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- BEST IN STATE -

Announcing our ‘Best In State’ preseason top FCS players list

Talent across the board among state’s seven teams

A big part of North Carolina's football strength this season comes in the FCS ranks, where six teams posted winning records a year ago.

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:

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)

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