Introducing the inaugural Observer ‘Great 8’
Meet the inaugural Observer “Great 8.”
The newspaper’s high school sports staff picked the area’s top players by position - quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, linebacker, defensive back.
Seven players are featured in the photograph. Not photographed is Mallard Creek tight end Thaddeus Moss. Moss is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior who was part of Victory Christian’s state championship team last season. Moss, the son of former NFL All-Pro receiver Randy Moss, transferred to Mallard Creek after the school year ended. He has offers from more than 20 schools, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and N.C. State. He is a four-star national recruit.
The seven other players are also accomplished. Meet them below (also see more photos and videos at charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school)
QUARTERBACK:Austin Kendall, Cuthbertson
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
College choice: Oklahoma
Why him: A 4-star recruit (out of 5), Kendall is ranked No. 8 nationally at his position by ESPN. He led his team to the N.C. 3AA semifinals last season, throwing for 4,461 yards and 49 touchdowns. He rushed for 519 yards and nine more scores. Ranked No. 72 nationally among all players by Rivals.com.
RUNNING BACK: Moe Neal, Forestview
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
College choice: Syracuse
Why him: One of the state’s most dangerous open-field athletes, Neal averaged 7.4 yards per carry in 2014, running for 2,018 yards and 29 touchdowns. He caught 35 passes for 549 yards. He averaged 31 yards on kick returns and 24 on punt returns.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Taleni Suhren, Ardrey Kell
Height: 6-4
Weight: 281
College choice: Wake Forest
Why him: A three-star national recruit, Suhren had several ACC and SEC offers and was a big part of the 2014 Knights’ team that finished 9-4 and reached the second round of the N.C. 4AA playoffs.
WIDE RECEIVER: J.T. Cauthen, Cuthbertson
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
College choice: Undecided
Why him: The only junior on this list, Cauthen has more than a dozen college offers from schools in the ACC, SEC, the Big 10 and Conference USA. Ranked No. 3 overall among the N.C. junior class by ESPN, Cauthen caught 104 passes for 1,451 yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore when he was named to the 10th grade MaxPreps All-America team.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Julian Okwara, Ardrey Kell
Height: 6-4
Weight: 230
College choice: Notre Dame
Why him: A four-star national recruit, Okwara had 90 tackles and 10 sacks last season for the Knights, who finished 9-4. He also had two fumble recoveries. His older brother, Romeo, will be a senior on Notre Dame’s football team this season.
LINEBACKER: Josh Brown, Mallard Creek
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220
College choice: Florida State
Why him: A four-star national recruit, ESPN ranks Brown No. 17 at his position and he also plays defensive end. After helping Mallard Creek to its second straight state title in December, Brown continued to pile up college offers, eventually totaling 15.
DEFENSIVE BACK: Marquill Osborne, Hough
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
College choice: Tennessee
Why Him: Osborne had 48 tackles, nine pass breakups and three fumble recoveries last season. Ranked No. 98 nationally among all players by Rivals.com, which lists Osborne as a four-star recruit.
This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Introducing the inaugural Observer ‘Great 8’."