GREENVILLE, S.C. – For the first time in 51 years, Conference Carolinas will sponsor football as the league announced the 2025 preseason poll prior to the start of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Football Media Days. North Greenville University and UNC Pembroke were picked tied atop the poll with 32 apiece.
The Braves received four first place votes in the poll while North Greenville received the final three first place votes to tie for the top spot as preseason favorites.
Shorter University was picked third with 26 points while Barton College came in fourth with 22 points. Chowan University followed with 18 points while Erskine College and Ferrum College rounded out the poll with 11 and six points, respectively.
The last Conference Carolinas football season was completed in the fall of 1974. The first league contest this year pits Barton at North Greenville on September 13 at 7:00 p.m.
The 2025 Conference Carolinas Football Championship is scheduled for Saturday, November 15. The regular season champion will host the game.
The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches and they can't vote for their own school.
2025 Conference Carolinas
Football Preseason Poll
|
School |
Total (First Place) |
| T1 |
UNC Pembroke |
32 (4) |
| T1 |
North Greenville |
32 (3) |
| 3 |
Shorter |
26 |
| 4 |
Barton |
22 |
| 5 |
Chowan |
18 |
| 6 |
Erskine |
11 |
| 7 |
Ferrum |
6 |
2025 Conference Carolinas Football
Players to Watch
Barton
- Joshua Hightower, So., DL, Smithfield, North Carolina
- Keno Jones, Jr., LB, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
- Jackson Parrish, So., RB, Graham, North Carolina (2024 All-SAC Piedmont Division)
Chowan
- Malique Frazier, Sr., WR, Macon, Georgia
- Cameron Richardson, Jr., LB, Wake Forest, North Carolina
- Maurice Smith Jr., Sr., QB, Fort Pierce, Florida
Erskine
- Rodshaun Dorsey, r-So., WR, Andrews, South Carolina
- Josiah Burson, So., WR, Sumter, South Carolina
- Garrick Schwartz, r-Sr., DL, Daytona Beach, Florida
Ferrum
- Jaylen Lee, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount, Virginia (2024 All-ODAC second team)
- Ian Ashworth, Sr., DB, Galax, Virginia (2024 All-ODAC third team)
- William Hutton, So., P, Glade Spring, Virginia (2024 All-ODAC first team 2024, 2024 D3football.com All-Region second team)
UNC Pembroke
- Evan VanMeter, Sr., LB, Lexington, North Carolina (All-MEC first team)
- Jahari Clemmons, Jr., DL, Gainesville, Florida
- Hunter Turner, R-Jr., OL, Gaffney, South Carolina (All-MEC honorable mention)
North Greenville
- Jerrick Foster, Sr., DB, Fort Mill, South Carolina (2024 All-GSC first team utility, 2024 All-GSC second team defensive back, 2023 All-GSC second team utility)
- Dakota Willard, r-Jr., DL, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (2024 All-GSC second team)
- Dylan Ramirez, Sr., QB, Cowpens, South Carolina (2024 All-GSC second team)
Shorter
- Jahseim Henry, Sr., DE, Brooklyn, New York
- Jacory Wright, So., OL, Americus, Georgia
- Kobe Butts, Sr., LB, Macon, Georgia