Football 
These HSOT All-State football selections will be back in Fall 2024
HighSchoolOT is back with more football preview coverage in the spring. Today, a quick recap of the current juniors, sophomores, and freshmen that made All-State.
Posted 2024-04-05T20:18:55+00:00 - Updated 2024-04-10T19:25:36+00:00
By Joel Bryant
Happy Friday! There are only 19 more Fridays until the first Friday Night Lights of the 2024 North Carolina high school football season. Throughout the month of April, we'll have some kind of football preview coverage released to HSOT Insiders each day.
This is a comprehensive list of every returning player this fall that has had a HighSchoolOT All-State team. Some made it in 2022, but most made it in 2023.
To see the full All-State teams with the graduating/graduated seniors, see the below links:
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
Returning Offense Selections
The following players are listed with their rising class year along with which year(s) they've been selected to HSOT's All-State Football Team and their stats from the 2023 season.
- QB: Braden Atkinson, Rolesville (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 254/349 passing (72.8%) 3,701 yds (264.4/game), 46 TDs, 4 INTs // 7 carries, 62 yds, 2 TDs
- QB: Bryce Baker, East Forsyth (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- UNC commit — 211/317 passing (66.6%) 3,082 yds. 39 TDs, 3 INTs // 36 carries, 233 yds, 3 TDs
- QB: Faizon Brandon, Grimsley (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 191/277 passing (69.0%) 3,026 yds (216.1/game), 36 TDs, 3 INTs // 85 carries, 528 yds, 9 TDs
- QB: Jackson Byrd, Cleveland (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 243/360 passing (67.5%) 3,624 yds (258.9/game), 37 TDs, 12 INTs // 60 carries, 417 yds, 11 TDs
- QB: Justin Little, Independence (senior) -- 2022 Honorable Mention & 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 164/246 passing (66.7%) 2,722 yds, 29 TDs, 6 INTs // 87 carries, 397 yds, 9 TDs
- QB/ATH: DeAndre Nance, Seventy-First (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 111/160 passing (69.4%) 1,639 yds (102.4/game), 20 TDs, 3 INTs // 166 carries, 1,691 yds (10.2/car, 105.7/game), 38 TDs
- QB: Brady Stober, Hickory (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 241/343 passing (70.3%) 3,933 yds (245.8/game), 47 TDs, 4 INTs // 36 carries, 125 yds, 2 TDs
- RB: Amareon Blue, Jordan (senior) -- 2022 Third Team & 2023 Third Team selection -- 208 carries, 1,977 yds (9.5/car, 164.8/game), 34 TDs // 9 receptions, 92 yds, 2 TDs // (defense) 13 tackles, 1 PD, 1 FR
- RB: Irving Brown, Wallace-Rose Hill (senior) -- 2022 Honorable Mention selection -- 182 carries, 1,696 yds (9.3/car, 141.3/game), 23 TDs // 12 receptions, 232 yds, 3 TDs // (special teams) 1 KOR TD
- RB: Jayden Jones, Independence (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 181 carries, 1,830 yds (10.1/car, 152.5/game) 19 TDs // 9 receptions, 132 yds, 2 TDs // (special teams) 1 KOR TD
- RB: Isaiah Lackey, Hickory RB (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 307 carries, 1,910 yds (6.2/car, 119.4/game), 36 TDs // 16 receptions, 265 yds, 0 TDs
- RB: Jamal Rule, Salisbury RB (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 274 carries, 2,712 yds (9.9/car, 208.6/game) 36 TDs // 10 receptions, 236 yds, 3 TDs
- RB: Mitchell Summers, Grimsley (senior) -- 2022 Honorable Mention & 2023 Third Team selection -- 238 carries, 2,100 yds (8.8/car, 150.0/game), 42 TDs // 8 receptions, 61 yds
- RB: De'Von Thomas, Rolesville (senior) -- 2023 First Team selection -- 211 carries, 2,308 yds (10.9/car, 164.9/game), 25 TDs // 7 receptions, 165 yds, 4 TDs
- RB: Jason Willis Jr., Bunker Hill (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 251 carries, 2,224 yds (8.9/car, 171.1/game) 34 TDs // 11 receptions, 161 yds, 1 TD // 1/1 passing, 50 yds, 0 TDs // (defense) 33 tackles (2.5/game) // (special teams) 1 PR TD
- WR: Jaedon Alford, Rolesville (senior) -- 2023 First Team selection -- 92 receptions, 1,815 yds (19.7/rec, 129.6/game), 21 TDs
- WR: C.J. Neely, Dudley (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 55 receptions, 1,164 yds (21.2/rec, 77.6/game), 15 TDs
- WR: Ashawd Wynn, Hough (senior transfer) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 94 receptions, 1,823 yds (19.4/rec, 165.7/game), 18 TDs at 1A Hobbton last year
- TE: De'Angelo Hall, Olympic (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 36 receptions, 672 yds (18.7/rec, 96.0/game), 3 TDs // 5 carries, 12 yds, 1 TD
- TE: Kendre Harrison, Reidsville (junior) -- 2022 Honorable Mention Defense & 2023 First Team Offense selection -- 62 receptions, 930 yds (15.0/rec, 62.0/game), 16 TDs // (defense) 70 tackles (5.0/game) 17 TFL, 8 sacks, 30 QBH, 7 PD, 1 FR, 2 FF
- TE: Gus Ritchey, Northwood (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- NC State commit — 39 receptions, 845 yds (21.7/rec, 76.8/game), 9 TDs // 9 carries, 39 yds, 0 TDs // 1/1 passing, 11 yds
- OL: Trey Blue, Cary (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- UNC commit
- OL: Tai Buster, A.L. Brown (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- Auburn commit
- OL: P.J. Dean, West Forsyth (junior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- Top 100 player in the class of 2026
- OL: Leo Delaney, Providence Day (junior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- Top 100 player in the class of 2026
- OL: Michael Gibbs, Hoggard LT (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- Multiple P5 offers
- OL: Isaiah Locklear, Scotland OL (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection --
- OL: Gavin Marks, Rolesville OL (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- FBS offers
- OL: Kiande Marsh, Hough C (senior) -- 2023 First Team selection --
- OL: Jimmy Randazzo, Weddington OL (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- FBS offers
- OL: Ekene Ogboko, South Garner (junior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- Top 100 player in the class of 2026
- OL: David Sanders, Providence Day (senior) -- 2022 First Team & 2023 First Team selection -- ranked as high as the No. 2 class of 2025 prospect in the nation, Sanders will far and away be the best high school football player in North Carolina this fall.
- OL: Jack Sheehan, Cardinal Gibbons (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- FBS offers
Returning Defense Selections
The following players are listed with their rising class year along with which year(s) they've been selected to HSOT's All-State Football Team and their stats from the 2023 season.
- DL: John Archer, Seventy-First (sophomore) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 82 tackles (5.9/game) 29 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FR
- DL: Hector Bautista, Seventy-First (senior) -- 2022 Honorable Mention selection -- Bautista missed much of the 2023 season with an injury. He was credited with over 50 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, and a blocked punt in 2022.
- DL: Christopher Bispham, Havelock DL (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 106 tackles (7.6/game) 36 TFL, 15 sacks
- DL: Isaiah Campbell, Southern Durham (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- Clemson commit — 124 tackles (10.0/game) 27 TFL, 16 sacks, 36 QBH, 1 FR, 2 FF
- DL: Noah Clark, Jordan DL (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 57 tackles (5.7/game), 9 TFL, 1 sack, 2 FF, 1 blocked punt, 1 blocked kick
- DL: Bryce Davis, Grimsley (senior) -- 2022 Third Team selection -- Davis was sidelined for much of the 2023 season. The high 4-star prospect could be the state's best defensive player when healthy.
- DL: Jadyn Farmer, Butler (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 64 tackles (4.6/game), 20 TFL, 3 sacks, 11 QBH, 2 FF, 1 blocked field goal
- DL: Aiden Harris, Weddington (junior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 97 tackles (6.5/game), 23 TFL, 6 sacks, 8 PD, 2 FF, 1 blocked punt
- DL: Drew Harris, Weddington (junior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 112 tackles (7.0/game), 27 TFL, 10 sacks, 7 PD, 1 FR
- DL: D.J. Joyce, Mount Airy (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 95 tackles (5.9/game), 37 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 4 FF, 4 FR
- DL: Jordan Ratliff, Dudley (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 89 tackles (5.9/game), 31 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble
- EDGE: Elijah Littlejohn, West Charlotte (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 86 tackles (7.2/game) 33 TFL, 12 sacks, 18 QBH, 1 PD, 3 FF
- LB: Dontario Austin, South View (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 153 tackles (13.9/game), 19 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PD, 3 FR, 1 FF
- LB: Kendric Davis, Palisades (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection --119 tackles (11.9/game), 10 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 INT, 4 PD, 6 FF
- LB: Thomas Davis Jr., Weddington (junior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 92 tackles (5.8/game), 13.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 8 PD, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 FR TD
- LB: Rylan Edwards, Hoggard (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 148 tackles (9.3/game), 14.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 5 INTs, 1 PD, 2 FF, 1 FR
- LB: Jamari Farmer, Mooresville (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 130 tackles (10.8/game), 26 TFL, 8 sacks, 1 INT, 2 PD, 1 FF, 1 INT TD
- LB: Donavan Frederick, Seventy-First (senior) -- 2023 First Team selectin -- 175 tackles (10.9/game), 48 TFL, 6 sacks, 2 PD, 2 FF, 1 FR // (offense) 151 carries, 1,634 yards (10.8/car, 102.1/game), 10 TDs
- LB: Jackson Forrest, Northwest Cabarrus (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 147 tackles (12.3/game), 40 TFL, 18 sacks, 7 FF, 2 FR
- LB: Sawyer Lowe, Cleveland (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 145 solo tackles (11.2/game), 33 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 INTs, 3 FF, 3 FR, 1 INT TD
- LB: O'Maurie Phillips, Farmville Central (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 108 tackles (9.0/game) 17 TFL, 12.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 3 PD, 3 FR, 2 FF, 1 TD FR TD, 1 INT TD, 1 blocked field goal // (offense) 10 receptions, 310 yds, 5 TDs
- DB: JaDon Blair, Mount Tabor (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 57 tackles (4.4/game), 3 TFL, 4 INTs, 1 FR, 1 FF, 1 INT TD
- DB: Kamar Fulton, Hoggard (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 63 tackles (3.9/game), 2 TFL, 8 INTs, 9 PD, 5 FF, 1 INT TD
- DB: A.J. Graham, Mooresville (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 35 tackles (2.9/game), 3 TFL, 4 INTs, 5 PDs, 1 INT TD
- DB: Currine Henry, New Bern (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 17 tackles (1.7/game), 8 INTs, 7 PD, 1 FF, 1 INT TD
- DB: Jamari Hill, Fike (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 120 tackles (9.2/game) 17 TFL, 4 sacks, 4 INTs, 12 PD, 1 FF, 1 blocked punt // (offense) 46 carries, 370 yds, 3 TDs
- DB: Samari Matthews, Hough (junior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 25 tackles (2.5/game) 1 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PD
- DB: Dionte Neal, Reidsville (junior) -- 2022 Second Team selection -- 13 tackles (1.6/game) 3 INT, 8 PD, 1 FF
- DB: Khimani Nolan, Havelock (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 78 tackles (5.6/game) 1 TFL, 9 INT, 5 PD, 2 FR, 1 INT TD, 1 blocked field goal
- DB: Braylon Peebles, Cardinal Gibbons (junior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 169 tackles (11.3/game), 5 TFL, 1 sack, 3 INTs, 8 PD, 3 FR, 5 FF, 1 FR TD, 1 INT TD // (special teams) 1 PR TD
- DB: Nicholas Reddish, Independence (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 95 tackles (6.3/game), 3 TFL, 4 INTs, 10 PD, 4 FR, 2 FF, 1 INT TD
- DB: Cairo Skanes, Providence Day (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 83 tackles (6.4/game) 3 TFL, 6 INT, 5 PD, 1 FR
Returning Two-Way Selections
The following players are listed with their rising class year along with which year(s) they've been selected to HSOT's All-State Football Team and their stats from the 2023 season.
- WR/DB: Brandon Albert, CSD (senior) -- 2023 First Team selection -- (offense) 183 carries, 1,195 yds, 20 TDs // 95 receptions, 1,012 yds, 12 TDs // (defense) 96 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INTs
- WR/DB/RET: Koredell Bartley, Dudley (senior) -- 2022 First Team Special Teams & 2023 First Team Two-Way -- (offense) 59 receptions, 1,013 yds (17.2/rec, 67.5/game). 11 TDs // 11 carries, 128 yds, 4 TDs // (defense) 59 tackles, 5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 pass breakup, once FF // (special teams) 3 PR TDs, 1 KOR TD
- WR/DB: Tyshaun Goldston, Randleman (senior) -- 2023 First Team selection -- (offense) 52 receptions, 1,296 yds (24.4/rec, 105.8/game), 18 TDs // 7 carries, 73 yds, 2 TDs // (defense) 21 tackles, 6 INTs, 10 PD, 1 FR // (special teams) 21 punts, 36.9 avg
- QB/DB: Maddox Greene, Watauga (senior) -- 2023 First Team selection -- (offense) 89/132 passing (67.4%), 1,875 yds (144.2/game), 23 TDs, 4 INTs // 152 carries, 1,364 yds (9.0/car, 104.9/game) 18 TDs // (defense) 31 tackles (2.4/game), 2 INTs, 1 FR
- WR/DB: Stephen Keener, East Surry (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- (offense) 52 receptions, 1,000 yds (19.2/rec, 83.3/game) 10 TDs // 8 carries, 60 yds, 1 TD // 1/1 passing, 22 yds, 1 TD // (defense) 38 tackles (3.2/game) 2 TFL, 0 sacks, 1 INT, 7 PD
- WR/DB: Jamien Little, Hickory (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- Wake Forest commit — (offense) 70 receptions, 1,372 yds, 20 TDs // 3 carries, 87 yds // (defense) 23 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 PD, 2 INT TDs
- WR/DB: Blake McClellan, East Rutherford (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- (offense) 49 receptions, 776 yds, 9 TDs // 58 carries, 247 yds, 14 TDs // (defense) 73 tackles (6.6/game) 13 TFL, 3 INTs, 15 PD, 6 FF
- RB/DB: Kamerin McDowell-Moore, Tarboro (junior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- (offense) 128 carries, 1,146 yds, 23 TDs // 7 receptions, 124 yds, 3 TDs // (defense) 85 tackles (6.1/game) 9.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INTs, 2 PD, 1 FR, 3 FF, 1 INT TD
- WR/DB Steven Murray, Eastern Guilford (senior) -- 2022 Honorable Mention & 2023 Second Team selection -- (offense) 55 receptions, 935 yds, 16 TDs // (defense) 32 tackles, 5 INTs, 8 PD // (special teams) 1 KOR TD
- WR/DB: Nasir Newkirk, Dudley (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- (offense) 51 receptions, 1,123 yds (22.0/rec, 74.9/game), 16 TDs // (defense) 66 tackles, 2 TFL, 7 PD, 1 FR
- WR/DB: Hampton Roderick, Laney (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- (offense) 82 receptions, 1,401 yds (17.1/rec, 107.8/game) 10 TDs // (defense) 22 tackles, 3 INTs, 4 PD, 2 INT TDs
- WR/DB: Ivion Smith, New Bern (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- (offense) 43 receptions, 709 yds, 5 TDs // (defense) 29 tackles (2.2/game), 6 INTs, 6 PD, 1 FR, 2 INT TDs // (special teams) 1 KOR TD
- WR/DB: Jordan Young, Monroe (senior) -- 2022 Second Team & 2023 First Team selection -- (offense) 34 receptions, 812 yds, 8 TDs // (defense) 66 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 interception, 3 PD, 4 FF, 5 FR, 4 FR TDs, 1 blocked punt, 1 blocked field goal PBU, 2 BLK PN
Returning Special Teams Selections
The following players are listed with their rising class year along with which year(s) they've been selected to HSOT's All-State Football Team and their stats from the 2023 season.
- RET: Hezekiah Adams, West Bladen (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 2 PR TDs, 2 KOR TDs // (offense) 16/26 passing, 244 yds (24.4/game), 3/2 TD/INTs; 29 car, 124 yds, 3 TDs; 19 rec, 421 yds (22.2/rec, 42.1/game), 4 TDs // (defense) 35 tackles, 3 INTs
- LS: Jack Baade, Charlotte Catholic (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- No. 7 long snapper in national 2025, No. 1 in NC
- RET: DeQuandre Currence, Butler (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 3 PR TDs // (offense) 36 car, 249 yds, 3 TDs // 48 rec, 689 yds (14.4/rec, 53.0/game), 8 TDs
- K: David Green, High Point Christian (junior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 6/8 FGs, long 51, 46/46 PATs; 46/66 touchbacks (69.7%)
- K: Wyatt Jackson, New Bern (senior) -- 2023 Second Team selection -- 6/9 FGs, long 54, 44/46 PATs; 26/54 touchbacks (48.1%)
- K/P: Lyric Kopera, Independence (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 33 punts, 36.0 avg, 8 inside 20; 4/9 FGs, long 42, 67/74 PATs; 11/27 touchbacks (40.7%)
- K/P: Drew Levy, South Garner (senior) -- 2023 First Team selection -- 11/15 FGs, long 49, 25/28 PATs; 15 punts, 43.7 avg, 9 inside 20; 13/49 touchbacks (26.5%)
- RET: Tylik Mitchell, Southern Nash (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 2 PR TDs // (offense) 126 carries, 1,568 yds (12.4/car, 142.5/game) 19 TDs // 5 receptions, 68 yds, 4 TDs
- RET: Shamarius Peterkin, Mount Tabor (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 1 PR TD, 1 KOR TD // (offense) 43 rec, 824 yds (19.6/rec, 63.4/game), 12 TDs
- P: Mason Richards, Mooresville (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection --: 33 punts, 41.4 avg, 1 inside 20
- K: Francisco Rodriguez, Cape Fear (junior) -- 2023 First Team selection -- 14/16 FGs, long 47, 33/34 PATs; 6/28 touchbacks (21.4%)
- RET: Brian Rowe, Jay M. Robinson (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 3 PR TDs // (offense) 3 carries, 33 yds // 50 receptions, 1,063 yds (21.3/rec, 81.8/game) 15 TDs
- K: Joshua Sandoval, West Henderson (senior) -- 2023 Third Team selection -- 6/6 FGs, long 36, 63/73 PATs; 60/89 touchbacks (67.4%)
- ST: Jack Smith, Pine Lake Prep (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 2 blocked punts, 3 blocked field goals // (defense) 64 tackles (5.8/game) 23.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 3 PD, 3 FR, 3 FF
- RET: Braylon Stewart, Middle Creek (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 2 KOR TDs // (offense) 71 receptions, 1,186 yds (16.7/rec, 107.8/game), 16 TDs
- RET: Xayden Watson, Trinity Christian (senior) -- 2023 Honorable Mention selection -- 2 PR TDs, 1 KOR TDs // (offense) 15 car, 141 yds (9.4/car, 17.6/game), 4 TDs; 17 rec, 253 yds (14.9/rec, 31.6/game), 5 TDs // (defense) 15 tackles, 6 INTs, 2 INT TDs
This is a preview of our insider content. For more content, consider becoming a HSOT Insider.
