Meet the 2025 All-Observer high school football all-stars on offense
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- Observer panel selected top offensive high school players across region.
- Selection required coach nomination from more than 400 candidates across six counties.
- Names include state champions, D1 recruits and leaders in passing, rushing and blocking.
Meet the top high school football offensive players in the region, the All-Observer offense.
The team, led by offensive player of the year Zaid Lott of Providence Day, was selected by a panel of current and former Observer sportswriters.
To be considered for selection, a player had to be nominated by his head coach. The Observer covers 102 high schools in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union counties and more than 400 players were nominated.
Quick links
Meet the 2025 All-Observer football team
The All-Observer defensive stars
The All-Observer offensive stars
Offense: First team
QB: Zaid Lott, Providence Day, 6-4, 220, Sr.: The Syracuse recruit was a finalist for the N.C. Mr. Football award, the state’s player of the year. He led the Chargers to a 13-0 record, the NCISAA state championship and completed 184 of 277 passes for 2,497 yards and 35 touchdowns, against four interceptions. He ran 101 times for 708 yards and 13 scores.
RB: Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian, 5-11, 195, Sr.: The Nebraska recruit ran 154 times for 1,254 yards, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. He had 16 rushing touchdowns plus 22 catches for 318 yards and led his team to the Division I state championship game.
RB: Mason Iovino, Cuthbertson, 6-0, 211, Sr.: Iovino was the leading rusher in the area, with 1,875 yards and 13 touchdowns on 287 carries. He caught 23 passes for 186 yards.
TE: Jaxon Dollar, East Lincoln, 6-5, 227, Jr.: The state’s No. 1 player in the junior class, Dollar caught 54 passes for 1,190 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was a semifinalist for the state player of the year award, N.C. Mr. Football.
WR: Gordon Sellars, Providence Day, 6-3, 190, Sr.: Sellars, a Clemson recruit, caught 59 passes for 917 yards and 15 touchdowns, despite facing constant double teams. He was a team captain for the Division I state champions.
WR: Braylon Clark, Charlotte Country Day, 6-3, 190, So.: Clark, a consensus 5-star recruit, caught 65 passes for 1,093 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had 290 return yards and two more touchdowns. Clark has 20-plus D1 offers from schools including Alabama, Ohio State and Oregon.
WR: Donte Nicholson, West Charlotte, 6-0, 181, Sr.: The Charlotte 49ers recruit had 61 catches for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns. Nicholson helped the Lions to a national ranking and an N.C. 8A Western Regional championship appearance.
OL: Jarvis Potts, Hough, 6-4, 295, Sr.: An Appalachian State commit, Potts didn’t allow a sack this year for the NCHSAA 8A state champions. He graded out at 90% and had 24 pancake blocks.
OL: Jorquis Broome, West Charlotte, 6-3, 310, Sr.: Broome, committed to Lenoir-Rhyne, graded 91 percent for the season and had 23 pancake blocks. Broome also had 44 knockdowns for the NCHSAA 8A Western Regional finalists.
OL: Cooper Hodson, Providence Day, 6-3, 315, Jr.: A first team all-state and first team all-conference pick, Hodson anchored an offensive line that helped produce 2,910 passing yards and 2,252 rushing yards.
OL: Brandon Bevilacqua, Mt. Pleasant, 6-2, 305, Sr.: A two-time all-conference pick at center, Bevilacqua helped Mount Pleasant to nearly 4,000 yards in total offense. He allowed no sacks all season and has signed with Catawba.
OL: Nolan Jefferson, Palisades, 6-0, 270, Sr.: A two-time all-conference pick, Jefferson had 46 pancake blocks this season while grading 89%. He allowed only two sacks.
ATH: Brody Norman, Mooresville, 6-1, 185, Sr.: A three-time conference offensive player of the year at quarterback, Norman threw for 1,934 yards and 26 touchdowns this season and ran for 463 yards and 11 scores. He’s signed to Temple.
K: Jacob Baggett, Providence Day, 6-1, 170, Sr.: Baggett set the N.C. record for most touchbacks in a season with 95 on 102 kicks. He punted 13 times for a 39-yard average with a long of 61 and put six punts inside the opponent’s 20 and three inside the 10. He was 64 of 71 on PATs and 6 of 7 on field goals with a long of 48. The miss was from 51.
LS: Bauer Sodoma, Providence Day, 5-10, 190, Sr.: Sodoma had no bad snaps on extra points, field goals or punts all season. He was ranked among the nation’s top 12 at his position. He also played H-back for the state champions.
Offense: Second team
QB: Grant Lawless, East Lincoln, 6-3, 195, Sr.
RB: Jayden Jones, Independence, 5-10, 175, Sr.
RB: Kaveaun Pless, South Point, 5-10, 200, So.
TE: Rakim Finch, West Charlotte, 6-0, 195, Sr.
WR: Brody Hunt, South Iredell, 6-0, 175, Sr.
WR: RJ Lynch, Lincolnton, 5-8, 160, So.
WR: James Bailey III, East Mecklenburg, 6-1, 183, Sr.
OL: Nori White, Independence, 6-6, 355, Jr.
OL: Anthony Cook, Mallard Creek, 6-2, 295, Sr.
OL: Bryce Johnson, Weddington, 6-4, 295, Jr.
OL: Landon Suttle, South Point, 6-4, 265, So.
OL: Jonathan Moore, Ashbrook, 6-3, 290, Sr.
ATH: Ethan Royal, Hough, 6-1, 185, Jr.
K: Jamison Causey, Providence, 6-1, 165, Jr.
LS: Jesse Blazi, Hickory Grove, 6-0, 200, Sr.
PHOTO SHOOT: All-Observer offense
This story was originally published December 25, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
