Ranking WNC OLs in 2024 North Carolina high school football season

From Sam Browder to Nse Uffort, the Citizen Times and Times-News ranked the top offensive linemen for the 2024 NC high school football season in WNC.

Asheville Citizen Times

The start of the North Carolina football season is quickly approaching. Western North Carolina teams are completing summer workouts and competing in 7-on-7s to prepare for the upcoming NCHSAA and NCISAA seasons.

Ahead of the first kickoff, the Citizen Times and Times-News are highlighting the top offensive linemen to watch in 2024, including Christ School's Sam Browder and Swain County's Nse Uffort.

Here is the Citizen Times and Times-News' ranking of the WNC's best offensive linemen.

Best North Carolina high school football DL in WNC for 2024

10. Kadence Leatherwood

Murphy

Vitals: 5-9, 200, Sr.

Leatherwood helped Murphy rush for almost 4,000 yards and throw for 1,055 last season.

9. Cardi-a Boyd

Roberson

Vitals: 5-9, 235, Sr.

With Boyd's help, the Rams rushed for almost 3,000 yards last season. He will be a key to Roberson's bid to contend in the Mountain Athletic Conference again.

8. Dawson Thompson

Christ School

Vitals: 6-6, 240, Sr.

Offers: UNC Pembroke

Thompson helped the Greenies' offense accumulate 3,000 yards in 2023. He will be a key piece as Christ School attempts to improve on its 4-7 record from last season.

7. Gabe Dunbar

West Henderson

Vitals: 5-10, 295, Sr.

Dunbar was a critical piece of the offensive line as the Falcons reached the fourth round of the NCHSAA 3A playoffs. West Henderson passed for 2,568 yards and ran for almost 3,000 more.

6. Brody Orton

Murphy

Vitals: 6-1, 200, Jr.

Orton guided the Bulldogs to the third round of the NCHSAA 1A playoffs.

5. Grady Lewis

Swain County

Vitals: 6-1, 220, Sr.

Lewis was named All-WNC second team after helping Swain County reach the third round of the NCHSAA 1A playoffs.

4. Weston Winchester

Smoky Mountain

Vitals: 6-2, 230, Sr.

Winchester was named All-WNC second team after picking up 15 pancake blocks last season. The Mustangs totaled almost 3,000 yards with his help up front.

3. Nse Uffort

Swain County

Vitals: 6-2, 260, Sr.

Uffort tallied 22 pancake blocks while helping the Maroon Devils rush for almost 3,000 yards and reach the third round of the NCHSAA 1A playoffs.

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2. Cash Freeman

Christ School

Vitals: 6-3, 285, So.

Offers: Charlotte

Freeman had a spectacular freshman season helping Christ School accumulate over 3,000 yards of total offense.

1. Sam Browder

Christ School

Vitals: 6-5, 285, Sr.

Offers: Appalachian State, Army, Austin Peay, Cornell, Dartmouth, East Carolina, Elon, Florida Atlantic, Furman, Gardner-Webb, Georgia Southern, Kent State, Memphis, Old Dominion, South Florida, Wofford

Browder was part of an offensive line that helped the Greenies throw for 1,609 yards and run for another 1,525.

Zachary Huber is a high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News. Email him at zhuber@gannett.com or follow him on X @zacharyahuber. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times and Times-News.