’s all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns, finished 2025 with 2,131 yards through the air and 22 scores. The senior delivered multiple signature performances, including a 345-yard outing and a five-touchdown game against North Carolina Wesleyan.
RB – Nahjiir Seagraves, North Carolina Wesleyan
The USA South Offensive Player of the Year topped 100 yards in eight contests and posted a 215-yard performance. Scored touchdowns in seven of nine games, including four against The Apprentice School.
RB – Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel, Brevard
Fauntleroy-McDaniel emerged as a versatile weapon in his first full varsity season, rushing for 611 yards while adding 21 receptions and seven total touchdowns. His best outing came against Southern Virginia, where he totaled 125 yards and a score.
WR – Adam Douglas, Brevard
Douglas led Brevard’s passing attack with 50 catches for 755 yards and five touchdowns, earning first-team All-USA South honors. He wrapped up his career with 1,599 receiving yards and 14 total scores.
WR – Tyson Resper, North Carolina Wesleyan
Resper paced the Battling Bishops with 57 receptions for 691 yards and four touchdowns. His 226-yard, 12-catch performance against Belhaven was one of the top receiving games in the state this season.
WR – KJ Brown, Greensboro
Brown was Greensboro’s most dynamic offensive threat, hauling in 47 passes for 699 yards and four touchdowns. The sophomore delivered multiple big-play performances, including games of 125 and 145 yards.
WR – Michael Pannell, North Carolina Wesleyan
Pannell finished with 39 receptions for 524 yards and six touchdowns, consistently providing a vertical threat in Wesleyan’s passing game. He was a reliable red-zone and deep-ball option all season.
OL – Morice Fulton, North Carolina Wesleyan
Fulton earned first-team All-USA South honors after anchoring an offensive line that powered one of the league’s top rushing attacks. The Bishops averaged nearly 195 rushing yards per game with him in the trenches.
OL – Garrett Hall, Brevard
A first-team All-USA South selection, Hall started nine games at left tackle and graded out as Brevard’s top offensive lineman. His consistency and pass protection were key to the Tornados’ offensive success.
OL – Semaj Miller, Methodist
Miller was one of just two Methodist linemen to appear in all 10 games, earning second-team All-USA South recognition. His durability and steady play anchored the Monarchs’ offensive front.
Defense
EDGE – Travis Burton, Guilford
Burton was one of the most dominant defenders in all of Division III, earning All-American honors after posting 12 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss and 81 total tackles. He ranked among the national leaders in multiple categories (first in TFLs in D3) and rewrote Guilford’s record book.
DL – Robert Dorsey, Brevard
The 2024 conference Defensive Player of the Year, Dorsey continued his dominant run in ’25 with 38 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in eight games. Over three seasons, he totaled 123 tackles, 36.5 TFLs and 22 sacks.
DL – Obadiah Grimes, Brevard
Grimes earned first-team All-USA South and D3Football.com All-Region honors after recording 30 tackles, seven TFLs and five sacks. The senior finished his career with 104 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss.
DL – Frank Walker, Greensboro
Walker stuffed the stat sheet with 50 tackles, 11 TFLs, seven sacks and two blocked kicks. He closed the season strong with 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in the finale against Methodist.
LB – Nick Iannone, Guilford
Iannone was a tackling machine, finishing with 127 stops — including a jaw-dropping 27-tackle performance against Washington & Lee. He averaged more than 14 tackles per game and added 14 TFLs and four sacks. He boasts 321 career stops in a Guilford uniform.
LB – Baylee Ramey, Brevard
A four-year contributor, Ramey posted 77 tackles, six TFLs and two sacks while earning first-team All-USA South honors. He recorded double-digit tackles in four games.
LB – Andrew Brown, North Carolina Wesleyan
Brown was a steady presence in the middle of the Bishops’ defense, finishing with 61 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. He recorded a standout performance with seven tackles and three TFLs against Sewanee.
DB – Tristan Bailey, Guilford
Bailey emerged as one of the ODAC’s top cover corners, earning second-team all-conference honors. He finished with 14 passes defended and three interceptions while allowing just seven completions all season.
DB – Savonte McKeithan, North Carolina Wesleyan
McKeithan was a game-changer in the secondary, recording four interceptions — including an 80-yard pick-six. He added 39 tackles and two forced fumbles.
DB – Will Pailthorpe, Greensboro
Pailthorpe led Greensboro with 62 tackles while also collecting three interceptions and seven tackles for loss. He posted multiple nine-tackle games and consistently impacted all three levels of the defense.
Special Teams
RS – Jeremyah Lane, Brevard
Lane ranked first in all of Division III with 967 combined kick and punt return yards, earning national recognition along the way. He recorded multiple return touchdowns and consistently flipped field position.
K/P – Braxtyn Green, North Carolina Wesleyan
Green, a former USA South special teams MVP, delivered one of the most complete special teams seasons in the country, averaging 43.6 yards per punt and posting 10 punts of 50-plus yards. He also handled kickoffs, made five field goals and went 29-for-30 on PATs.
K – Hayden Vandegriff, Brevard
Vandegriff earned multiple Special Teams Player of the Week honors while converting 10 of 16 field goals and 31 of 33 PATs. He also averaged nearly 60 yards per kickoff with 11 touchbacks.
D3 All-North Carolina Honor Roll
These players earned conference honors, delivered standout performances and/or played key roles for their programs during the 2025 season.
WR Reggie Taylor II, Brevard – Averaged 18.8 yards per catch and scored six touchdowns, finishing his career with 1,178 receiving yards.
WR Jack Spotz, Brevard – USA South Sportsmanship Team selection and multi-year contributor to the Tornados’ receiving corps.
P Samuel Vargas, Brevard – Averaged 39.6 yards per punt with 10 kicks downed inside the 20.
DL Deshawn Holman, Greensboro – Recorded 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, earning second-team All-USA South honors.
WR Coy Davis, Greensboro – Fifth-year senior and Sportsmanship Team selection.
WR Shane Shapiro, Guilford – Earned third-team ODAC despite playing in only six games (44 catches, 492 yards, 3 TDs).
DE Jonathan Adams, Methodist – USA South Sportsmanship Team honoree.
DE Cam’Ron Webster, Methodist – Posted 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.
LB Anthony Smith, Methodist – Led Monarchs in tackles with 52, including 31 solo stops.
S Mathias Winston, North Carolina Wesleyan – Led the team with 72 tackles and added eight TFLs from the safety position.
DE Chase Richards, North Carolina Wesleyan – USA South Sportsmanship Team selection.
Brevard Fueled By Veteran Standouts
No Division III program in North Carolina leaned more heavily on veteran leadership than Brevard.
Behind a senior-heavy core that included quarterback Ethan Beamish, defensive linemen Robert Dorsey and Obadiah Grimes, wide receivers Adam Douglas and Reggie Taylor II, and linebacker Baylee Ramey, the Tornados posted a 6-4 record and delivered some of the most complete performances in the state. The Tornados beat all three North Carolina opponents on its schedule and claimed a 4-3 USA South record.
Beamish rewrote the school’s passing record book, putting his name at the top in career passing yards (6,921) and passing touchdowns (70 TDs). Dorsey capped a dominant three-year run (36.5 TFLs) and Ramey finished as one of the program’s most reliable tacklers. Together, this group formed the backbone of a Brevard program, coached by Bill Khayat, that consistently set the tone on both sides of the ball for multiple years.
2025 D3 Rewind: By the Numbers & Notable Moments
Brevard won the mythical D3 state championship, sweeping in-state USA South rivals Greensboro (34-7), Methodist (47-20) and North Carolina Wesleyan (45-6). The ‘Nados did not play Guilford in 2025.
Greensboro reclaimed the Soup Bowl trophy with a 21-7 win over crosstown rival Guilford, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the series. Sincere Brown opened the game with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown.
After winning the Soup Bowl, Greensboro dropped seven straight games, but closed the season strong with wins over Methodist and North Carolina Wesleyan to build momentum for 2026.
North Carolina Wesleyan opened the season with a statement, blasting Averett 64-12 at home — the highest point total by any D3 team in North Carolina in 2025.
Travis Burton (Guilford) led all NCAA divisions in tackles for loss per game (2.94), making him one of the most disruptive defenders in the country.
Jeremyah Lane (Brevard) finished No. 1 in Division III in combined kick return yardage (967). He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns (92, 90 yards) as well as two punts for touchdowns (75, 50 yards).
Nick Iannone (Guilford) recorded 27 tackles in a single game (Washington & Lee), one of the highest single-game totals in the country this season. He also had two games with 19 stops each.
Caleb Robles (Guilford) lit up the stat sheets in the Quakers’ 55-0 win over Gallaudet, accounting for 317 yards of offense and four first-half rushing touchdowns from the quarterback spot.
Nahjiir Seagraves (North Carolina Wesleyan) rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns against Belhaven, the third-best single-game performance in the state at any level in 2025.
Brevard football has finished .500 or better every season since 2019. The Tornados went 6-4 this season, 6-3 in 2024, and 5-5 in both 2023 and 2022.
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