Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Pass Catchers
Throughout the month of April, we'll have some kind of football preview coverage released to HSOT Insiders each day.
Today is a look at the top statistically returning pass catchers in the 1A classification. These players could be wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, or any other kind of offensive weapon. The only requirement is that they had 25 receptions last year.
We have four sections: Yards/Game, Yards/Reception, Touchdowns/Game, and Touchdown Rate (touchdowns/reception). We are using these efficiency stats because the bulk numbers like total yards and total touchdowns can be deceiving and don't always correlate year-to-year.
Note: If your player's stats have not been published to MaxPreps or have not been sent to me, they are not going to be included below.
HSOT Insiders: Prepare for the 2024 football season
- Confirmed transfers impacting the 2024 North Carolina high school football season
- The Huddle: 2024 QB Tiers
- The Huddle: 2024 RB Tiers
- Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2025
- Building the Fence: Class of 2025 in-state football commits
- These class of 2025 North Carolina players are committed to out-of-state programs
- Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2026
- Every in-state football offer for North Carolina's class of 2027
- What the 4 defending football state champions return in 2024
- Here are the key returners in 2024 for the 4 defending football state runners-up
- The key players back for the eastern regional runners-up in 2024
- Impact returners for the western football regional runners-up in 2024
- These HSOT All-State football selections will be back in Fall 2024
- Top returning players in 2024 for the defending NCISAA football champions
- The returning players in 2024 for the defending NCISAA runners-up
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Quarterbacks
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Quarterbacks
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 2A Quarterbacks
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Quarterbacks
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Rushers
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Rushers
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 2A Rushers
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 1A Rushers
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 4A Pass Catchers
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 3A Pass Catchers
- Top returning NCHSAA football stat leaders in 2024: 2A Pass Catchers
Top Returning 1A Receiving Leaders: Yards per Game
Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 receptions to qualify: 25. Ties broken by total receiving yards, then yards/reception.
- Justice Washington, senior WR, Mountain Island Charter — 108.6 YPG
- Andrew Finnerty, senior WR, Lejeune — 107.7 YPG
- Trevor Highsmith, senior WR, Lejeune — 104.9 YPG
- Malachi Moore, senior WR, Lejeune — 72.3 YPG
- Miller Aho, senior WR, Bishop McGuinness — 64.4 YPG
- Mere Dempsey, senior ATH, Bertie — 63.7 YPG
- Gregory Cuthbertson, senior WR, Winston-Salem Prep — 63.5 YPG
- Jasiah Holt, junior WR, South Stanly — 62.6 YPG
- Ja'Zyion Geiger, senior WR, Albemarle — 61.7 YPG
- Reginald Thompson, junior WR, Hobbton — 56.6 YPG
- Oak Markland, junior WR, Avery County — 54.6 YPG
- Malaki Moore, senior WR, East Bladen — 54.1 YPG
- Esias Caves, senior ATH, Corvian Community — 53.3 YPG
- Elijah Lineberry, senior WR, Cherokee — 41.9 YPG
- Darion Ledbetter, senior WR, Robbinsville — 39.1 YPG
Top Returning 1A Receiving Leaders: Yards per Reception
Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 receptions to qualify: 25. Ties broken by most receptions.
- Malaki Moore, senior WR, East Bladen — 23.4 Yds/Rec
- Justice Washington, senior WR, Mountain Island Charter — 21.0 Yds/Rec
- Mere Dempsey, senior ATH, Bertie — 20.6 Yds/Rec
- Esias Caves, senior ATH, Corvian Community — 19.7 Yds/Rec
- Oak Markland, junior WR, Avery County — 18.9 Yds/Rec
- Trevor Highsmith, senior WR, Lejeune — 18.6 Yds/Rec
- Jasiah Holt, junior WR, South Stanly — 18.4 Yds/Rec
- Andrew Finnerty, senior WR, Lejeune — 17.9 Yds/Rec
- Gregory Cuthbertson, senior WR, Winston-Salem Prep — 17.2 Yds/Rec
- Darion Ledbetter, senior WR, Robbinsville — 16.7 Yds/Rec
- Ja'Zyion Geiger, senior WR, Albemarle — 16.1 Yds/Rec
- Reginald Thompson, junior WR, Hobbton — 15.6 Yds/Rec
- Malachi Moore, senior WR, Lejeune — 15.1 Yds/Rec
- Elijah Lineberry, senior WR, Cherokee — 14.9 Yds/Rec
- Jacob Mull, senior WR, Draughn — 14.8 Yds/Rec
Top Returning 1A Receiving Leaders: Touchdowns per Game
Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 receptions to qualify: 25. Ties broken by most touchdowns, then fewest receptions).
- Andrew Finnerty, senior WR, Lejeune — 1.7 TD/Gm (15 TDs)
- Trevor Highsmith, senior WR, Lejeune — 1.4 TD/Gm (11 TDs)
- Malachi Moore, senior WR, Lejeune — 1.2 TD/Gm (11 TDs)
- Mere Dempsey, senior ATH, Bertie — 1.1 TD/Gm (12 TDs)
- Miller Aho, senior WR, Bishop McGuinness — 0.8 TD/Gm (9 TDs)
- Oak Markland, junior WR, Avery County — 0.8 TD/Gm (7 TDs)
- Malaki Moore, senior WR, East Bladen — 0.7 TD/Gm (9 TDs)
- Justice Washington, senior WR, Mountain Island Charter — 0.7 TD/Gm (8 TDs, 62 receptions)
- Ja'Zyion Geiger, senior WR, Albemarle — 0.7 TD/Gm (8 TDs, 46 receptions)
- Esias Caves, senior ATH, Corvian Community — 0.7 TD/Gm (7 TDs, 27 receptions)
- Jasiah Holt, junior WR, South Stanly — 0.7 TD/Gm (7 TDs, 34 receptions)
- Reginald Thompson, junior WR, Hobbton — 0.5 TD/Gm (6 TDs)
- Achilles Littlejohn, junior WR, Bessemer City — 0.5 TD/Gm (5 TDs)
- Elijah Lineberry, senior WR, Cherokee — 0.4 TD/Gm (4 TDs)
- Gregory Cuthbertson, senior WR, Winston-Salem Prep — 0.3 TD/Gm (3 TDs)
Top Returning 1A Receiving Leaders: Touchdown Rate
This is the rate of total receiving touchdowns scored to number of receptions, it is designed to highlight the players with the biggest knack for key plays. Players are listed with their rising class year and school. Minimum 2023 receptions to qualify: 25. Ties broken by most receptions, then yards per reception.
- Mere Dempsey, senior ATH, Bertie — 0.353 TD/Rec
- Malaki Moore, senior WR, East Bladen — 0.3 TD/Rec
- Andrew Finnerty, senior WR, Lejeune — 0.278 TD/Rec
- Oak Markland, junior WR, Avery County — 0.269 TD/Rec
- Esias Caves, senior ATH, Corvian Community — 0.259 TD/Rec
- Malachi Moore, senior WR, Lejeune — 0.256 TD/Rec
- Trevor Highsmith, senior WR, Lejeune — 0.244 TD/Rec
- Jasiah Holt, junior WR, South Stanly — 0.206 TD/Rec
- Achilles Littlejohn, junior WR, Bessemer City — 0.200 TD/Rec
- Ja'Zyion Geiger, senior WR, Albemarle — 0.174 TD/Rec
- Reginald Thompson, junior WR, Hobbton — 0.150 TD/Rec
- Elijah Lineberry, senior WR, Cherokee — 0.143 TD/Rec
- Miller Aho, senior WR, Bishop McGuinness — 0.129 TD/Rec (70 receptions)
- Justice Washington, senior WR, Mountain Island Charter — 0.129 TD/Rec (62 receptions)
- Darion Ledbetter, senior WR, Robbinsville — 0.086 TD/Rec