2025 “All-North Carolina” College Football Team
(Offense)
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(last updated Feb. 3, 2026)
On Sunday evening, when the final game of the 2025-26 football season is played, Super Bowl LX will include a handful of key players who are products of the North Carolina high school football ranks.
The New England Patriots will have three such players just in their starting lineup: quarterback Drake Maye (Charlotte Myers Park), center Garrett Bradbury (Charlotte Christian) and defensive end Harold Landry III (Fayetteville Pine Forest).
The Seattle Seahawks will have one starter who fits the same description: linebacker Drake Thomas (Wake Forest Heritage).
Just as the North Carolina Sports Network celebrates those players’ presence on the sport’s biggest stage, we like to honor — once a year — the North Carolina high school products who are having the most outstanding college football careers, with an emphasis on their performance during the most recently completed season.
Throughout the 2025 college football campaign, NCSN contributors tracked the careers of more than 1,000 players — in every NCAA division — who were products of the North Carolina high school ranks.
This year’s “all-state” squad is led by college superstars such as All-Atlantic Coast Conference running backs Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and J’Mari Taylor (Virginia), All-Southeastern Conference wide receiver KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) and All-American Conference defensive linemen Santana Hopper (Tulane) and Zion Wilson (East Carolina).
Reflecting the nomadic nature of the modern game, Smothers (Texas), Hopper (Colorado) and Wilson (Virginia) will play for other schools during the 2026 season. Smothers (from Oklahoma), Taylor (from NC Central), Concepcion (from NC State) and Hopper (from Appalachian State) all had transferred into the schools they represented in 2025.
Below are NCSN’s 2025 “All-North Carolina” college football team honorees on offense, divided among our first-, second- and third-team selections, plus honorable mentions.
(For NCSN’s 2025 honorees on defense, please click HERE.)
Players from all NCAA conferences and divisions were eligible for this team, although there was a heavy focus on those competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) or the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), where programs offer more scholarships and, generally speaking, play against much higher-caliber competition than those in Division Two and especially Division Three (where athletic scholarships aren’t offered).
Each player is listed with his position, 2025 eligibility status (mostly seniors and juniors, with those who took a redshirt year also indicated as such), college team(s), athletic-based honors and North Carolina high school affiliation.
Reminder: Many in-state college stars attended out-of-state high schools. They are not eligible for this team, which is designed to both celebrate North Carolina’s high school football products and explore which college programs are doing the best jobs of signing and developing those in-state stars.
This 2025 “All-North Carolina” college football team was selected after consultation with college coaches, NFL scouts, media members and university media relations representatives.
NOTE: NCSN’s 2023 “All-North Carolina” college football team, led by Maye (who starred collegiately at UNC) and former NC State star linebacker Payton Wilson (Hillsborough Orange), can be found HERE. Our 2024 team, led by former UNC star running back Omarion Hampton (Clayton Cleveland) and former Georgia star linebacker Jalon Walker (Salisbury High), can be found HERE.
2025 “All-North Carolina” College Football Team*
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Alonza Barnett III, r-Jr., James Madison (UCF 2026)
2025 Sun Belt POY, 2024 HM All-Sun Belt, Greensboro Grimsley
RB: Hollywood Smothers, r-So., NC State (OU 2023/Texas 2026)
2025 1st-team All-ACC, West Charlotte
RB: J’Mari Taylor, r-Sr., Virginia (NCCU 2020-24)
2025 1st-team All-ACC, 2024 HBCU HM A-A, Charlotte West Mecklenburg
WR: KC Concepcion, Jr., Texas A&M (NCSU 2023-24)
2025 1st-team All-SEC (WR/AP/PR), 2023 All-ACC, 3-year starter, Charlotte Chambers
WR: Jordan Shipp, So., North Carolina
2025 HM All-ACC, starter, Charlotte Providence Day
TE: Benji Gosnell, r-Jr., Virginia Tech
3-year starter, Pilot Mountain East Surry
OT: Diego Pounds, r-Sr., Ole Miss (UNC 2021-23)
2025 3rd-team All-SEC, 3-year starter, Raleigh Millbrook
OG: Anthony Carter Jr., r-Sr., NC State
3-year starter, Matthews Butler
OC: Sam Pendleton, r-So., Tennessee (Notre Dame 2022-23)
2-year starter, Pfafftown Reagan
OG: Emmanuel Poku, r-Jr., East Carolina (South Carolina 2026)
2025 2nd-team All-AAC, 2-year starter, Charlotte Olympic
OT: Kendall Stanley, r-Jr., Pittsburgh (Charlotte 2022-24)
2024 HM All-AAC, 2-year starter, Mint Hill Rocky River
SP: Spencer Triplett, r-Sr., North Carolina
4-year starting long snapper, Shelby High
PK: Lucas Carneiro, r-Jr., Ole Miss (WKU 2022-24)
2025 All-SEC, 2x All-CUSA, 3-year starter, Davidson Community
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Byrum Brown, r-Jr., South Florida (Auburn 2026)
2025 2nd-team All-AAC, 3-year starter, Rolesville High
RB: Demon June, Fr., North Carolina
2025 starter as true freshman, Jacksonville High
RB: Evan Pryor, r-Jr., Cincinnati (OSU 2021-23/Florida 2026)
2025 starter for Bearcats, Cornelius Hough
WR: Jacob Gill, r-Sr., Iowa (Northwestern 2021-23)
2025 HM All-Big Ten, 2-year starter, Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons
WR: Noah Rogers, r-So., NC State (OSU 2023/Alabama 2026)
2-year starter, Rolesville High
TE: Johncarlos Miller II, r-Sr., Texas Tech (Elon 2021-23)
2023 1st-team All CAA, 2-year starter, Greensboro Dudley
OT: Carsten Canady, r-So., UConn (West Virginia 2026)
2-year starter, Rolesville High
OG: Caleb Carter, r-Sr., Michigan State (WCU 2020-24)
3-year starter, Jacksonville Southwest Onslow
OC: Jack Hollifield, r-Sr., Tulane (VT 2021-23/App State 2024)
2-year starter, 2024 2nd-team All-Sun Belt, Shelby High
OG: Panda Askew, r-Sr., East Carolina (Charlotte 2021-23)
3-year starter, Greenville Conley
OT: Trevor Tate, r-Jr., Air Force
2-year starter, Waxhaw Cuthbertson
SP: Ben Anderson, r-Jr., Oklahoma
2025/2024 2nd/3rd-team All-SEC long snapper, Charlotte Latin
PK: Ian Williams, r-Sr., Furman (NCSU 2020-21)
3x All-SoCon, 4-year starter, Matthews Weddington
THIRD-TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Jaylen Raynor, Jr., Arkansas State (Iowa State 2026)
2023 Sun Belt FOY, 3-year starter, Kernersville East Forsyth
RB: Kanye Roberts, r-Jr., Appalachian State
2023 HM All-Sun Belt (injured 2025), Teachey Wallace-Rose Hill
RB: Anderson Castle, r-Sr., Duke (App State 2020-24)
1,500-plus career rushing yards, 20 TDs, Boone Watauga
WR: Terrell Anderson, So., NC State (Southern Cal 2026)
2025 starter, Greensboro Grimsley
WR: Kobe Paysour, r-Sr., North Carolina
3-year starter, Kings Mountain High
TE: Jayvontay Conner, r-So., East Carolina (Ole Miss 2023/Vanderbilt 2026)
2025 starter, Kernersville East Forsyth
OT: Trevon Humphrey, r-Jr., NC Central (Boston College 2026)
2024/2025 HBCU All-American, 2x 1st-team All-MEAC, Greensboro Dudley
OG: Nick Sharpe, r-Sr., South Carolina (Wake 2021-24/Michigan State 2026)
2-year starter, Gastonia Huss
OC: Jonny King, r-Sr., Charlotte
3-year starter, Greensboro Southeast Guilford
OG: Sullivan Absher, r-So., Notre Dame
2025 starter, Belmont South Point
OT: JaQuan Adams, r-Sr., Tulsa (Monroe CC 2022/G-W 2023/ETSU 2024)
2023 2nd-team All-Big South, 4-year starter, Raleigh Sanderson
SP: Elijah Kennedy, r-Jr., North Carolina A&T
2025 2nd-team FCS All-American, High Point Central
PK: Noah Burnette, r-Sr., Notre Dame (UNC 2021-24)
2023 2nd-team All-ACC, 4-year starter, Raleigh Leesville Road
*—must have played for NC-based high school(s) to be eligible
HONORABLE MENTION
Quarterbacks: Amari Odom, r-So., Wofford/Kennesaw State/Syracuse (2025 1st-team All-CUSA for Owls), Cary Panther Creek; Skyler Locklear, r-Jr., Austin Peay/UTEP/Missouri State (2-year starter for Miners), Clayton Cleveland; Walker Harris, r-Sr., NC Central (2025/2024 1st/2nd-team All-MEAC, 2-year starter), Wake Forest Heritage; Braden Atkinson, Fr., Mercer/Oregon State (2025 2nd-team All-SoCon, FOY for Bears), Rolesville High; Camden Coleman, Jr., Richmond/JMU (2024 3rd-team All-CAA for Spiders), Winston-Salem Glenn.
Running Backs: Quasean Holmes, r-Sr., ASA/St. Francis-PA/Gardner-Webb (2025 1st-team All-Big South for Bulldogs), Charlotte Mallard Creek; Sincere Baines, Jr., UNCP/Maine/Western Kentucky (2025 3rd-team All-CAA for Black Bears, 3-year starter), Fayetteville Britt; Mari Adams, Sr., Davidson (2024/2023 1st-/2nd-team All-Pioneer, 3-year starter), Shelby Crest; Jackson Parrish, So., Barton/North Greenville (2025 1st-team All-Conference Carolinas for Bulldogs), Graham Southern Alamance; Nahjiir Seagraves, Jr., St. Andrews-NAIA/North Carolina Wesleyan (D3 All-American, USA South Offensive POY), Southern Pines Pinecrest; Xavier Pugh, r-So., Wingate (2025 1st-team All-SAC), Raleigh Millbrook; Jon Gullette, Jr., Mars Hill/Campbell (2025 1st-team All-SAC for Lions), Pfafftown Reagan.
Wide Receivers: Donavon Greene, r-Sr., Wake Forest/Virginia Tech (2022 HM All-ACC, 2-year starter for Demon Deacons), Mount Airy High; Wesley Grimes, Sr., Wake Forest/NC State (2025 starter for Wolfpack), Raleigh Millbrook; Shaleak Knotts, Sr., Maryland (2025 starter), Monroe High; Channing Goodwin, So., Michigan (2025 part-time starter), Charlotte Providence Day; Jasaiah Gathings, r-Sr., Akron/UConn/Buffalo (3-year starter, 2023 2nd-team All-MAC), Statesville High; Zion Booker, Jr., WCU/Tulsa/Kennesaw State (2-year starter), Charlotte Chambers; Elijah Metcalf, r-Sr., MTSU/Marshall/Southern Miss (2025 HM All-Sun Belt, 2023 2nd-team All-CUSA), Charlotte Mallard Creek; Bryson Canty, r-Sr., Columbia/Kansas (2x 1st-team All-Ivy, 2-year starter for Lions), Pfafftown Reagan; Reginald Vick Jr., r-Jr., Virginia Union/Wake Forest/Colorado State (2024 HBCU All-American, 1st-team All-CIAA for Panthers), Wendell East Wake; Dalton Stroman, r-Sr., App State (2025 starter), Rockingham Richmond; Jacquon Gibson, r-Jr., UMass/Virginia (2025 3rd-team All-MAC for Minutemen), Cornelius Hough; Sean Brown, r-Sr., UNCP/Charlotte (2-year starter for 49ers), Waxhaw Marvin Ridge; AJ Colombo, r-Jr., Western Carolina (2024 1st-team All-SoCon, injured 2025), Waxhaw Cuthbertson; Isaiah Dawson, r-Fr., Richmond/Bowling Green (2025 2nd-team All-Patriot for Spiders), Garner High; Jaylen Himes, Fr., Wingate/Southern Miss (2025 D2 A-A, 1st-team All-SAC for Bulldogs), Charlotte Providence Day; Deandre Proctor, r-Sr., St. Augustine’s/Johnson C Smith (2025 D2 A-A, 1st-team All-CIAA for Golden Bulls), Elizabeth City Northeastern; Brevin Caldwell, r-Sr., Johnson C Smith/Norfolk State (injured 2025, 2024 HBCU HM All-American, 1st-team All-CIAA, 3-year starter for Golden Bulls), Charlotte Independence; Eric Rasheed, r-So., Wittenberg/North Greenville/Portal (2025 1st-team All-Conference Carolinas), Hendersonville High; JaQuan Albright, r-Jr., Chowan/UNC Pembroke (2025 1st-team All-Conference Carolinas for Braves), Winston-Salem Mount Tabor; Isaiah Jacobs, Sr., Barton (2025 1st-team All-Conference Carolinas), Raleigh Enloe.
Tight Ends: Dakota Twitty, r-Sr., Virginia (2025 starter), Mooresboro Jefferson; Juice Vereen, r-So., NCSU/UConn/Colorado State (2025 part-time starter for Huskies), Havelock High; Jake Young, r-Jr., WCU/Charlotte/Western Carolina (2024 1st-team All-SoCon for Catamounts), Waxhaw Marvin Ridge; Carter Moses, r-Jr., Albany/Kansas (2025 2nd-team All-CAA, 2-year starter for Great Danes), Wilmington Hoggard; Jackson Blee, r-So., William & Mary (2025 3rd-team All-CAA), Belmont South Point; Caleb Lominac, r-Sr., UVa Wise/Mars Hill (2025 1st-team All-SAC for Lions), Weaverville North Buncombe.
Offensive Linemen: Mason Bowers, r-Sr., Coastal Carolina/Kennesaw State/Charlotte/Portal (2-year starter), High Point Central; Cam Nichols, r-So., Navy (2-year starter), Charlotte Providence Day; Markell Samuel, r-Sr., App State/Oklahoma State/Georgia Tech (2024 HM All-Sun Belt for Mountaineers), Fayetteville Smith; Jaleel Davis, r-Sr., NC State/Florida International (2025 starter for Panthers), Rockingham Richmond; Brady Wayburn, r-So, UConn/UCF (2025 starter for Huskies), Gastonia Forestview; David Sanders Jr., Fr., Tennessee (2025 part-time starter), Charlotte Providence Day; Xavier Jennings, r-Sr., Lenoir-Rhyne/Mercer (2025 1st-team All-SoCon, 2x All-SAC, 4-year starter for Bears), Lawndale Burns; Seth Williams, r-Jr., App State/Mercer (2025 1st-team All-SoCon for Bears), Statesville High; Kadin Lynch, r-Jr., William & Mary/Utah State (2025 2nd-team All-CAA, 3-year starter for Tribe), Asheville High; Timothy Hogan, r-Jr., Elon (2025 2nd-team All-CAA, 2-year starter), Raleigh Leesville Road; Korion Sharpe, r-Sr., North Carolina A&T (2025 3rd-team All-CAA, 3-year starter), Mint Hill Rocky River; Andrew Threatt, r-Jr., Navy/Gardner-Webb/Western Carolina (2025 2nd-team All-Big South for Bulldogs), Indian Trail Metrolina Christian; Aaron McIver, r-Jr., Gardner-Webb/Western Carolina (2025 2nd-team All-Big South for Bulldogs), Matthews Butler; Erwil Anthony Jr., Sr., Wingate/Liberty (2024 top OL in South Atlantic Conference), Kannapolis Brown; Benjamin Hicks, r-So., Fayetteville State/Austin Peay (2025 1st-team All-CIAA for Broncos), Durham Southern; Will Hart, r-Jr., Wingate (2025 1st-team All-SAC), Indian Trail Porter Ridge.
Kickers: Carson Smith, r-Sr., East Carolina/Austin Peay/Arizona State (2025 1st-team FCS A-A, UAC Specialist of the Year, 2025/2024 1st/2nd-team All-UAC for Governors), Belmont South Point; Todd Pelino, Sr., Duke (3-year starter), Concord Cannon; Nolan Hauser, So., Clemson (2-year starter, 2024 Freshman A-A), Cornelius Hough; Andrew Brown, r-Sr., North Carolina A&T (2025 2nd-team All-CAA, 4-year starter), Lexington West Davidson; Owen Zalc, Jr., Dartmouth (2024 Ivy League Special Teams POY, 2x 1st-team All-Ivy), Cary Green Hope; Matthew Dennis, r-Sr., Wake Forest (3-year starter), Charlotte Myers Park; Andrew Conrad, r-Jr., East Carolina (3-year starter), Kernersville East Forsyth; Laith Marjan, r-Sr., ECU/USA/Kansas (2024 2nd-team All-Sun Belt for Jaguars), Raleigh Enloe; Liam Boyd, r-Jr., Clemson/UNC/Charlotte/Michigan State (2025 starter for 49ers), Asheville High; Tripp Woody, r-Fr., Iowa/Syracuse (2025 starter for Orange), Charlotte Christian; Dawson Jones, So., Army (2025 starter), Waxhaw Marvin Ridge; Carl Hardin, r-So., Temple (2025 starter), Raleigh Broughton; Luke Barnes, So., Elon (2025 3rd-team All-CAA), Greensboro Grimsley.
