Charlotte High Schools Stand Out as NFL Talent Factory, Landing Fifth in Nation

Local high schools sent 14 players to NFL opening day rosters in 2025, pushing Charlotte to fifth place among U.S. cities. This marks a sharp rise from last year's count of 10 players.

At the front stands Mallard Creek High, with three pros making their mark: Jordan Davis guards the line for Philadelphia, D.J. Humphries blocks for Los Angeles, while Trenton Simpson tackles for Baltimore. Not far behind, West Meck produced two stars: Dyami Brown catches passes in Jacksonville, as Delmar "DJ" Glaze suits up for Las Vegas.

These athletes spread across 11 schools throughout Charlotte's public and private system. Under center, Charlotte Latin's Daniel Jones now leads Indianapolis, while Myers Park's Drake Maye throws passes in New England.

Providence Day's own Ikem Ekwonu wears Carolina's black and blue. The city's talent runs deep - Cedric Gray hits hard for Tennessee, James Pearce Jr. rushes the edge in Atlanta, and Garrett Bradbury snaps the ball in New England.

This count stays strict to Charlotte's borders. It skips nearby spots like Rock Hill, the self-named "Football City USA," keeping focus on city limits alone.

Yet the wider Charlotte region shines brighter still. British Brooks runs wild for Houston after starring at Ashbrook High. Emanuel Wilson, fresh from North Meck, now packs the punch in Green Bay's backfield. Sam Howell, who lit up Friday nights at Sun Valley, slings passes in Philadelphia.

Charlotte's football stars fill every spot on the field. From the trenches to the backfield, these athletes prove the city breeds winners at all positions.

Each NFL opening day, the league tracks where players learned their craft. Their database shows every player's high school roots.