As the backbone of his defense, Cape Fear's Aydin Leonard was everywhere on the field, carrying around a 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame that led to a dominant, all-conference season to cap off his high school career.

Leonard piled up 121 tackles, including 79 solo stops, while consistently disrupting opposing offenses. The senior added 16.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, showing his ability to attack the line of scrimmage and finish plays in the backfield to set the explosive Colt offense up for short-yardage situations.

However, Leonard's impact went far beyond his tackle count. He recorded eight pass breakups when dropping back in coverage and delivered some of the biggest moments of the season, including a fumble recovery in the endzone early in the season, and a conference-title clinching safety against Scotland, where he also had a game-high 17 tackles.

With the combination of size, IQ, and physicality, Leonard proved to be a game-changer every Friday night, and his leadership and production gave him the compelling argument as the 910Preps 2025 Defensive Player of the Year. (Fayetteville Observer)

     FIRST TEAM

• DL – Justice Clifton (Terry Sanford senior) − As a first-team all-conference selection in the Tri-County, Clifton finished fourth in the conference with seven sacks, and completed the season with 63 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss.
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• DL – Baganley Donzo (Trinity Christian sophomore) − Donzo's third varsity season was dominant. The defensive lineman finished fifth in the NCISAA 2A in sacks with 9.5 on the year, and he had 78 tackles and two interceptions.
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• DL – Darren Logan (Cape Fear senior) − Logan was nearly unstoppable on the edge this season for the Colts. His 8.5 sacks fell at No. 2 in the Tri-County conference, and he had 49 tackles to add to it.
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• DL – Dacori Davis (Cape Fear senior) − Davis had an impressive showing in his senior campaign. The Colts' defensive end collected 75 tackles, eight sacks, and an interception on the year.
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• LB – Dontario Austin (Trinity Christian senior) − Austin, a Player of the Year candidate, anchored the Crusaders' defense with 11 tackles per game. The All-State defender had 121 tackles (106 solo), three sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles as a senior.
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• LB – Xaiveon Gear (Seventy-First senior) − Xaiveon Gear's senior season was a conference championship earner for the Falcons. He accounted for 104 total tackles on the season, and sacked the quarterback eight times, for twelfth in the NCHSAA 6A class.
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• LB – Aydin Leonard (Cape Fear senior) − Leonard racked up 121 tackles, including 79 solo, and he added 16.5 tackles for loss and six sacks for 910Preps Defensive Player of the Year.
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• LB – Latrell Lynch (Terry Sanford senior) − Lynch finished his senior season as the Bulldogs' top tackler and placed fourth in the Tri-County conference with 102 on the season. He accounted for 4.5 sacks as well as earning first-team all-conference honors.
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• DB – Aahmad Carmichael (South View senior) − Carmichael did it all for the Tigers, but his defense was the key difference-maker for his team. He managed to gain 101 total tackles, four interceptions, and 10 pass deflections.
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• DB – Dwight Drew Jr. (Seventy-First senior) − After stepping up to a leading role in the Falcons' secondary, "DJ" picked off four passes on the season, and collected 42 tackles.
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• DB – Jaleel Parker (Jack Britt senior) − The Liberty signee capped off a solid high school career this season. Parker had 60 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions in his senior year.
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• DB – Izaiah Williams (Terry Sanford senior) − As one of the best ball hawks in the area, Williams snagged five interceptions to lead the Tri-County conference. He also recorded 92 tackles on the year.

• SECOND TEAM

  • DL – John Archer (Seventy-First junior)
  • DL – Mohamed Donzo (Trinity Christian sophomore)
  • DL – Geovanie Iglesias (South View freshman)
  • DL - Makijah Latiker (Trinity Christian senior)
  • LB – Tyrell Davis (South View senior)
  • LB – Camden Graham (Seventy-First senior)
  • LB – Cordell Hepburn (Seventy-First senior)
  • LB – Jaylin Jessup (Westover senior)
  • LB – Derrick Jones (Jack Britt senior)
  • DB – Jeremyah McLaurin (Jack Britt senior)
  • DB – A'zaylan Parish (Seventy-First senior)
  • DB – Emorrian Towns (Jack Britt senior)
  • DB – Ismael Vargas (Seventy-First senior)

  • Fayetteville Observer (James F. Moore Jr.)

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