More than half of the N.C. players selected for the Shrine Bowl are from the Charlotte- and Triangle-areas.
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The Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas released the rosters for its 90th all-star game on Sunday.
The game features some of the top public school seniors in North Carolina playing against their counterparts in South Carolina.
The 90th annual game will be played Dec. 19 at Spartanburg High School.
On the N.C. roster, 23 of the 44 players are from the Charlotte- or Raleigh-areas.
Mecklenburg County, long considered the hotbed of N.C. football, had only four players named: Hough quarterback Ethan Royal, Corvian defensive lineman Nate Kamba, Mallard Creek defensive back Dorian “DJ” Dailey and Hough defensive back Jackson Heath.
Of the top 10 players in the state, per 247 sports, five will play in the game: Kamba, Garner linebacker Aroson Randle, Jordan edge rusher Xavier Perkins and Seventy-First defensive lineman John Archer.
Quarterbacks: Ethan Royal, Hough; Christian Ormandy, Garner
Running backs: Christian Freeman, Southeast Raleigh; Micah Olu, Wake Forest; James Adams IV, Southeast Raleigh
Receivers: Jonathan Dillon, Southern Durham; AJ Roberts, Rolesville; Majay Thompson, Crest; Jailyn Moore, West Forsyth; Gavyn Davis, Northside-Jacksonville
Tight ends: Griffin Cockerham, Cardinal Gibbons; Finn Morgan, Pinecrest
Offensive linemen: Gavin Milton, Grimsley; Malek Griffin, Cardinal Gibbons; Kamel Tillman, Richmond Senior; Omari Graham, West Stokes; Bryce Johnson, Weddington; Gage Camp, Burns; Sammy Wooten, Lake Norman; Charlie Reece, Oak Grove
Athlete: Xzayvion “Mez” Harris, Wilson Hunt
Long snapper: Chip McCracken, St. Stephens
Kicker: Moses Barker, Willow Spring
Defensive linemen: King Kalama, Reagan; Marshall Chalk, Hoggard; Kai Phinazee, Forest Hills; Nate Kamba, Corvian; John Archer, Fayetteville 71st; Gio Driggers, Trask; Chosen Hyman, East Forsyth
Linebackers: Xavier Perkins, Jordan; Josiah Sturdivant, Wake Forest; Aroson “AJ” Randle, Garner; Chris Baker, Forest Hills; Keyvon Propst, Starmount; Tyler Goebbel, Apex Friendship
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Defensive backs: Evander “EJ” Davis, Grimsley; Jackson Heath, Hough; Mason Hefner, Lake Norman; Lance Henderson, Southern Durham; Dorian “DJ” Dailey, Mallard Creek; Kendrick Raper, Shelby; Darius Smith, Millbrook; Joziah Nicholson, West Forsyth
Coaches: Darryl Brown, head (Grimsley); Juan Jackson (CB Hunt); Tiesuan Brown (Mount Tabor); Steven Wright (Cardinal Gibbons); David Devine (Burns); Battle Holley (East Duplin); Joe Rigbees (Grimsley)
Quarterbacks: Xavier Means, Northwestern; Jaxon Knotts, Dutch Fork
Running Backs: Tiyon Fanning, Lugoff-Elgin; Trenton Lynch, Spartanburg; Jayven Williams, Summerville
Receivers: Kyson McLeod, South Aiken; Khristian Jackson, Ridge View; EJ Richardson, Lugoff-Elgin; Tajah Watson-Martin, Westside; Xavier Huggins Powdersville; Royce Williamson, Gray Collegiate; TyQuarrius Shannon, Fairfield Central
Tight Ends: Sam Crumpton, James Island; Ja’Shon Williams, Hampton County
Offensive Linemen: Ty Johnson, Lucy Beckham; James Ross, Ridge View; CJ Brooks, Gaffney; Nolan Giet, Summerville; Reed Paolucci, Blythewood; Hayden Crockett, Hilton Head Island; Israel Harris, James Island; Jeffrey Williams, Loris
Long snapper: Charles Bieda, White Knoll
Kicker: Noah Hardy, Fort Mill
Defensive Linemen: Shannon Jones, North Augusta; James Porter, Dorman; Tyronne Jennings, Irmo; Jaden Wuerth, Dutch Fork; Jaiden Bryant, Irmo;
Linebackers: Kendaris Bailey, Gaffney; KJ Burg Northwestern; Antwone Tarrance, Dorman; Myjae McCray, Marlboro County; Yachin Gamble, Crestwood; Jayden Wertz, Powdersville; Andrew Massey, Hilton Head Island
Defensive Backs: Kaiden Watkins, Rock Hill; Jermaine Jean, Woodland; Amari Dogan, South Pointe; Jaiden Kelly-Murray Oceanside Collegiate; Brian McMillian, Bamberg-Ehrhardt; Christian Chancellor, Daniel; Michael Pembleton, Andrews
Coaches: Dwayne Garrick, head (Blackville-Hilda); Corey Crosby (Bamberg-Ehrhardt); Jason Farmer (Dorman); Eddie Ford (Woodland); Robert Mustar (Powdersville); Demetrius Davis (Fairfield Central); Andy Hallman (Woodmont)
This story was originally published September 27, 2026 at 1:17 PM with the headline “Here are the rosters for the 2026 Shrine Bowl high school football all-star game.”
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