One of the short-horned / slant-faced grasshoppers, these include "toothpick" grasshoppers. I'm still narrowing this ID down.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/8013/bgimage

^Cattail Toothpick Grasshopper linked to above is similar and widespread

http://www.jeffpippen.com/naturephotos/grasshoppers.htm

^link shows the Cattail grasshopper complete with the same wing-tip patterning, and is from the Carolinas (top 3 images).

Very interesting insect, thanks for posting.

I believe your Cattail grasshopper ID is correct. Interesting for sure! Would have never thought it was in the grasshopper family. Thanks!

The large and powerful hind leg in the top image is distinctive of grasshoppers. The antennae and eyes would certainly throw one off. Fortunately, bugguide includes common names in their taxonomy lists, and "short-horned" reduced the number of images to look through considerably.