Another season means the Class of 2024 has graduated and younger players are set to step into their shoes.
The Citizen Times and Times-News are breaking down rosters by conference, looking at three key players per team who graduated last season and the three players who may be replacing the production this season.
Here are players leaving and returning in the Mountain 7 Conference.
East Henderson
Key losses: DE Eli Herman, WR/DB Tanner Floyd, , LB Colby Lavine
Herman finished tied for the team lead in sacks. Floyd led the Eagles with 30 receptions and had 308 receiving yards and 38 total tackles on defense. In seven games, Lavine had 29 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Returning pieces: QB Lex Burns, RB James Robinson, S/WR Leland Prutzman
Burns threw for more than 1,000 yards while completing 50% of his passes. Robinson rushed for 400 yards and four touchdowns on 83 carries. Prutzman finished with a team-high 87 total tackles.
Franklin
Key losses: DT/RB Gabe Nickerson, WR Wyatt Cantrell, DL Jacob Gibson
Nickerson finished second on the team in rushing last season with 263 yards. He had 39 total tackles on defense. Gibson was a critical piece on defense, recording 38 total tackles with two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Cantrell caught 24 passes for 284 yards with three touchdowns.
Returning pieces: RB/LB Addix Sutton, DB Aiden Sizemore, DB Braylon Dezarn
Sutton was the team’s leading rusher with 588 yards and had two touchdowns; he also had a team-high 62 tackles on defense. Sizemore was second with 50 tackles. Dezarn had a team-leading four interceptions.
North Henderson
Key losses: LB Keith Payne, DE Reese Meadows, RB Zion Fauntleroy-McDaniel
Payne had more than 100 tackles with four interceptions, while Meadows recorded 65 tackles and six sacks. Fauntleroy-McDaniel produced more than 1,500 rushing yards.
Returning pieces: RB Mason Gasperson, QB Caleb Woodring, OL/DL Brett Becker
Replacing 27 seniors will be difficult, but thankfully, for coach Jim Beatty, he has Gasperson returning as well as Becker and Woodring. As the Knights’ second tailback, Gasperson ran for 714 yards and 14 touchdowns on 103 carries.
Pisgah
Key losses: DE Tytus Bridges, RB Breydon Reynolds, OL/DL Brody Hanson
Bridges tallied over 120 tackles with 11 for loss and forced three fumbles. Hanson had 31 pancake blocks at guard to help Reynolds run for 700 yards with 14 touchdowns.
Returning pieces: WR/DB Sawyer Belue, QB Aaron Clark, LB Jaxon Bautista,
Pisgah, along with East Henderson, has one of the most veteran teams in Mountain 7. Belue had three interceptions and, on offense, almost 500 receiving yards with five touchdowns. Clark threw for more than 1,600 yards, and Bautista had more than 100 tackles.
Smoky Mountain
Key losses: WR/DB Da’Mare Williams, RB Isaiah McNeely, WR Lincoln Sutton
Williams was a dynamic two-way player who has moved on to East Carolina. McNeely was the team’s top rusher with 846 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sutton caught 13 passes for 177 yards.
Returning pieces: QB Jarek Jones, WR/DB Malachi McNeely, WR/DB Jayce Stillwell
Jones threw and ran for over 500 yards with 11 touchdowns. Stillwell was one of Jones’ top targets, catching 18 passes for 214 yards with four touchdowns. McNeely was the Mustangs’ best deep threat. He caught five passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns.
2024 TEAM SCHEDULES: Schedules for every team in WNC
Tuscola
Key losses: QB Jed West, WR Bryant Oancea, CB KJ Vang
West was named All-WNC First Team after throwing for over 2,229 yards with 20 touchdowns and adding 797 yards rushing and 12 more touchdowns. Oancea was West’s top receiver with 45 catches for 769 yards. Vang had 80 total tackles and three interceptions.
Returning pieces: RB Gavin Langley, LB Walker Bolden, DB Ty Walker
With the departure of West, Langley will be asked to have a heavier load in the offense after averaging 9 carries per game last season. Bolden finished as the team’s leading tackler with 100. Walker had almost 80 total tackles as a freshman.
West Henderson
Key losses: WR/FS Truitt Manuel, WR/SS Diego Castro, RB Carson Dimsdale.
West Henderson graduated arguably one of the most athletic senior classes in program history. Manuel caught 89 passes for 1,396 yards with 16 touchdowns; on defense, he had 47 total tackles, six interceptions and three forced fumbles. Castro recorded 87 total tackles and four interceptions. Dimsdale rushed for 2,135 yards with 33 touchdowns.
Returning pieces: QB Cade Young, WR/DB Tayman Howell, TE/DL Tyler Nash
While only starting in the second half of the season, Young threw for 1,836 yards with 19…
Asheville Citizen-Times
