This week, NC Football News has been unveiling its preseason Best In State top players for FCS football.
Seven teams play at the FCS level in North Carolina – Campbell, Davidson, Elon, Gardner-Webb, North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central and Western Carolina.
Earlier, we announced our MVPs:
- MVP offense: Narii Gaither (Gardner-Webb) and Davius Richard (NC Central)
- MVP offensive line: Mike Edwards (Campbell)
- MVP defense: Khalil Baker (NC Central)
- MVP defensive line: Ty French (Gardner-Webb)
- MVP special teams: Richard McCollum (Western Carolina)
Now we move on to our FCS all-state offense, defense and special teams units. We offer a first-team and an honorable mention list. Competition was tough for a number of spots. The state looks especially strong on the offensive line, running back and defensive back.
First Team Offense
- QB Davius Richard (NC Central)
- RB Narii Gaither (Gardner-Webb)
- RB Jalen Hampton (Elon)
- RB Latrell Collier (NC Central)
- WR Brennan McGuire (Gardner-Webb)
- WR Devin Smith (NC Central)
- WR Censere Lee (Western Carolina)
- TE Johncarlos Miller II (Elon)
- OL Mike Edwards (Campbell)
- OL Beck Kipperman (Davidson)
- OL Torricelli Simpkins (NC Central)
- OL Tairiq Stewart (NC A&T)
- OL Gilbert Deglau (Davidson)
First Team Defense
- DL Ty French (Gardner-Webb)
- DL Jonathan Hammond (Davidson)
- DL Jaden Taylor (NC Central)
- DL Micah Nelson (Western Carolina)
- LB William McRainey (Gardner-Webb)
- LB Antoine Williams (Western Carolina)
- LB Ty Anderson (Gardner-Webb)
- LB CJ Tillman (Campbell)
- DB Khalil Baker (NC Central)
- DB Raequan Ousley (Gardner-Webb)
- DB Karon Prunty (NC A&T)
- DB Bo Sanders (Elon)
First Team Specialists
- P Juan Velarde (NC Central)
- PK Richard McCollum (Western Carolina)
- KR Taymon Cooke (NC A&T)
- LS Jamie Wilson (Gardner-Webb)
Honorable Mention Offense
- QB Luke Durkin (Davidson)
- QB Hajj-Malik Williams (Campbell)
- RB Latrell Collier (NC Central)
- RB Wesley Graves (NC A&T)
- RB Desmond Reid (Western Carolina)
- RB NaQuari Rogers (Campbell)
- RB J’Mari Taylor (NC Central)
- WR Chandler Brayboy (Elon)
- WR Calvin Jones (Western Carolina)
- WR Quentin McCall (NC Central)
- WR Mark McCurdy (Davidson)
- WR Andrew Smith (NC Central)
- AP Aaron Maione (Davidson)
- TE Ajay Belanger (Western Carolina)
- OL Isaiah Burch (Campbell)
- OL Kevin Burkett (Elon)
- OL Christian Coultier (Western Carolina)
- OL Aaron Hopkins (Davidson)
- OL Tyler McLellan (Campbell)
- OL Cesar Minarro (NC A&T)
- OL Korion Sharpe (NC A&T)
- OL Tyler Smith (Western Carolina)
- OL Gabe Thompson (Gardner-Webb)
- OL Jabril Williams (Elon)
Honorable Mention Defense
- DL Charlie Jackson (Gardner-Webb)
- DL Cazeem Moore (Elon)
- DL Micah Nelson (Western Carolina)
- DL Marvin Pearson (Elon)
- DL Julian Rawlins (Davidson)
- DL Aaron Warren (Davidson)
- LB Jaki Brevard (NC Central)
- LB John Tessman (Davidson)
- DB Jamari Brown (Gardner-Webb)
- DB Kamari Brown (NC Central)
- DB Daniel Carter (Davidson)
- DB Jaidyn Denis (Elon)
- DB Andreas Keaton (Western Carolina)
- DB Manny Smith (NC Central)
- DB AJ Thomas (Gardner-Webb)
Honorable Mention Specialists
- PK Caleb Dowden (Campbell)
- PK Adrian Olivo (NC Central)
- PK Ian Sauter (Gardner-Webb)
- KR Amonte Jones (NC A&T)
- KR/AP Brandon Codrington (NC Central)
- LS Mykah Stone (NC Central)
- RS Chandler Brayboy (Elon)
