Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Sacks & Takeaways (2024)

Throughout the spring and summer, we'll be delivering football preview content to HSOT Insiders.

Today is a look at the top statistically returning big-play defenders in the 1A classification. We are looking at three areas: sacks, interceptions, and forced fumbles. The only requirement is that they played in seven games last season.

In the past, we've done articles for top individual tackling returners. That will not be the case this season. Since stats aren't really standardized in high school and each team has their own way of doing it, there is not a good way to compare players' tackling from those in other programs. Some teams only report solo tackles, while other teams will have a handful of guys with over 100 assist tackles. This year, those articles will be team-based. They will rank the teams by the percentage returning from their group tackling production in 2023.

We are using the individual stats for Sacks/Game, Interceptions/Game, and Forced Fumbles/Game because those categories are more cut-and-dry (and to be honest, not as disputable as some of the tackle numbers that are reported). We are using the efficiency per-game stats because the bulk numbers like total sacks and total interceptions can be deceiving and don't always correlate year-to-year.

Note: If your player's stats have not been published to MaxPreps or have not been sent to me, they are not going to be included below.

HSOT Insiders: Prepare for the 2024 football season

• Confirmed transfers impacting the 2024 North Carolina high school football season
• The Huddle: 2024 QB Tiers
• The Huddle: 2024 RB Tiers
• Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2025
• Building the Fence: Class of 2025 in-state football commits
• These class of 2025 North Carolina players are committed to out-of-state programs
• Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2026
• Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2027
• What the 4 defending football state champions return in 2024
• Here are the key returners in 2024 for the 4 defending football state runners-up
• The key players back for the eastern regional runners-up in 2024
• Impact returners for the western football regional runners-up in 2024
• These HSOT All-State football selections will be back in Fall 2024
• Top returning players in 2024 for the defending NCISAA football champions
• The returning players in 2024 for the defending NCISAA runners-up
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Quarterbacks
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Quarterbacks
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 2A Quarterbacks
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Quarterbacks
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Rushers
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Rushers
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 2A Rushers
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Rushers
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Pass Catchers
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Pass Catchers
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 2A Pass Catchers
• Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Pass Catchers

Top Returning 1A Defensive Leaders: Sacks per Game

Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 games to qualify: 6. Ties broken by games played.

1. Doug Quarles III, senior DE, Corvian Community — 2.5 Sacks/Game (6 games played)

2. Jordan Hamm, sophom*ore OLB, Wilson Prep — 1.23076923076923 Sacks/Game (13 games played)

3. Sireco Logan, senior DE, Bessemer City — 1 Sacks/Game (10 games played)

T4. Grayson Hoilman, senior DE, Avery County — 0.8 Sacks/Game (10 games played)

T4. Camden Breazeale, junior DE, Murphy — 0.8 Sacks/Game (10 games played)

6. DJ Joyce, junior DE, Mount Airy — 0.781 Sacks/Game (16 games played)

7. Michael Hughes, senior ILB, South Stanly — 0.778 Sacks/Game (9 games played)

8. Maason Payne, senior DL, Bishop McGuinness — 0.714 Sacks/Game (7 games played)

9. Julian Newkirk, junior DL, Wilson Prep — 0.692 Sacks/Game (13 games played)

10. Xavier Williams, junior DE, Wilson Prep — 0.615 Sacks/Game (13 games played)

11. Mekhi Chavis, sophom*ore DL, Warren County — 0.611 Sacks/Game (9 games played)

T12. Trey Dukes III, junior DT, Corvian Community — 0.6 Sacks/Game (10 games played)

T12. Willie Brown, senior DE, Albemarle — 0.6 Sacks/Game (10 games played)

14. Joseph Gause, senior OLB, Winston-Slame Prep — 0.571 Sacks/Game (7 games played)

15. Tony Jordan, senior DL, West Columbus — 0.539 Sacks/Game (13 games played)

Top Returning 1A Defensive Leaders: Interceptions per Game

Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 games to qualify: 6. Ties broken by most games played.

1. Cole McGee, junior DB, Mountain Heritage — 0.692 INT/Game (13 games played)

2. Zanek McCloud, senior CB, Northside-Pinetown — 0.667 INT/Game (9 games played)

3. Arthur Joseph, senior DB, Southeast Halifax — 0.583 INT/Game (12 games played)

4. Sterling Radabugh, senior DB, Draughn — 0.545 INT/Game (11 games played)

5. Carter Callicut, junior ILB, South Stanly — 0.5 INT/Game (10 games played)

T6. Ja'Zion Geiger, senior CB, Albemarle — 0.417 INT/Game (12 games played)

T6. Michael Mauney, senior SS, Hayesville — 0.417 INT/Game (12 games played)

T6. Ryan Payne, junior CB, Murphy — 0.417 INT/Game (12 games played)

9. Gregory Cuthbertson, senior DB, Winston-Salem Prep — 0.4 INT/Game (10 games played)

10. Jordan Hansley, senior CB, Pender — 0.375 INT/Game (8 games played)

11. Zymiere Dempsey, senior ATH, Bertie — 0.364 INT/Game (11 games played)

12. AJ Jackson Jr., senior DB, Corvian Community — 0.3333 INT/Game (12 games played)

T13. Jaziah Brunson, senior CB, Lakewood — 0.333 INT/Game (9 games played)

T13. Kamarri Rudd, senior CB, Warren County — 0.333 INT/Game (9 games played)

T13. Antonio Samuels, junior LB, Carver — 0.333 INT/Game (9 games played)

Top Returning 1A Defensive Leaders: Forced Fumbles per Game

Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum number of 2023 games to qualify: 6. Ties broken by most games played.

1. Michael Dickens, senior OLB, North Edgecombe — 0.571 FF/Game (7 games played)

2. Antonio Samuels, junior LB, Carver — 0.556 FF/Game (9 games played)

3. Dayton Leland, junior DL, Lejeune — 0.5 FF/Game (8 games played)

T4. AJ Jackson Jr., senior DB, Corvian Community — 0.333 FF/Game (12 games played)

T4. Josiah Williams, junior De, Bessemer City — 0.333 FF/Game (12 games played)

T6. Derrick Shearin, senior DB, KIPP Pride — 0.333 FF/Game (9 games played)

T6. Tyler Wharton, senior DL, Warren County — 0.333 FF/Game (9 games played)

8. Doug Quarles III, senior DE, Corvian Community — 0.333 FF/Game (6 games played)

T9. Cameron Williams, senior DL, Lakewood — 0.3 FF/Game (10 games played)

T9. Drequan Wilson, junior DE, Winston-Salem Prep — 0.3 FF/Game (10 games played)

11. Joseph Gause, senior OLB, Winston-Slame Prep — 0.286 FF/Game (7 games played)

12. Treyvon Munford, junior OLB, Pamlico County — 0.273 FF/Game (11 games played)

13. DJ Joyce, junior DE, Mount Airy — 0.25 FF/Game (16 games played)

14. Tre Graves, junior SS, Hayesville — 0.25 FF/Game (12 games played)

T15. Kamarri Rudd, senior CB, Warren County — 0.222 FF/Game (9 games played)

T15. Nyzir Alston, junior CB, Warren County — 0.222 FF/Game (9 games played)

T15. Mekhi Chavis, sophom*ore DL, Warren County — 0.222 FF/Game (9 games played)

T15. Dashaun Carr, senior DL, Lakewood — 0.222 FF/Game (9 games played)