Meet the players who made the All-Observer all-area HS football offensive team
Here are the players selected to the All-Observer high school football offensive team.
The All-Observer coach of the year is South Mecklenburg’s Joe Evans.
The offensive player of the year is Daylan Smothers of Chambers High.
The defensive player of the year is James Pearce of Chambers High.
(To see the All-Observer defensive team, click here)
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Daylin Lee, Shelby, 6-3, 180, Jr.: State championship QB threw for 3,833 yards and 50 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He completed 231-of-354 passes.
RB: Daylan Smothers, Chambers, 5-11, 190, Jr.: Mr. Football from the spring 2021 season was a finalist in the fall. Ran for 1,581 yards and 28 touchdowns and led his team to a third straight state championship game.
RB: Jacob Newman, South Mecklenburg, 5-10, 190, Sr.: SoMECK offensive player of the year ran for 1,816 yards, 14 touchdowns and had more than 2,000 yards total offense.
TE: Jack Larsen, Charlotte Catholic, 6-3, 220, Soph: Ranked No. 2 at his tight end position nationally, Larsen had 22 catches for 353 yards, accounted for 40 percent of all of his team’s completions; dominant run blocker
WR: Shaleak Knotts, Monroe, 6-2, 195, Sr.: Maryland recruit had 32 catches for 616 yards in 10 games, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch, and 11 touchdowns. Knotts averaged 35 yards on punt returns and had 50 tackles, four interceptions.
WR: Chris Culliver, Maiden, 6-2, 180, Jr.: 64 catches for 1,300 yards and 23 touchdowns plus three touchdowns rushing or kick returning. Power 5 recruit had more than 1,700 all-purpose yards.
OL: Connor Drake, Providence, 6-6, 315, Jr.: 3-year starter and 3-year all-conference selection has multiple Division I offers.
OL: Will Hart, Porter Ridge, 6-2, 260, Sr.: Queen City Senior Bowl selection had more than 90 pancake blocks to help his team average more than 300 yards rushing per game.
OL: Josh Noble, West Rowan, 6-4, 290, Sr.: Conference offensive lineman of the year had 52 pancake blocks on offense, plus 31 tackles, three sacks on defense; Carolina Bowl pick.
OL: Sullivan Absher, South Point, 6-7, 301, Jr.: 3-year starter opened holes for a team than had nearly 4,000 rushing yards. Has multiple Power 5 offers
OL: Isaiah Bullerdick, Hickory Ridge, 6-2, 290, Sr.: All-conference star helped his team averaged 36 points and accumulate more than 4,300 yards. Charlotte 49ers recruit.
ATH: Kevin Concepcion, Chambers, 6-0, 175, Jr.: Power 5 recruit ran for several touchdowns, caught 38 passes for 586 yards and 10 touchdowns and had two punt return touchdowns.
K: Nolan Hauser, Hough, 5-11, 160, Soph: repeat first-team pick made 67-72 PATs, 21-of-26 FGs with a long of 48. His 130 points tied an 19-year-old NCHSAA record for most in a season by a kicker.
KR: Izay Bridges, Shelby, 5-8, 155, Soph: Averaged 48.5 yards per return and scored 3 TDs. Also caught 63 passes for 1,216 yards and 14 touchdowns for the state 2A champs.
LS: Ben Anderson, Charlotte Latin, 6-4, 235, Sr.: ranked as a 5-star by Rubio Long Snapping, Anderson has offers from Nevada, Georgia Southern and Power 5 interest
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Tad Hudson, Hough, 6-3, 225, Jr.
RB: Mari Adams, Crest, 5-10, 185, Sr.
RB: Marqies McCombs, Chase, 5-10, 180, Jr.
TE: Liam Groulx, Providence Day, 6-0, 210, Jr.
WR: Chance Morrow, West Charlotte, 6-6, 185, Sr.
WR: Christian Hamilton, Hickory Ridge, 6-1, 180, Jr.
OL: Taron Williams, South Meck, 6-8, 330, Sr.
OL: Jhase Gist, Mallard Creek, 6-0, 305, Sr.
OL: Caius Hartsell, Concord, 6-2, 300, Sr.
OL: Jaiden Covington, Richmond Senior, 6-3, 310, Sr.
OL: Reagan McCranie, Chase, 6-3, 310, Jr.
ATH: Tevin Tucker, Northwest Cabarrus, 6-1, 185, Jr.
LS: Colin Sheets, Hickory Ridge, 6-5, 285, Sr.
K: Alex Chilcott, Ardrey Kell, Sr.
KR: Trae Nickelson, Mountain Island Charter, 5-6, 150, Sr.
