East Lincoln’s Chazz Surratt named AP’s NC offensive player of year

East Lincoln quarterback Chazz Surratt and Wake Forest defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are The Associated Press high school football players of the year for North Carolina.

Surratt, a senior committed to North Carolina, earned 10 votes as offensive player of the year from 18 high school writers and editors across the state in results released Thursday. Lawrence, a senior committed to Clemson, received 14 of 17 votes cast for defensive player of the year.

Both players headlined the AP all-state high shcool football team for North Carolina released this week, and they joined AP Coach of the Year Mike Palmieri of Mallard Creek as individual award winners.

This was the first year The AP named offensive and defensive players of the year for North Carolina.

Surratt, the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year, made the AP all-state football team the past two seasons and was runner-up for AP Player of the Year to Lake Norman quarterback Josh Ladowski last year. He also made the AP all-state basketball team in the spring.

Surratt threw for 3,536 yards and 51 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. He also ran for 1,345 yards and 15 more scores, though he dislocated his left elbow during the second round of the state playoffs against Wilkes Central.

Surratt led East Lincoln, the reigning 2AA champion, to 29 straight wins. He returned in the next game after his injury for spot duty to break the state record for total offense – he needed 8 yards and threw touch or underhanded passes with his right hand to get the mark – held by former Independence quarterback and three-time state champion Chris Leak.

Surratt also broke Leak’s state record for career touchdown responsibility.

“He’s probably been the best quarterback to come through North Carolina in high school, so it’s definitely special to me and a tribute to the kind of teammates I’ve had,” Surratt said of Leak. “It’s definitely an honor to be right up there with him.”

Surratt, a Rivals.com four-star prospect, plans to enroll at North Carolina in January as he continues to rehab his elbow injury.

On the defensive side, Lawrence, who is 6-foot-4 and 325 pounds, made 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks despite sitting in the second half of many games because of lopsided scores.

Wake Forest High coach Reggie Lucas credited defensive line coach Blake Brooks for Lawrence’s development as he started every game during his four-year varsity career.

Lawrence was a five-star prospect who ranked No. 2 nationally by Rivals.com, No. 3 nationally by 247sports.com and No. 4 nationally by Scout.com. He chose Clemson over Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, N.C. State and North Carolina.

“With his size and quickness, he’s just been a true leader for our team as well,” Lucas said. “He’s a complete player on and off the field. He carries himself well, but he absolutely dominated every game.”

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 at 4:42 PM with the headline "East Lincoln’s Chazz Surratt named AP’s NC offensive player of year."