2025 Big 22 Players to Watch

How Channel 9 Shapes the Elite Class

Channel 9 Sports has begun the annual ritual of spotlighting tomorrow’s high‑school football stars. After gathering hundreds of nominations from across the Carolinas, the network narrowed the field to 22 standout athletes who will vie for the Big 22 Player of the Year title. The competition carries a $10,000 prize for the winner’s school, along with the prestige of being recognized as the region’s top talent.

Full Roster of This Year’s Standouts

• Austin Ballou – OL – Mallard Creek
• Caleb Cooper – S – Providence Day
• Kaden Craft – QB – Lake Norman
• Jaxon Dollar – TE – East Lincoln
• Nate Dollard – CB – Country Day
• Tre Geathers – LB – Providence Day
• Qualteau Hawkins – ATH – Stuart Cramer
• Alex Johnson – DE – Catawba Ridge
• Nate Kamba – DL – Corvian
• Levi Kerr – QB – Marvin Ridge
• Matt Kucia – QB – Indian Land
• Jalaythan Mayfield – LB – Lincolnton
• Xavier Means – QB – Northwestern
• Marcus Sales – WR – Cannon
• Keland Shelton – ATH – Chambers
• Majay Thompson – WR – Crest
• Seth Tillman – DL – South Pointe
• Kaiden Watkins – CB – Rock Hill
• Tyson Williams – Edge – Shelby

Looking Ahead to Media Day

The spotlight intensifies as media day arrives on Friday, setting the stage for a deeper dive into each athlete’s story. Channel 9 promises to unveil the full class next month, giving fans a closer look at the players who have already captured attention. For those curious about last year’s champion, details are available through the provided link.

Stay tuned for the full reveal and witness the next generation of Carolina football stars make their mark.