Who is all-time greatest North Carolina high school football player?
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North Carolina has a sports history as rich and legendary as any other state in the country. That tradition carries over to the gridiron as several notable football stars got their starts in the Tar Heel State.
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Who is the all-time best North Carolina high school football player, the top-tier talent who defined Friday Night Lights in the state?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.
These are our selections for the football players who defined North Carolina. The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout players at the high school level before playing at the next level.
Did we miss someone? There's a spot for you to write in your own candidate who wasn't included on our list of 15.
Jaire Alexander, Cornerback, Rocky River
Now regarded as one of the best corners in the NFL, Alexander has been a standout on the field dating all the way back to his playing days at Rocky River. Then he was a standout on both sides of the ball as one of the state's best receivers and cornerbacks. As a senior, he totaled 1,123 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on 68 receptions while also totaling 30 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and four interceptions on defense.
Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, Northern Guilford
Long before he was an NFL standout, Allen was a two-way standout in high school, excelling as a wide receiver and safety. He was a five-star talent who scored a ridiculous 64 total touchdowns as a senior, including 14 on defense (six interception returns) and 10 passing touchdowns.
Bobby Bell, Quarterback, Cleveland
One of the most dynamic athletes to come out of North Carolina, Bell began his career playing six-man football before transferring to Cleveland in his senior year. Bell played nearly every position on the field, finding success at quarterback, leading the Tigers to state titles in 1956 and 1957, before a Hall of Fame career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Carl Eller, Defensive End, Atkins
Eller's one of the most dominant defensive forces to ever come out of the Tar Heel State. In 1959, he led Atkins to an unbeaten state championship before going on to a Hall of Fame career with the Minnesota Vikings' Purple People Eaters.
Todd Gurley, Running Back, Tarboro
Gurley's NFL career was all too short, but he made the most of his opportunity in the league. Long before that and the run at Georgia, he was one of the nation's top running back prospects, leading Tarboro to three straight championships from 2009 to 2011. As a senior, he ran for 2,600 yards and 38 touchdowns.
Will Grier, Quarterback, Davidson Day
Playing at a private school, Grier's numbers may not be in the record books, but there aren't many quarterbacks anywhere in the country who had a better high school career than him. He finished his high school career throwing for 14,559 yards and 195 touchdowns, leading Davidson Day to three consecutive state titles. As a senior, he threw for 77 touchdowns and also had an 837-yard performance.
Elijah Hood, Running Back, Charlotte Catholic
To this day, Hood is remembered as one of the state's top running backs and for good reason. As a sophomore, he rushed for nearly 1,900 yards and 34 touchdowns, with both numbers coming out to be career lows. He would rush for over 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, scored 48 touchdowns as a junior and 53 as a senior.
Sonny Jurgensen, Quarterback, New Hanover
Jurgensen was a legend to North Carolina natives long before he had a Hall of Fame career in the NFL. He was a three-star athlete excelling in basketball, baseball, and football. As a junior, he primarily played halfback and linebacker, but transitioned over to quarterback in his senior year, carving out a lasting legacy at that position.
Dexter Lawrence, Defensive Tackle, Wake Forest
Coming out of high school, Lawrence was ranked as the No. 1 defensive tackle and No. 2 overall prospect for the Class of 2016. His play backed up those rankings as he dominated the state, racking up 91 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks his senior year.
Chris Leak, Quarterback, Independence
Leak is regarded by many as the best high school quarterback in North Carolina history. His 15,593 passing yards are the public school state record by more than 2,000 yards. Leak's 185 career touchdowns stood as a national record for 9 years, and it still holds the North Carolina state record.
T.A. McLendon, Running Back, Albemarle
Legendary is the best way to describe McLendon's high school career. By the time he graduated, he held the national records for career touchdowns (178), single-season touchdowns (71), and career points (1,070). In his final game, he rushed for 289 yards and a state-record seven touchdowns to lead Albermarle to a state championship.
Kevin Parks, Running Back, West Rowan
Parks started as a freshman and only rushed for less than 2,000 yards once in his career. Arguably the most decorated player in state history, he set national records for career rushing attempts (1,370) and games with at least 100 rushing yards (55). His state records include career rushing yards (10,895) and most rushing yards in a season (3,794).
Julius Peppers, Running Back, Southern Nash
Everyone knows Peppers for his Hall of Fame defensive career, which he played mostly with the Carolina Panthers. However, his journey began long before that as a star in the North Carolina high school football scene. He was a three-sport star at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, but once he started playing football as a sophomore, he thrived on the gridiron, finding most of his high school success at running back.
Brandon Spikes, Linebacker, Crest
Spikes was regarded as one of the best linebacker prospects in the country for his class and for good reason. As a junior, he totaled 75 tackles, and a year later, he totaled 98 tackles, seven interceptions, and five forced fumbles. He would go on to play six years in the NFL.
Mario Williams, Defensive End, Richlands
Williams was the definition of an "ironman" athlete, starting all 48 games of his high school career, including a senior season where he starred at defensive end and running back. While rushing for 590 yards and three touchdowns that season, he also recorded 87 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and five forced fumbles. His hype continued all the way through college as he was taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.
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Who's the greatest North Carolina high school football player of all time?This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vote for North Carolina's all-time best high school football player