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A ball-hawking athlete and one of the team’s defensive leaders, Collins hauled in five interceptions in seven games as a junior in the spring. He’s picked up right where he left off, recording an interception in the Cavaliers’ season opening victory against Williams.
At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Haith has the size and now the experience to potentially produce a breakout year. With Collins holding down the back end of the Cavaliers defense, pressure on the opposing quarterback could make for good results for that unit.
Jamarion Vaughn, senior defensive lineman
The 6-foot-1, 265-pound Vaughn can be a load up front for the Cavaliers defense. His ability to plug up running lanes and get pressure on the quarterback will be key for the Cummings defense this season.
The three-year starter will miss the first several weeks of the season with a knee injury, but expect him to be a steadying force when he returns. Burnette registered 77 tackles in eight games of the spring season, making him the team’s leading tackler among returners. He also recorded two interceptions as one of the Eagles’ centerpieces on defense.
Carter Stallings, left, and Will Burnette, middle, celebrate an interception with Jackson Stokes during the spring season.
Stallings has showed the ability to do a little bit of everything from both the linebacker and safety spots on the Eagles defense. He finished third on the team in the spring with 64 tackles, while coming up with an interception and a sack. With the departure of safety stalwart Jackson Stokes due to graduation, Stallings could be in line for more responsibility.
Joey Teixeira, senior linebacker
After sitting out the spring season, Teixeira makes his return hoping to reproduce at a similar rate to his sophomore season when he piled up 205 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.
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Graham
Gabriel Spriggs, junior linebacker
Spriggs returns as a major Red Devils contributor after leading the team with 61 tackles as a sophomore. When an opposing offensive player was brought down behind the line of scrimmage in the spring, it was more often than not Spriggs (15 tackles for losses) making the play. He finished his junior year with 10 sacks in six games.Â
Southern Alamance
Logan Foust, sophomore linebacker / safety
As a freshman, Foust made plays from the moment he stepped on the field, so expect his game to rise to another level as a sophomore. He finished the spring campaign with 31 tackles, one interception and one caused fumble.
Xander Petty, senior defensive end
One of just a handful of seniors for the Patriots, Petty’s play and leadership could be an important factor in determining the type of season the team has. For three seasons now, Petty has made plays for the Patriots. In the spring, he recorded 27 tackles and two sacks.
Harrison Watson, junior defensive back
Watson produced an impressive sophomore season, posting 42 tackles to rank third on the team. He showed the ability to do a little bit of everything, including stopping the run and defending the pass. He forced three fumbles and hauled in one interception.Â
The Warriors top returning tackler racked up 70 stops, including 12 tackles for losses in the spring. Seven of the Warriors top eight tacklers in the spring were seniors, with Belles being the one exception, ranking fourth on the team. Belles also recorded two interceptions and one sack as a junior.Â
Calvin Galloway Jr., junior cornerback
Galloway made his presence felt as a sophomore, leading the team in interceptions with three. Not only did he show the ability to take the ball away, he often used his athleticism to return those pick-offs, averaging 20.3 return yards on each. He also recorded 23 tackles and one fumble recovery from his spot in the Warriors defensive backfield.
Williams
Williams linebacker Grayson Loy, left, fist bumps a friend.
The Bulldogs leading tackler as a sophomore returns as a one half of a dynamic linebacker duo that Williams coaches speak highly of. Loy provided four tackles for losses and one interception in the spring.
Nasir Price, junior safety
A two-way player expected to make his mark on both sides of the ball, Price uses his athleticism to his advantage. He posted 11 tackles and one interception in the spring. On the offensive side of the ball, Price hauled in four catches for 97 yards and a touchdown in a season opening loss to Cummings.
Will Rhodes, junior linebacker
The other half of the Bulldogs impressive linebacker duo returns after finishing second on the team in tackles (54) in the spring. Rhodes posted five tackles for losses as a sophomore.
David Kehrli is a sports reporter at the Burlington Times-News and USA Today Network. You can reach him at david.kehrli@thetimesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidKehrliTN. Subscribe to the Burlington Times-News here.
