The CMS Best – Offensive Players
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Last year I started a positional ranking of the best players in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System eligible schools. This is this year’s version based on the camp season and the first two games of this year. This is for…
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Continue ReadingLast year I started a positional ranking of the best players in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System eligible schools. This is this year’s version based on the camp season and the first two games of this year. This is for the 20 public schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System only.
Quarterbacks
- Tad Hudson Tad Hudson 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Hough | 2023 State NC – Hough
- Anshon Camp Anshon Camp 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Chambers | 2023 State NC (Bubba) – Chambers
- Zach Lawrence Zach Lawrence 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Butler | 2025 State NC – Butler
- Elijah Holmes – Olympic
- Justin Little – Independence
This quarterback group has a lot of variety – Hudson is a traditional dropback style QB, while Camp is an incredible dual-threat player. Lawrence and Little are exciting 2025 prospects who will be names you hear a lot over the next couple of years. In my opinion, Holmes is the one who is overshadowed the most, but has a good balance of passing and running ability.
Running Backs
- Daylan Smothers Daylan Smothers 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB West Charlotte | 2023 NC – West Charlotte (not currently active)
- JT Smith Jr. – Hough
- Tomar Bivens – Mallard Creek
- Chris Brown – Hopewell
- Luke Bailey Luke Bailey 5'11" | 195 lbs | ATH Providence | 2023 State NC – Providence
It is still not known for sure if Smothers will play this year or not, but either way, the Oklahoma commit is a big-time player and the best overall running back in CMS. JT Smith Jr. has proven to be a major weapon so far for the Huskies at running back and the receiver position. Bivens is a big back who showed off his speed in Week 1 with a big TD run against Myers Park. Brown is the most overlooked prospect, but he has electric speed and great vision. Bailey has transitioned this year from receiver to running back full-time and just had a 366-yard rushing game against South Meck.
Wide Receivers
- Kevin Concepcion Kevin Concepcion 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Chambers | 2023 State NC – Chambers
- Markell Quick – Hough
- Zion Booker – Chambers
- Ethan Presutty – Ardrey Kell
- Darren Hamilton – Mallard Creek
Concepcion as a recent NC State commit has proven to be one of the best big-play threats not only in CMS but in the state of North Carolina. Quick has had a lot of college interest and offers, and last year made several big catches in the Western Regional Final against Chambers. Booker has committed to Western Carolina and can make you miss in a phone booth and runs some great routes. Presutty is probably the least known on this list but has some excellent hands and great route discipline. Hamilton is a big play waiting to happen and excels in the screen game especially.
Offensive Line
- Darion Rivers Darion Rivers 6'8" | 275 lbs | OL West Charlotte | 2023 State NC – West Charlotte
- Connor Drake Connor Drake 6'6" | 315 lbs | OL Providence | 2023 State NC – Providence
- Ola Olasimbo – North Meck
- Eagan Boyer Eagan Boyer 6'8" | 240 lbs | OL Hough | 2024 State NC – Hough
- Umar Rockhead Umar Rockhead 6'4" | 265 lbs | OL Mallard Creek | 2024 State NC – Mallard Creek
Rivers, the NC State Commit, has some great size and physical traits that you love in a high-level offensive lineman. Drake has multiple Group of Five offers and can be flat-out dominant at times during games. Olasimbo performed well during the camp season and has several offers to show for his hard work. Boyer at 6’8 has a frame that college coaches salivate over, and he’s shown rapid ascension during the summer, and has a number of Division 1 offers as a result. Rockhead has prototypical left tackle size and agility and should continue to grow into being a top prospect.
Tight Ends
- William Brown – Independence
- Donyea Coleman – Myers Park
- Trevion Graham – Rocky River
- Davis Becker – Myers Park
- Parker Storey – East Meck
Brown performed exceptionally well during the summer camp season and should be an important piece of the Patriot attack moving forward this year. Coleman and Becker are doing a lot for the Mustangs – Coleman will play some WR while Becker will play some linebacker as well. Graham performed well during the camp season and is a vertical threat at the position. Storey is one of the best leaders for an East Meck team trying to improve its fortunes on the field this season.