The 2023 All-Observer offense: Top high school football players in Charlotte region
Providence Day’s Jadyn Davis, The Observer’s offensive player of the year, leads the 2023 All-Observer offense, which honors the top high school football players in the Charlotte region.
(Tap here for the All-Observer defensive team)
First team
QB: Jadyn Davis, Providence Day, 6-1, 203, Sr.: Davis was named North Carolina’s Mr. Football for the second straight season after throwing for 3,370 yards, 43 touchdowns and leading the Chargers to a third consecutive state championship. Davis has signed with MIchigan.
RB: Landon Stone, Clover, 6-0, 185, Jr.: Stone ran 288 times for 2,350 yards and 21 touchdowns. His yardage ranked fourth in South Carolina, and 65th in the nation.
RB: Ian Cline, Providence Day, 5-9, 210, Jr.: Cline, an all-state pick, ran 129 times for 1,355 yards and 23 touchdowns. He caught 15 passes for 191 yards, and he also had 57 tackles on defense.
WR: Jordan Shipp, Providence Day, 6-2, 185, Sr.: A finalist for North Carolina’s Mr. Football, Shipp caught 66 passes for 1,195 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has signed with North Carolina.
WR: Keenan Jackson, Weddington, 6-3, 195, Sr.: Jackson, an N.C. State signee, was MVP of the NCHSAA 4A state finals. He caught 102 passes for 1,702 yards and 19 touchdowns.
TE: Jack Larsen, Charlotte Catholic, 6-4, 230, Sr.: Larsen has signed with Notre Dame. He caught 50 passes for 873 yards and 11 touchdowns and was an all-conference pick in the Southwestern 4A.
OL: David Sanders, Providence Day, 6-6, 265, Jr.: Sanders was recently ranked No. 1 nationally by Rivals.com in the class of 2025. He was the highest-graded offensive lineman on the area’s top team. MaxPreps named Sanders a second team All-American.
OL: Ethan Calloway, Lake Norman, 6-7, 305, Sr.: Calloway is an LSU signee and helped the Wildcats rush for nearly 2,000 yards. He was an all-conference pick in the Greater Metro 4A.
OL: Kai Greer, Marvin Ridge, 6-6, 280, Sr.: Greer, a top 20 in-state recruit and Arkansas recruit, graded 88 percent for the season with 72 knockdown blocks and no sacks allowed.
OL: Brayson McIver, Butler, 6-2, 265, Sr.: McIver, a Coastal Carolina recruit, is a two-time Southwestern 4A all-conference pick, a team captain and a two-year starter.
OL: Kiande Marsh, Hough, 6-1, 320, Jr.: Marsh, a Queen City 3A/4A all-conference pick, had more than 50 pancake blocks at center and helped the Huskies to an 11-2 record.
K: Nolan Hauser, Hough, 6-0, 180, Sr.: Hauser, a Clemson recruit, set a national record for career field goals made (66) and was 12-for-15 this season with a long of 53. He made 42-of-43 PATs and had 54 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs. MaxPreps named him a second team All-American.
KR: Ayden Davis, York, 6-1, 198, Sr.: Davis averaged more than 33 yards per return and scored five touchdowns. He rushed for 801 yards, 15 scores and caught 27 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.
ATH: KD Smith, West Charlotte, 5-9, 181, Soph: Smith had five interceptions in five games on defense. On offense, he threw for 1,507 yards, 16 TDs; ran for 597 yards and 21 TDs. Smith, who already has ACC and SEC offers, also rushed for five 2-point conversions.
LS: Grant Mills, Cannon School, 5-11, 190, Sr.: Mills will play in the All-American Bowl in January in San Antonio and has signed with UNC. He is a 5-star national recruit at his position.
Second team
QB: Finley Polk, Northwestern, 6-3, 175, Jr.
RB: Jayden Jones, Independence, 5-9, 175, Soph.
RB: Turbo Richard, Northwestern, 5-9, 192, Sr.
WR: Channing Goodwin, Providence Day, 6-1, 180, Sr.
WR: Ben Black, Mallard Creek, 6-0, 180, Sr.
TE: Will Brown, Independence, 6-1, 220, Sr.
OL: Leo Delaney, Providence Day, 6-6, 270, Soph.
OL: Braylon Canales, Jay M. Robinson, 6-3, 290, Sr.
OL: Logan Potes, Weddington, 6-2, 275, Sr.
OL: Justin Wilson, West Charlotte, 6-1, 275, Jr.
OL: Khamari Lawson, Palisades, 6-4, 254, Sr.
KR: David Howard, Forestview, 5-9, 150, Sr.
K: Michael Buck, Lake Norman, 5-11, 165, Sr.
ATH: Jordan Cleaves, Cox Mill, 5-10, weight NA, Soph.
LS: Bailey Sanders, Lake Norman, 6-1, 230, Sr.
Offensive player of the year: Jadyn Davis, Providence Day
Defensive player of the year: Jaden Smith, West Charlotte
Coach of the year: Andy Capone, Weddington
