Drake Maye or Hendon Hooker? The North Carolina all-state team in the modern recruiting era (2024)

North Carolina is known for its hoops. If it weren’t for John Wooden and UCLA, the Tar Heel State would be home to more men’s college basketball national champions than any other state.

Among North Carolina (six), Duke (five) and NC State (two), the state has a combined 13 titles.

Football? North Carolina has seven FBS programs, but none has won a national championship at the highest level. And it’s not because the state is lacking talent.

Since the start of the modern recruiting era in 2002, North Carolina high schools have been a top-10 producer in consensus All-Americans (12) and a top-20 producer in terms of future NFL Pro Bowlers drafted (14).

Picking an all-state team of 26 players — 12 on offense (we added one all-purpose player), 11 on defense and three on special teams — was not as easy as it was for Florida and Georgia.

We had to do more digging than usual. And since this was about delivering as recruits, we prioritized college accolades — All-Americans, champions, award winners — over professional success.

Offense

Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina, four-star (No. 56 in 2021 in the 247Sports Composite): The Tar Heel State has not produced a consensus All-American at quarterback in the modern recruiting era, but it did have one win a major conference player of the year award in 2022 when Maye, a Charlotte Myers Park High grad, led UNC to the ACC title game. In two seasons as the Tar Heels starter, the projected 2024 first-round pick ran for 1,147 yards and 16 scores and threw for 7,929 yards with 62 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Maye originally committed to Nick Saban and Alabama before Bryce Young decided to head to Tuscaloosa. Maye then flipped to UNC and Mack Brown.

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina, four-star (No. 134 in 2022): The Cleveland High School grad and 2021 North Carolina Mr. Football winner enters his junior year in Chapel Hill as one of the best backs in college football. He earned Walter Camp All-America honors and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award after rushing for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophom*ore. Hampton committed to UNC before his senior year over offers from Auburn, Florida and Penn State.

Bryce Love, RB, Stanford, four-star (No. 233 in 2015): After serving as a worthy backup to Christian McCaffrey his first two seasons in Palo Alto, Love took home the Lombardi, Walker and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year awards in 2017 when he averaged 8.1 yards per carry and ran for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns. The unanimous All-American from Wake Forest High School chose Stanford over North Carolina and Virginia Tech, among others.

Keenan Allen, WR, California, five-star (No. 10 in 2010): There hasn’t been a single receiver out of the state of North Carolina to earn All-America honors in the modern era, but there’s no doubt Allen — a six-time Pro Bowl selection — deserves a spot on this team based on his college career. As a sophom*ore in 2011, he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors when he hauled in 98 receptions for 1,343 yards and six touchdowns, and he totaled 205 catches for 2,570 yards and 17 touchdowns in his three-year collegiate career. The former safety prospect from Greensboro Northern Guilford High School picked Cal over Clemson and Alabama.

Jamison Crowder, WR, Duke, three-star (No. 1,038 in 2011): You won’t find many college receivers more productive than this two-time first-team All-ACC selection. The Monroe High School grad returned five punts for scores and had 283 catches for 3,641 yards and 23 touchdowns for David Cutcliffe’s Blue Devils, including an ACC-record 108 catches for 1,360 yards and eight scores as a junior in 2013 when Duke reached the ACC title game. He picked Duke over East Carolina, North Carolina and Wake Forest.

Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson, four-star (No. 126 in 2008): The 2011 Mackey Award winner from Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville caught 50 passes for 598 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior and 93 balls for 1,079 yards and 12 scores in his three-year college career. His other official visits were to Florida State, Georgia and North Carolina.

Garrett Bradbury, OL, NC State, three-star (No. 1,754 in 2014): The 2018 consensus All-American and Rimington Trophy winner from Charlotte Christian was originally a 240-pound tight end when he was recruited to Raleigh. He committed to NC State in April before his senior year over offers from Charlotte and Colorado State.

Jonathan Cooper, OL, North Carolina, four-star (No. 422 in 2008): The 2012 unanimous All-American and ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner started 48 games in Chapel Hill before he was taken with the seventh pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. He chose the Tar Heels over South Carolina coming out of Wilmington Hoggard.

Landon Dickerson, OL, Alabama, four-star (No. 31 in 2016): The Hudson South Caldwell grad signed with Florida State over Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Tennessee but transferred to Alabama in 2019 and eventually won the Rimington Trophy and SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy as a unanimous All-American in 2020.

Ikem Ekwonu, OL, NC State, three-star (No. 605 in 2019): The Charlotte Providence Day School grad was a 2021 unanimous All-American and recipient of the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy before the Carolina Panthers selected him sixth in the 2022 NFL Draft. Ekwonu committed to NC State in June before his senior year over offers from Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia.

Lamont Gaillard, OL, Georgia, four-star (No. 144 in 2014): The Fayetteville Pine Forest grad started 42 games at Georgia and earned first-team All-SEC and second-team All-America honors in 2018. The Under Armour All-American began his career as a defensive tackle before switching over to offense. He took his only other official visit to Miami and was also recruited by Alabama, Clemson and Florida.

Pharoh Cooper, AP, South Carolina, three-star (No. 444 in 2013): The Havelock High School grad moved from defensive back to receiver before the start of his freshman season and went on to earn first-team All-SEC honors twice. Cooper caught 138 passes for 2,163 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for 513 yards and four scores during his time in Columbia. He chose South Carolina over East Carolina and NC State.

Defense

Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia, three-star (No. 424 in 2018): The Charlotte Mallard Creek graduate won the 2021 Bednarik and Outland trophies and earned unanimous All-America honors while helping Georgia win the national title. Davis chose Georgia over Florida State, North Carolina, Michigan and Miami.

Melvin Ingram, DL, South Carolina, four-star (No. 246 in 2007): The 2011 consensus All-American produced 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior at South Carolina and 30 TFLs and 21.5 sacks over his four-year career. Ingram was a linebacker coming out of Richmond High School in Rockingham and picked the Gameco*cks over NC State and North Carolina.

Dexter Lawrence, DL, Clemson, five-star (No. 2 in 2016): The highest-ranked prospect to come out of the state in the modern recruiting era won two national titles, earned two first-team All-ACC selections and was named All-American in 2018 by the American Football Coaches Association. Lawrence picked Clemson over Ohio State, USC, Alabama and Florida out of Wake Forest High School.

Mario Williams, DL, NC State, four-star (No. 78 in 2003): The No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft from Richlands High School earned two first-team All-ACC selections and set NC State’s single-season sack record (14.5) and career sacks record (24.5) before Bradley Chubb came along and bested the career mark. Williams picked NC State over Clemson, Ohio State, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest, two-star (unranked 2004): The fourth pick in the 2009 NFL Draft won the 2008 Butkus Award and earned first-team All-America honors after a stellar college career in which he produced 331 career tackles, 9.5 sacks and six interceptions and made three All-ACC teams. The Fayetteville E.E. Smith grad didn’t have any other Power 5 offers outside of Wake Forest coming out of high school.

Brandon Spikes, LB, Florida, four-star (No. 33 in 2006): The U.S. Army All-American from Crest High School in Shelby made 39 starts in Gainesville, was a three-time first-team All-SEC pick, made two All-America teams and won two national titles with the Gators. Spikes recorded 307 career tackles (31.5 for loss) and had six interceptions, including four returned for scores, in four seasons. He picked Florida over Alabama.

Payton Wilson, LB, NC State, four-star (No. 79 in 2018): Wilson earned unanimous All-America honors, won the Butkus and Bednarik awards and was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. The Hillsborough Orange graduate and U.S. Army High School All-American was committed to North Carolina and visited Notre Dame before he flipped to NC State late in the recruiting process.

David Amerson, DB, NC State, four-star (No. 269 in 2010): Amerson won the Jack Tatum Trophy and was voted a first-team All-American after a stellar sophom*ore year in which he set the ACC record with 13 interceptions. Amerson finished his three-year career in Raleigh with 177 tackles and 18 career interceptions before being selected as a second-round pick in 2013. The Greensboro Dudley graduate picked NC State over LSU, Clemson, Duke and Louisville.

Josh Bush, DB, Wake Forest, two-star (No. 1,568 in 2007): Bush ended Russell Wilson’s NCAA record streak of 379 consecutive passes without an interception as a sophom*ore and earned first-team All-ACC honors as a senior in 2011 when he recorded 59 tackles and six interceptions. The Lexington West Davidson graduate won a Super Bowl with the Broncos and is now part of a NASCAR pit crew.

Trimane Goddard, DB, North Carolina, four-star (No. 147 in 2004): Goddard earned first-team All-ACC and second-team AP All-America honors in 2008 when he led the country with seven interceptions. Goddard started 31 games in his time in Chapel Hill and had 12 career picks and 182 tackles over four seasons. The Robersonville Roanoke graduate picked UNC over Virginia.

Steven Jones Jr., DB, Appalachian State, two-star (No. 3,763 in 2017): The Rockingham Richmond graduate earned first-team All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America as a senior in 2021 when he had five interceptions and led the country with 13 passes defended. He chose Appalachian State over Charlotte and Western Carolina.

Specialists

Christopher Dunn, K, NC State, two-star (No. 2,619 in 2018): Dunn, the NCAA’s career leader with 97 field goals, won the Lou Groza Award in 2022 when he made 28 of 29 attempts. He attended North Davidson High School in Lexington.

Matt Dodge, P, East Carolina (unranked in 2004): Dodge, from West Carteret High School in Morehead City, began his career at Appalachian State, where he won an FCS national title, and then earned second-team All-America honors at East Carolina in 2009 when he ranked second nationally in yards per punt (45.8 average).

Brandon Banks, RS, Kansas State (unranked in 2005): Banks, a track standout at Garner High School, earned third-team All-America honors in 2009 when he returned four kickoffs for touchdowns. He had five kick returns for TDs overall in his two seasons in Manhattan after a stop in junior college and had 123 catches for 1,754 yards and 10 touchdowns as a receiver.

Notes

Picking the quarterback to represent the state was a tough call.

Before we settled on Maye, we also considered North Carolina’s Sam Howell (Monroe Sun Valley, four-star, No. 93 in 2019) and Marquise Williams (Charlotte Mallard Creek, four-star, No. 272 in 2011), Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker (Greensboro Dudley, four-star, No. 328 in 2017), and Florida’s Chris Leak (Charlotte Independence, five-star, No. 12 in 2003). Leak earned second-team All-SEC honors three times and led Florida to the 2006 national championship, but he didn’t win a conference player of the year award like Hooker (2022 SEC Offensive Player of the Year) and Maye (2022 ACC Player of the Year).

A few notable multi-time Pro Bowl selections from the state didn’t make our team: former Georgia running back Todd Gurley (Tarboro, four-star No. 73 in 2012), ex-Miami tight end Jimmy Graham (Wilson Charis Prep, unranked in 2005) and former Louisville defensive back Jaire Alexander (Charlotte Rocky River, three-star No. 939 in 2015).

No North Carolina school has finished a season ranked higher than 12th in the AP poll in the modern recruiting era. NC State ranked No. 12 in 2002.

UNC climbed to No. 1 in the Associated Press poll in 1948 and finished third at the end of the season. But the Tar Heels have finished a season ranked in the Top 25 only twice in the last 22 years.

The Wolfpack enjoyed their best finish in 1974 (No. 11), climbed to as high as No. 3 during the 1967 regular season and have finished ranked five times in the modern era.

Duke has reached No. 2 twice (most recently in 1941) but has finished a season ranked only once (No. 23 in 2016) since 1960.

Wake Forest reached its peak — No. 10 in the AP poll — in 2022 but has never finished higher than 15th (2021) in its history. The Demon Deacons have been ranked twice at the end of a season in the modern recruiting era (15th in 2021 and 18th in 2006).

East Carolina was last ranked in the AP poll in 2014 and twice finished a season ranked (No. 9 in 1991 and No. 20 in 1993).

Appalachian State, which won three FCS national titles and moved up to the FBS in 2014, finished the 2019 season ranked No. 19.

Charlotte, an FBS program since 2015, has never been ranked.

(Photos of Bryce Love, Pharoh Cooper, Brandon Spikes: Ezra Shaw, Stacy Revere, Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)