The Charlotte Observer’s 2023 high school football preview.
Welcome to the 2023 high school football season.
We’ve got your complete preview here, including previews — broken down by county — for all the NC teams in The Observer’s coverage area. Also get predictions for conference, all-county teams and more
Scroll down for more content
The 2023 All Observer Preseason Football Team
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Jadyn Davis, Providence, 6-1, 205, Sr., QB.
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Jaden Smith, West Charlotte, 6-3, 201, Sr., LB.
OFFENSE
QB: Jadyn Davis, Providence Day, 6-1, 205, Sr.
RB: Nate Crosby (Jr.), Monroe, 5-10, 190, Sr.
RB: Chris Daley, II, East Lincoln, 6-0, 185, Jr.
WR: Channing Goodwin, Providence Day, 6-2, 185, Sr.
WR: Jalen Harris, Hickory Ridge, 6-3, 180, Sr.
WR: Jordan Shipp, Providence Day, 6-2, 185, Sr.
TE: Jack Larsen, Charlotte Catholic, 6-4, 235, Sr.
OL: Eagan Boyer, Hough, 6-7, 260, Sr.
OL: Ethan Calloway, Lake Norman, 6-7, 300, Sr.
OL: Kai Greer, Marvin Ridge, 6-6, 290, Sr.
OL: Trent Mitchell, Ashbrook, 6-6, 290, Sr.
OL: Umar Rockhead, Mallard Creek, 6-5, 265, Sr.
OL: David Sanders, Providence Day, 6-6, 260, Jr.
ATH: Patrick Blee, South Point, 6-2, 205, So.
ATH: Micah Gilbert, Charlotte Christian, 6-3, 200, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL: Ian Coleman, Butler, 6-2, 220, Sr.
DL: Marcel Johnson, East Lincoln, 6-3, 250, Sr.
DL: D’Nas White, Jay M. Robinson, 6-6, 310, Sr.
DL: Bryce Young, Charlotte Christian, 6-6, 245, Sr.
LB: Cross Killen, Charlotte Christian, 5-11, 205, Sr.
LB: James Nesta, Hough, 6-4, 214, Sr.
LB: Tyquan Rankin, Butler, 5-10, 205, Sr.
LB: Jaden Smith, West Charlotte, 6-3, 201, Sr.
LB: Beady Waddell, West Mecklenburg, 6-0, 215, Sr.
DB: Brody Barnhardt, Providence, 6-0, 182, Sr.
DB: Keelan Flowe, Julius Chambers, 6-0, 160, Sr.
DB: Sam Neely, Weddington, 6-1, 180, Sr.
DB: Quentin Reddish, Independence, 6-4, 195, Sr.
DB: Jordan Young, Monroe, 6-0, 185, Jr.
ATH: Jaiden Spearman, Hough, 6-2, 190, Sr.
SPECIALISTS
K: Nolan Hauser, Hough, 6-1, 190, Sr.
P: Henry Forrest, Northwest Cabarrus, 6-0, 185, Sr.
LS: Grant Mills, Cannon School, 5-11, 195, Sr.
RET/SPEC: Chrystian Washington, 5-10, 155, Sr.
- Jay Edwards
Jay’s annual ‘All-Name’ team
Each year, as he is compiling team preview information, Observer correspondent Jay Edwards checks off his favorite player names for his All-Edwards team
OFFENSE
QB: Chance Cato, Olympic, 6-2, 180, So.
RB: Chaynce Ford, South Point, 6-0, 215, Jr.
RB: Mozes Morris, Lake Norman, 5-11, 185, So.
RB: Samaad Peoples, Porter Ridge, 5-11, 205, Sr.
WR: Je’rel Bolder, Forest Hills, 6-0, 190, Jr.
WR: Dequadre Currance, Butler, 5-10, 170, Jr.
WR: Jordan Shipp, Providence Day, 6-2, 185, Sr.
TE: Ford Phelan, Covenant Day, 5-10, 190,
OL: Barak Fuller, Harding, 6-3, 265, Sr.
OL: Gavin Major, Charlotte Christian, 6-4, 285, Sr.
OL: Power Mba, SouthLake Christian, 6-2, 260, So.
OL: Umar Rockhead, Mallard Creek, 6-5, 265, Sr.
OL: Cash Topinka, Providence, 6-3, 315, Sr.
ATH: Javien Robbs, Stuart Cramer, 6-3, 180, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL: King Caldwell, Julius Chambers, 6-0, 190, Jr.
DL: Banks Cutter, Charlotte Latin, 6-2, 200, So.
DL: Terrin Miranda, Northwest Cabarrus, 6-2, 250, So.
DL: Rayshaud Rowzee, South Iredell, 6-2, 210, Sr.
DL: D’Nas White, Jay M. Robinson, 6-6, 310, Sr.
LB: Cross Killen, Charlotte Christian, 5-11, 205, Sr.
LB: Peyton Rangel, Lincolnton, 5-11, 215, Jr.
LB: Jyron Tosi, Olympic, 6-1, 205, Jr.
LB: Beady Waddell, West Mecklenburg, 6-0, 215, Sr.
DB: Chancellor Bryant, Ardrey Kell, 6-0, 175, Sr.
DB: Keelan Flowe, Julius Chambers, 6-0, 160, Sr.
DB: Major Leak, Lake Norman Charter, 5-11, 150, Jr.
DB: Jayce Rowe, East Gaston, 5-8, 150, Jr.
ATH: Kar’mel Quick, Hough, 5-8, 160, Jr.
SPECIALISTS
K/P: Charlie Birtwistle, South Point, 5-11, 170, Sr.
KR/PR: Jaevion Carr, West Charlotte, 5-7, 155, Sr.
--JAY EDWARDS
Observer partners with Deer Park, plans coverage changes
Beginning today, The Observer will provide expanded coverage of high school football.
▪ First, in support of local youth sports, Deer Park has partnered with The Observer to provide expanded coverage of most of the newspaper’s high school football-related content.
▪ Each week, winners of The Observer’s high school football player of the week polls will receive a custom trophy, courtesy of Deer Park. The water company will also be a sponsor of the region’s oldest high school football poll, The Charlotte Observer Sweet 16.
In addition, The Observer and News & Observer of Raleigh will honor a North Carolina coach with a Deer Park statewide coach of the week award and story.
▪ Each week, fans will also be able to nominate teams for a Deer Park statewide team of the week, and the water company will award one team per classification each week. All winners will be entered in a team of the year vote held in December, and the yearly winners will receive a custom trophy and $500 donation to the school.
▪ The Observer is adding back South Carolina high schools in York and Lancaster counties to its coverage area. Those schools will be eligible to be included in the newspaper’s Sweet 16 polls, weekly awards and postseason all-star teams.
▪ The Observer is starting a new poll — the Carolinas Top 25 — that will rank the top 25 teams in North and South Carolina.
▪ Finally, The Observer will be covering a high school football game of the week, most weeks, in all of the counties in its revised coverage area in the greater Charlotte region: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Union and the combined York/Lancaster market.
Preseason Feature Stories
At West Meck, the two Beadys get ready for their final year together
New Charlotte Catholic coach hopes to keep tradition going
At East Lincoln, Mustangs begin season with lots of new faces, same state title dream
10 Burning Questions about the upcoming season
Who has the best HS football stadium in North Carolina
Meet the nation’s No. 1 player, David Sanders, ‘a great human being’
Meet Butler’s cerebral QB. Zach Lawrence’s got next
So West Charlotte’s KD Smith, a Power 5 DB recruit, playing full-time QB? To win.
Is East Lincoln’s Chris Daley the best running back in NC?
New Myers Park coach Chris James on why he plans to end the Mustangs run of new coaches
Big-city QB Brady Hibbard finds a home at Forest Hills High
In Cabarrus County, Hickory Ridge QB Caden Haywood plans deep playoff run
In Iredell County, son of Ohio State football player Caleb Edstrom has learned to be a leader
Preseason Rankings
Preseason NC statewide rankings by class
Preseason Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 poll
The Carolinas’ Top 25: the top 25 teams in North and South Carolina
County Previews
(Get previews for all teams, predictions, preseason all-county teams and preseason players of the year)
Mecklenburg County private schools
