Video: Devon Lawrence's highlights Panther Creek High School
See one of Wake Forest's top runners from last season.
MaxPreps 2017 North Carolina Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Wake Forest2016 record: 16-0
Head coach: Reginald Lucas
The Cougars are coming off a 16-0 season, capped with a 29-0 victory in the class 4AA state championship game against Page (Greensboro).
Both of Wake Forest's top two rushers are back as
Devon Lawrence and
Marquis Dunn combined for nearly 3,000 yards rushing and 43 touchdowns last season.
Wake Forest looks to repeat as the 4AA champion.
File photo by Alik McIntosh
See the MaxPreps North Carolina Computer Football Rankings presented by the Army National Guard2. Dudley (Greensboro)2016 record: 15-1
Head coach: Stephen Davis
The Panthers finished last season as the No. 1 team in the state in our computer rankings after going 15-1 and winning the class 4A state championship game 54-0 against Cape Fear (Fayetteville). Since the start of the 2013 season, Dudley is 51-6 with two state championships.
Expect Dudley to once again be contenders with 2018 Virginia Tech commit
D.J. Crossen and
Reggie Robertson leading the defense.
See the MaxPreps North Carolina football stat leaders3. Scotland (Laurinburg)2016 record: 14-1
Head coach: Richard Bailey
The Fighting Scots will rely heavily on
Zamir White, the nation's top-rated running back in the Class of 2018. White is coming off a junior season that saw him rush for nearly 2,000 yards and 27 touchdowns en route to North Carolina Gatorade Football Player of the Year honors.
Look for
Desmond Davis to lead the Scotland offense, while outside linebacker
Javon Ratliffe returns for his senior year after leading the team last season with 103 tackles. Senior linebacker
Keante McNair also returns after 68 tackles last season as a junior.
See the MaxPreps North Carolina football playoff brackets4. Shelby2016 record: 16-0
Head coach: Lance Ware
The Golden Lions return a host of players from their 2AA title team from last season.
Dax Hollifield, the 6-foot-1, 2220 pound inside linebacker, led the team with 146 tackles last season, including 52 tackles for a loss. The No. 6 rated player in the Tar Heel State by 247Sports also had 18 sacks as a junior.
Quarterback
Malik Sarratt returns for his senior year after throwing for 3,605 and 44 touchdowns, while
Xavier Brooks is top returning runner with 510 yards and nine TDs in last season's junior campaign.
Senior wideout
Tucker Greene and junior defensive back
Dorian Davis are also names to watch.
See the MaxPreps North Carolina football photo galleries5. Cape Fear (Fayetteville)2016 record: 15-1
Head coach: Jacob Thomas
The Colts look to get back to the 4A state title game after falling short in the championship contest.
Incoming senior quarterback
Justice Galloway-Velazquez threw for 2,476 yards and 26 TDs, while running for a team-high 1,912 yards and 26 scores. Rising senior
Tyone Tillman was his top returning target with 429 yards receiving and four scores.
Chris Matthews, a rising senior middle linebacker, was second on team last season with 137 tackles.