Vote: Who should be SBLive's Eastern North Carolina High School Football Defensive Player of the Year?
Here is our list of defensive players in Eastern North Carolina who had noteworthy performances throughout the 2023 high school football season. Voting will remain open through Jan. 7 at 11:59 p.m. and you may vote as many times as you wish.
Christian Richardson, Wilson Prep: Richardson led the state with 14 interceptions and also recorded 104 tackles this season.
Reagan Printy, Hoggard: Printy finished with 186 tackles, the second-most in the state, had 25 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. he averaged 12.9 tackles per game and helped lead the Vikings to the 4-A title game.
Malcolm Ziglar, Fuquay-Varina: The UNC commit had another banner season for the Bengals.
Donovan Frederick, Seventy-First: Frederick was a force on offense and defense for the Falcons on their ride to the 3-A title game. He finished with 175 tackles, 48 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Braylon Peebles, Cardinal Gibbons: Peebles recorded 169 tackles and three interceptions for Gibbons this season.
Jayden Ferguson, Millbrook: Ferguson produced 92 tackles, nine sacks, 25 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception as the anchor for the Wildcats defense.
Dontario Austin, South View: Austin recorded 153 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and two sacks and averaged 13.9 tackles per game.
Jackson Karcher, Gray's Creek: Karcher filled up the stat sheet this season and recorded 150 tackles and 19 tackles for loss.
O'Maurie Phillips, Farmville Central: Phillips finished with 108 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four interceptions and 17 tackles for loss.
Sawyer Lowe, Cleveland: Lowe tallied 145 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and five sacks for the Rams.
