For the seventh straight year, The Charlotte Observer will name the state’s top high school football player.
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The N.C. Mr. Football winner will be named in December, just before the NCHSAA’s state championship weekend. A list of three finalists will be released in early December.
Hough High’s Samari Matthews won the award last season after helping lead the Huskies to the N.C. 8A state championships. Matthews, a defensive back, is now at freshman at the University of Texas.
This year, high school players can still be added to the Mr. Football watchlist before the finalists are named. Updates will be announced on The Observer’s Talking Preps streaming show, which releases each Monday at noon on charlotteobserver.com and newsobserver.com.
Name, school, height, weight, year, pos, comment
SKYLAR ALSTON, CARDINAL GIBBONS, 6-2, 215, JR, LB: A 4-star recruit, Alston has 66 tackles, 44 solo tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and two sacks. Alston is the nation’s No. 11 overall recruit at linebacker.
BRAYLON CLARK, PROVIDENCE DAY, 6-3, 195, JR: 5-star recruit caught four TD passes Thursday against Ambassador Christian. Playing without his starting QB most of season, Clark has 37 catches for 727 yards and 9 TDs. He averages 19.6 yards per catch.
KADEN CRAFT, LAKE NORMAN, 6-4, 210, JR, QB: Craft, a 4-star Tennessee recruit, has completed 88 of 126 passes (69 percent) for 1,525 yards and 16 TDs against two interceptions. He has run 56 times for 287 yards and 11 TDs.
CASSELL CRUICKSHANK, EE SMITH, 6-6, 220, JR, DL: The state’s top ranked junior, Cruickshank has 49 tackles, 25 solos, 15 TFL, two sacks, eight QB hurries, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and he’s bocked to punts and one field goal.
JAXON DOLLAR, EAST LINCOLN, 6-5, 230, SR, TE: On Oct. 2 against West Iredell, Dollar had 13 catches for 249 yards and six TDs. He also had seven tackles and a sack. For the season, Dollar ranks fourth in America with 1,160 yards receiving (plus 15 TDs). On defense, the 5-star Georgia commit has 34 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and two interceptions.
ANTONIO FLOWERS, CHAMBERS, 6-3, 300, JR, DL: The anchor of a Chambers defense that’s allowed 83 points in seven games with two straight shutouts. The West Mecklenburg transfer is a 3-star recruit with offers from Auburn, Georgia and Florida State among others. He’s got 43 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and four forced fumbles.
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DAVION JONES, HOUGH, 5-11, 178, SR, DB: The South Carolina recruit has 30 tackles, 17 solos and six sacks. He also has three interceptions, six pass breakups, four forced fumbles, two defensive and two special teams touchdowns. He averages 30 yards per kick return.
TEO MCPHATTER, PRINCETON, 5-11, 160, JR, RB: His 1,712 yards rushing is No. 8 in America. He averages 244.6 yards per game and has 25 rushing TDs. His 29 total touchdowns rank eighth in America. He is also 18 of 39 passing for 313 yards and four TDs and he’s caught nine passes for 100 yards and a score.
JAMOURI NICHOLS, CHAMBERS, 5-11, 175, SR, QB: Nichols has thrown for 1,340 yards with 18 TDs and 1 INT. He’s led Chambers (7-0) to its best start in 5 years. Nichols has rushed 49 times for team high 582 yards and team best 17 TDs.
ANTHONY POOLE, SOUTHEAST RALEIGH, 6-2, 240, JR, LB/DE: Poole has 48 tackles, 30 solos, plus 17 tackles for a loss and eight sacks.
RASHAD STREETS, MILLBROOK, 6-4, 230, SR, DE: Streets has 54 tackles, including 32 solos and 30 TFL. He has 11.5 sacks and 21 QB hurries. He’s committed Oregon.
ANDREW WILLIAMS, HAVELOCK, 5-10, 185, JR, LB: Williams has 128 tackles, with 17 tackles for a loss TFL, plus a sack and an interception and a sack. His tackles rank No. 3 in America.
BRALAN WILSON, NORTH PITT, 6-0, 215, JR, LB: His 121 tackles ranks No. 6 in the nation. He averages 17.3 tackles per game. Wilson has has 17 tackles for a loss and two sacks in seven games.
ETHAN ROYAL, HOUGH, 6-2, 205, SR, QB: Royal, a Marshall recruit, has completed 61 of 113 passes (54 percent) for 975 yards and 12 touchdowns against two interceptions. He’s rushed 38 times for 196 yards and 3 TDs. Leading a top 10 team in the country to an undefeated record, Royal has only averaged 25 snaps in his last three games due to blowouts.
2020: Henry Rutledge, Charlotte Christian
Spring 2021: Daylan Smothers, Chambers
Fall 2021: Omarion Hampton, Cleveland
2022: Jadyn Davis, Providence Day
2023: Jaydn Davis, Providence Day
2024: Faizon Brandon, Grimsley
2025: Samari Matthews, Hough
This story was originally published October 12, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline “Meet the semifinalists for NC Mr. Football, the state’s player of the year.”
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