Talking Preps OT: Mr. Football named, state championship coach interviews

Langston Wertz Jr.
·2 min read

The Charlotte Observer and News & Observer will award the state’s top high school football honor Wednesday night at 8 when either Byrum Brown, Omarion Hampton or Daylan Smothers is named N.C. Mr. Football.

In August, the newspapers debuted a watch list that has been updated each week on the “Talking Preps” streaming show that airs each week.

You can watch tonight’s award show on “Talking Preps OT” at 8 p.m. on the Charlotte Observer and News & Observer Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.

Meet the finalists.

Byrum Brown, quarterback, Rolesville High School

Byrum Brown, quarterback at Rolesville High School in Wake Forest, N.C., poses on the field Tuesday, November 30, 2021.
Byrum Brown, quarterback at Rolesville High School in Wake Forest, N.C., poses on the field Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

A 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior quarterback, Brown threw for 3,703 yards and 43 touchdowns for Rolesville this season. He threw only four interceptions. He completed 225-of-329 passes (68 percent)

A University of South Florida recruit, Brown also rushed for 1,182 yards and 13 touchdowns, leading Rolesville to a berth in the N.C. 4A Eastern Regional championship. In the spring, Brown led Rolesville to the N.C. 4AA state championship game.

Omarion Hampton, running back, Cleveland High School

Omarion Hampton, running back at Cleveland High School in Clayton, N.C., poses outside the school on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.
Omarion Hampton, running back at Cleveland High School in Clayton, N.C., poses outside the school on Wednesday, December 1, 2021.

A 6-foot, 220-pound senior, Hampton is ranked as the No. 11 running back prospect in America in the senior class.

A North Carolina recruit, Hampton ran 161 times for 1,948 yards and 39 touchdowns this season. He had 2,428 yards of total offense and 43 touchdowns. And on defense, he had 19 tackles and six tackles for loss.

For his career, Hampton finished with 569 carries for 6,681 yards and 100 touchdowns.

Daylan Smothers, running back, Chambers High School

A 5-11, 190-pound junior, Smothers is ranked among the top 20 at his position nationally and has offers from schools like Michigan and Ohio State, and interest from Alabama.

He won the Mr. Football award in the spring. This season, Smothers has helped Chambers reach a third straight state championship game. The Cougars will play Cardinal Gibbons on Saturday. This season, Smothers has rushed 212 times for 1,469 yards and 28 touchdowns.