Chapel Hill is coming off a 9-2 season and region runner-up finish in 2023.
Head Football Coach Brad Stephens said he’s excited about the speed on this year’s team, including three members of Chapel Hill’s state champion track team in Jalen Kelly, Jackson Thompson and Varyreise Carter.
Kelly is a starter at cornerback, receiver and special teams, Thompson starts at cornerback and in the slot and Carter plays running back, linebacker and on special teams.
“This is the fastest we've been since I've been at Chapel Hill,” said Stephens, who is in his fourth season leading the Panthers. “Our athletes are fast and they can move and wiggle and find space and score touchdowns.”
Stephens will have to replace one big piece from last year’s team in running back Michael Padgett, a 1,000-yard rusher who graduated.
The Panthers started the season with what Stephens calls a “running back by committee” with three or four backs that he’s relying on.
Chapel Hill also lost “two great” linebackers to graduation in Greg Wardlaw and Alex Teal, both of whom are now playing at the next level.
Overall, Chapel Hill returns eight starters on offense and defense.
Julian Shepp, a junior who has been in the program all three years, moves into the starting quarterback role.
“Shepp's really grown,” Stephens said. “He's growing up. That's one thing I told him he had to do.”
Kelly and fellow senior Sean Kendrick, who plays fullback, defensive end and special teams, have both been with Stephens all four years.
Kelly was all-region last year as a junior and Stephens said he expects him “to be a big contributor to our success this year.”
Kendrick was all-region last year and is expected to be “a leader on defense,” for the Panthers.
“I feel like he's a kid that could probably lead us in tackles because he plays a physical style and he gets to the ball,” Stephens said.
Stephens also highlighted senior offensive tackle Soloman Perdue, an all-region returner expected to lead the Panthers' offensive line.
“He played every game, all 11 games, and was a part of that offensive line that produced that thousand-yard back,” Stephens said.
Chapel Hill moves up from Class 5A to 6A this year and will have to compete in Region 2-6A alongside two nationally ranked programs in Carrollton and Douglas County. Stephens said his team is ready for the challenge.
“I'm excited about the level of competition because we get to compete at a high level,” he said. “I pray that brings out a competitive, a higher competitive level in us, and I really feel like it will because our kids want to compete.”