The CMS Best – Defensive Players & Specialists
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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.
Defensive Line
- Branden Palmer Branden Palmer 6'4" | 205 lbs | DL Hough | 2023 State NC – Hough
- Khyler Watson Khyler Watson 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Ardrey Kell | 2023 State NC – Ardrey Kell
- Eliyt Nairne Eliyt Nairne 6'3" | 255 lbs | DL Olympic | 2023 State NC – Olympic
- Josh Iseah Josh Iseah 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Independence | 2023 State NC – Independence
- Zairion Jackson-Bass Zairion Jackson-Bass 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL Julius L Chambers | 2023 State NC – Chambers
Palmer has some Power 5 offers and is dangerous coming off of the edge at 6’4 and 210 pounds, he has an incredible frame to build on. Watson can be a future strongside defensive end or add more weight and becoming a dominant pass rushing defensive tackle. Nairne is already committed to Liberty and flies under the radar a bit but he is a special talent. Iseah can play defensive tackle, end, or LB and be a force, and has great leadership traits. Jackson-Bass has committed to Yale and is the best d-lineman on a talented Chambers squad.
Linebacker
- Michael Short Michael Short 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Mallard Creek | 2023 State NC – Mallard Creek
- Demorris Jenkins – North Meck
- Jordan Thompson Jordan Thompson 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Chambers | 2023 State NC – Chambers
- Jaden Smith – West Charlotte
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Beady Waddell V
Beady
Waddell V
6'0" | 210 lbs | LB
West Mecklenburg | 2024
State
NC
– West Meck
Short is an East Carolina commit that can do everything well from rushing the passer, tackle well in space, and cover backs/tight ends in the passing game. Jenkins is more of an EDGE player but he is a dominant one with great size at 6’5 220+ pounds, he is also committed to East Carolina. Jordan Thompson Jordan Thompson 5'10" | 175 lbs | ATH Chambers | 2023 State NC is the heartbeat of the Chambers defense, and his speed and coverage ability are the best of this bunch, and he is a physical player in the run game also. Jaden Smith has a great physical presence at 6’3 200+ pounds coming off the edge, he looks like he can be a special EDGE player in the 2024 class. Beady Waddell V Beady Waddell V 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB West Mecklenburg | 2024 State NC is an excellent tackler, great leader, and can cover well in short spaces in the passing game.
Defensive Back
- TJ McGill – Chambers
- Joshua Switzer – Ardrey Kell
- Jaylen Jones (Juice) – Butler
- Camryn Williams-Dalton – West Charlotte
- Quentin Reddish – Independence
McGill is a William & Mary commit that is a talented man cover corner that isn’t afraid to come up and hit you. I think the Tribe got a steal with him in all honesty. Switzer is a great team leader and physical safety that can run, hit, and cover with the best of them. He is committed to Navy. Juice Jones of Butler has the length that coaches crave and is physical, showing good coverage skills for the safety position. He is committed to Georgia State. Camryn Williams-Dalton is a little bit of an unknown, but he demonstrates excellent man coverage skills, and he just picked up his first offer from Allen University in SC. Quentin Reddish at Independence holds an offer from Missouri and has great size and range at 6’3 playing the safety position.
Specialists
- Nolan Hauser Nolan Hauser 6'1" | 180 lbs | K Hough | 2024 State NC – K – Hough
- Jack Mowrey Jack Mowrey 6'3" | 250 lbs | LS Ardrey Kell | 2023 State NC – LS – Ardrey Kell
- Win Byerly – K – Myers Park
- Gilberto Lorenzana – K – North Meck
- Max Schmidly – LS – Myers Park
Hauser is ranked as the best kicker in the nation in his class according to Maxpreps and made their Junior All-American Team this preseason. Mowrey is one of the best long snappers in the Southeast and has offers from Power 5 schools currently. Win Byerly had an offer from Norte Dame before committing to Harvard, which tells you all you need to know about his talent. Lorenzana has a powerful leg, and has offers from several schools in the Carolinas in his senior year. Schmidly is a highly rated long snapping prospect in the state and should have a wonderful career at the next level.