WNC football: Key losses, returning pieces on Mountain Athletic Conference rosters

Another season means the Class of 2024 has graduated and younger players are set to step into their shoes.

The Citizen Times is 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 Athletic Conference.

Asheville High

Key losses: LB Noah Shaw, WR CJ Morgan, TE Jeremiah Jones

Shaw, Asheville's leading tackler by 20 tackles, graduated and headed to Rutgers for his freshman season. With 75 tackles and seven tackles for loss, he'll leave a defensive hole for the Cougars to fill. Morgan is one of three leading receivers graduating after catching 41 passes for 401 yards, while Jones had 332 yards on 22 receptions, including six touchdowns.

Returning pieces: DB Kareem Williams, WR Kayden Ray, RB Kyheem Plummer

Although Williams plays a different position than Shaw, he'll be stepping up as a Division I commit (Coastal Carolina) leading the defense. Coach Cort Radford said Ray is a player to watch for the Cougars, as the electric junior is Asheville's fastest player. Plummer instantly becomes an option both as a running back and receiver.

Enka

Key losses: QB Cam Wait, RB/LB Dalton Sims, DB DJ Hullryde

Wait and Sims combined for 875 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while Wait also threw for 803 yards, meaning Enka will have to reset its offense. Hullryde was second on the team with 36 tackles and led the way with seven tackles for loss.

Returning pieces: RB Chris Bethea, WR Landon Wilson, DB Logan Trantham

While the quarterback question is up in the air, Bethea, the third-leading rusher last season, is all but assured the No. 1 tailback role. Wilson led last year's team in receiving while Trantham's 42 tackles were a team best.

Erwin

Key losses: RB/LB Nick Sharpe, LB Nick Schultz, LB Rex Miller

Sharpe's 100 tackles and 13 tackles for loss were by far the most on the team, while adding the third-highest rushing total with 216 yards. Miller recorded 73 tackles and four tackles for loss while Schultz added 70 tackles and three sacks.

Returning pieces: WR/DB Lawson Reynolds, LB Judah Dayton, WR/LB Deajaha Ray

Reynolds was a sophomore standout, leading Erwin with 420 receiving yards and finishing second with 92 tackles. Dayton's 87 tackles were third on the team, while Ray added 470 rushing yards and three interceptions.

McDowell

Key losses: WR Jackson Marsh, DB Wyatt Clark, OL/DL Hayden Williams

Marsh caught 29 of McDowell's 42 completions last season, going for 570 yards with eight touchdowns, while recording three interceptions. Clark and Williams were second and third with 47 and 45 tackles, respectively.

Returning pieces: RB/LB Hunter Pittman, DB Chamberland Anderson, RB/LB Hayden Haynes

Pittman, McDowell's leading rusher and tackler in 2023, is the biggest returning piece. Anderson brings back 40 tackles and an interception, while Haynes returns 208 rushing yards and 36 tackles.

North Buncombe

Key losses: HB Hayden Burnette, FB Jackson Eubanks, QB Alex Rash

After winning three games to snap an 18-game losing streak, the Black Hawks are undergoing a near-total turnover on offense.

Returning pieces: WR Ryan Moffatt, RB Dane Houston, RB Kyngston Denson

Moffatt is easily the most experienced returning player, with eight catches for 167 yards last season. Neither Houston or Denson had more than two carries a year ago but are likely to be the main running backs.

Reynolds

Key losses: QB Hayden Craig, WR Ty Johnson, LB Brandon Guest

Craig passed for 1,949 yards, finding his favorite target, Johnson, 45 times for 793 yards. Johnson's departure will have a bigger impact for the Rockets as they've found a new quarterback in junior Ely Hamrick, an IMG Academy transfer, who instantly transforms the offense following Craig's departure. On defense, with Guest graduating after being a Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas selection, Reynolds will need a new defensive leader.

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Returning pieces: RB Max Guest, RB/WR Tyvon Patterson, LB Daniel Angulo

Guest is back after missing nearly all of last season because of a foot injury, adding depth to Reynolds' offense and making them a state title contender. Patterson, who will line up mostly as a wide receiver with Guest's return, could become Hamrick's favorite target. Angulo is Reynolds' leading tackler among returners with 61.

Roberson

Key losses: QB Lex Dinwiddie, RB/LB PJ Deshauteurs, RB/LB Reno Jeter

All three parts of Roberson's run-pass option offense have graduated. Dinwiddie rushed for 1,160 yards and passed for 836, while Deshauteurs had 864 rush yards and 61 tackles. Jeter rushed for 822 yards with 49 tackles.

Returning pieces: QB LaRon Mills, RB Tyrin Credle, RB Zeb Swangim

This trio will head up the Rams' triple-option offense this season, although coach JD Dinwiddie said Roberson will play out of the pistol to adapt to Mills' abilities. Credle was the fourth-leading rusher last season, carrying 63 times for 600 yards, and he and Swangim will create a dynamic backfield.

Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at egerike@citizentimes.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Biggest returning pieces for each Mountain Athletic Conference team