Who will be state HS football player of the year? Here are the finalists for Mr. Football
Three quarterbacks form the final three players up for the 2022 NC Mr. Football award, annually given to the state’s top high school player.
The News & Observer of Raleigh and the Charlotte Observer began handing out the award in the 2020 season. Only private schools played that fall due to COVID. Public schools pushed the 2020 season to the spring of ‘21 and also had a fall season in ‘21.
Here are this year’s finalists:
JAYLEN ALEXANDER-RAYNOR, EAST FORSYTH
6-0, 185 pound senior
Senior stats: 13 games
Passing: 186-285, 2,944 yards, 40 TDs, 3 INT
Rushing: 145-1,259 yards, 17 TDs
Team: 12-1, reached third round NCHSAA 4A playoffs
JADYN DAVIS, PROVIDENCE DAY
6-0, 185 pound junior
Junior stats: 13 games
Passing: 221-305, 3,425 yards, 43 TDs, 6 INT
Rushing: 39-26, 2 TDs
Team: 12-1, won back-to-back NCISAA state titles, nationally ranked
MASON FORTUNE, MILLBROOK
6-1, 195 pound junior
Junior stats: 15 games
Passing: 245-421, 4,084 yards, 38 TDs, 13 INT
Rushing: 23-30, 1 TD
Team: 13-2, reached NCHSAA 4A semifinals
▪ Past winners are Charlotte Christian’s Henry Rutledge (2020), Chambers’ Daylan Smothers (spring ‘21) and Cleveland’s Omarion Hampton (fall ‘21).
This story was originally published November 23, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
