Meet some of the top football players in Cabarrus County for the 2024 season

HighSchoolOT was on hand for the first Cabarrus County Prospect Day, which was a joint practice held by the county's high schools with the hopes of attracting college coaches. The event, which was hosted by Hickory Ridge High School, was successful as it brought in eyes from several football programs at the next level.

We talked to 15 players across Concord, Cox Mill, A.L. Brown, Central Cabarrus, Hickory Ridge, Mount Pleasant, and Northwest Cabarrus high schools. Jay M. Robinson High School was not at the event and West Cabarrus High School, which was in attendance, is still on the young side.

Here are the video interviews with each of the players, in a random order.

• Chaz Knox, a 6-foot, 285-pound defensive lineman from A.L. Brown High School in Kannapolis, spoke with HighSchoolOT about his recruitment at the 2024 Cabarrus County Prospect Day.

• Cox Mill High School's 6-foot-3, 230-pound class of 2026 tight end/defensive end Gavin Barber spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day to update his growing recruitment and share his plans for the offseason.

• Hickory Ridge High School's 6-foot-4, 235-pound all-conference edge rusher Jace McCallum spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day. McCallum, a class of 2026 prospect, holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky so far.

• Cox Mill High School rising senior long snapper Sam Aschbrenner spoke with HighSchoolOT about the state of his recruitment and what he's working on before he graduates in 2025.

• Central Cabarrus High School class of 2026 offensive lineman Brandon Bevilacqua spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day to update us on his recruitment and how the offseason has been inside the Vikings' program.

• Cox Mill High School class of 2026 running back/slot receiver Jermayne Franklin Jr. spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County prospect day about the strengths he brings to the table and his goals for the offseason and the upcoming season.

• Mount Pleasant High School's versatile class of 2025 lineman Eli Reed spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day about what sets him apart as a player and the things that the Tigers have been working on this offseason.

• Hickory Ridge High School class of 2026 wide receiver Joel Wooten spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day to discuss his first offer from Eastern Kentucky, what stands out about his game, and getting to be the next man up at wide receiver for the Ragin' Bulls.

• Central Cabarrus High School class of 2026 defensive lineman Aiden Black stood out as a sophomore last year and has gained a good amount of interest from Division I programs. Black spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day about his recruitment and plans for his junior season.

• Cox Mill High School class of 2026 athlete Marcus Sales Jr. spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day about his recruitment, his strengths, and his plans for the offseason and 2024 season.

• Concord High School class of 2025 safety/running back/outside linebacker Alex Petroff spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day about his latest recruiting interest, his strengths on the field, and his plans for his senior season in the fall.

• Northwest Cabarrus High School class of 2025 offensive tackle Nolan Irwin spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day about his surge in recruitment, strengths on the field, and the areas he is working on boosting as he enters his senior season.

• Cox Mill High School class of 2026 wide receiver Jordan Cleaves spoke to HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day to update his recruitment and share the aspects of his game that has stood out to the schools that have offered him so far.

• Central Cabarrus High School class of 2025 wide receiver Chinua Ezeigbo spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day about his recruitment that has seen five offers come in, his strengths on the field, and his goals for his upcoming senior season.

• Northwest Cabarrus class of 2025 linebacker Jackson Forrest spoke with HighSchoolOT at the Cabarrus County Prospect Day to share an update on his increasing offer list and his plans for himself and the team in 2024.