Rosters announced for NC East-West All-Star Football Game, Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas

The stage is set for two of North Carolina’s most storied high school football traditions — the East-West All-Star Game in Greensboro and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas in Spartanburg, S.C.

Both games will be played in late December after the conclusion of the 2025 prep season and will feature many of the state’s top senior players and coaches, highlighting the best talent from across the Old North State.

🌟 East-West All-Star Football Game

📍 Jamieson Stadium, Grimsley High School | Greensboro
🗓️ Saturday, Dec. 21, 2025 | Kickoff 1 p.m.

🧑‍🏫 Coaches – East Squad (Class of 2026)

• Jason Battle, Rocky Mount – Head Coach
• Will Bland (J.H. Rose)
• Pat Byrd (Jacksonville)
• Scott Loosemore (Fairmont)
• Ben Penny (Triton)
• Johnathan Sherman (Gray’s Creek)

🧑‍🏫 Coaches – West Squad (Class of 2026)

• J.K. Adkins, Freedom – Head Coach
• Ryan Habich (Watauga)
• Brian Hinson (West Cabarrus)
• Sherman Holt (Swain County)
• Jonathan Oliphant (Lake Norman)
• Joey Rigsbee (Grimsley)

🏈 Players – East All-Stars (Selected Seniors)

• Dequan Anthony (Gray’s Creek)
• Yondez Baker (Jacksonville)
• Jaylen Battle (Sanderson)
• Javonte Brooks (Jack Britt)
• TaeShon Byrd (Overhills)
• Weston Chalk (Hoggard)
• Alexander Chapman-Evans (Enloe)
• Shawn Davis (East Duplin)
• Taquan Ellerbe Jr. (Red Springs)
• Luke Faulkner (Southern Nash)
• Chase Felton (Farmville Central)
• River Fiore (Clayton)
• Francisco Garcia-Rodriguez (Cape Fear)
• Jackson Henry (Jacksonville)
• Donovan Hicks (Cleveland)
• Zaevon Hutchinson (Seventy-First)
• Micahis Jones (Rocky Mount)
• Jaylen King (Cleveland)
• Jonte’ Langley (Holmes)
• Kamarion McBryde (Red Springs)
• Jaden McClary (Goldsboro)
• Terrance McCormick (New Bern)
• Tavoris Parker (Rocky Mount)
• Zy’King Pattillo (Havelock)
• Logan Pulley (Rolesville)
• Zeek Reed (Gray’s Creek)
• Riley Robinson (Croatan)
• Geronimo Sanchez (Cape Fear)
• Jaylen Starks (Hillside)
• Taylon Tranel (Union Pines)
• Kameron Vandiford (Greene Central)
• Jayden Whitaker (Nash Central)
• Tyjurian White (Scotland)
• Markus Williams (Sanderson)
• Donovan Willis (Tarboro)
• Zion Wright (New Bern)

🏈 Players – West All-Stars (Selected Seniors)

• Nate Akers (West Stokes)
• Amare Akers (Northern Guilford)
• Aiden Black (Jay M. Robinson)
• Ben Boulware (Oak Grove)
• Jordan Cleaves (Mooresville)
• Hudson Cooper (Grimsley)
• Chance Crews (Northern Guilford)
• Kaden Davis (Freedom)
• Jeremiah Deese (Northeast Guilford)
• Ethan Driver (Davie County)
• Eisa Evans (Reagan)
• Eli Fulcher (Oak Grove)
• Gary Gabriel (Hickory)
• Gavin Gibson (Independence)
• Zeke Glaspie (Swain County)
• Jaylen Glover (Lake Norman)
• Janthony Gooden (Murphy)
• Leo Housel-Rajacich (Reagan)
• Sam Johnson (West Charlotte)
• Cade Keller (Watauga)
• Rob Lange (Northwest Guilford)
• Brady Lidenmuth (Watauga)
• Robert McCollum (Dudley)
• Kyrie Millner (Grimsley)
• Mozes Morris (West Forsyth)
• Xavier Porter (West Charlotte)
• Calvin Ramseur (Shelby)
• Drew Scaggs (Swain County)
• Bubba Sims (Williams)
• Adrian Solomon Jr. (East Forsyth)
• Rashad Swinton (Hickory)
• Aaryn Tate (Northeast Guilford)
• Joshua Terry (Statesville)
• Dominique Tshiboyi (East Forsyth)
• Jamaare Williams (Palisades)
• Andrew Wright (South Point)

🏟️ About the East-West All-Star Games

Founded in 1949 by Grimsley coach Bob Jamieson and Greensboro Daily News sports editor Smith Barrier, the East-West Games were originally designed to help fund the North Carolina Coaches Association Clinic. The football edition now showcases top graduates from each half of the state. Traditionally played in July, the event moved to December in 2023, a week after the NCHSAA championships conclude.

🔔 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas

📍 Viking Stadium, Spartanburg High School | Spartanburg, S.C.
🗓️ Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025 | Kickoff 1 p.m.

The 89th annual Shrine Bowl brings together 44 of the top seniors from North Carolina and 44 from South Carolina in the nation’s oldest high school all-star game.
Proceeds benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.

🧑‍🏫 North Carolina Coaching Staff

• Jeff Craddock, Tarboro – Head Coach (8 state titles)
• Andrew Harding (Tarboro DC) – Assistant
• Paul Cornwell (Pitt County Schools)
• Duran McLaurin (Seventy-First)
• Greg Lloyd (Crest)
• Earl Bates (Southeast Guilford)
• Rodney Pruett (Erwin)

🏈 Selected North Carolina Players

• Quarterbacks: Jacob Smith (Reagan), Brody Norman (Mooresville)
• Running Backs: Kamerin McDowell-Moore (Tarboro), Jayson Franklin (Seventy-First), Noah Terry (Cardinal Gibbons)
• Receivers: Donte Nicholson (West Charlotte), Brody Keefe (Myers Park), Aiden Smalls (Clayton), Brennan Chambers (Kinston), Devin Golston (Leesville Road), Gavin Waddell (Rolesville)
• Tight Ends: Gavin Barber (Mooresville), DJ Howerton (Grimsley)
• Offensive Line: Nick Kashubara (Grimsley), Steven Stevenson (East Forsyth), Harry Simpson (Reagan), Adrian McCloud (West Forsyth), Donovan Johnson (Pine Forest), Keith Foster (West Forsyth), Micah Martin (Southeast Guilford)
• Defensive Line: Christopher Bispham (Havelock), Manny Lewis (Marvin Ridge), Noah Clark (Jordan), KeShawn Stancil (Clayton), DaMaad Lewis (Myers Park), Miles Funderburk (Weddington)
• Linebackers: Caleb Gordon (Ashbrook), Jayden Williams (Clinton), Dallas Brannon (Independence), Cason Jones (Mountain Heritage), Terande Spencer (Richmond), Tyler Powell (Tarboro), Dorrian Medley (Hickory), Jaleel Parker (Jack Britt)
• Defensive Backs: Ricky Myers (Independence), K.D. Cotton (Weddington), K.J. Bynes (Palisades), D’Various Surratt (Crest), Lyrik Pettis (Crest), Maddox McDowell (Garner)
• Athletes: Dionte Neal (Reidsville), Braylon Peebles (Cardinal Gibbons)
• Specialists: Will Doll (Hunt), Brett Morgan (Shelby)

🏆 Tradition & Purpose

Founded in 1937, the Shrine Bowl is the nation’s oldest high school all-star game. It draws college scouts, media, and fans from across both states while raising awareness and funding for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

🗓️ December All-Star Game Weekend at a Glance