Preseason North Carolina All-State Football Teams presented by Suddenlink by Altice

Video: Drake Maye sophomore highlights

The Tar Heel State has an abundance of talent in the classes of 2020 and 2021 with 29 players ranked among the top 300 prospects in the junior and senior class according to 247Sports.

Many of those 29 prospects are represented on the Preseason North Carolina All-State Football Teams presented by Suddenlink by Altice. The selections were spread across the state as Myers Park (Charlotte), Leesville Road (Raleigh) and Weddington (Matthews) are the only schools with three or more players selected for preseason All-American honors.

The North Carolina preseason team is part of a series of all-state teams MaxPreps is releasing prior to the start of the 2019 high school football season. California, Arizona and Nevada were previously released and we've got seven more coming up until Aug. 28.

QB — Drake Maye, Myers Park (Charlotte) | Jr. | 6-4 | 200

The 2021 Alabama commit completed 188-of-291 passes for 3,201 yards and 36 touchdowns last season. He threw just five interceptions and averaged 246.2 yards per game in 13 games.

As a junior, Ocean completed 238-of-358 passes for 3,725 yards and 36 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. He led Cleveland (Clayton) to the 3AA eastern regional final, averaging 248.3 yards per game.

The North Carolina pledge led the state in yards per game last season, averaging 236 yards in 12 games. He rushed for 2,832 yards on 194 attempts with 34 touchdowns and 14.6 yards per carry.

The 5-star all purpose back carried the ball 206 times for 1,417 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. He also had 28 receptions for 393 yards with six touchdowns and recorded 49 tackles and two interceptions on defense.

The Texas A&M bound receiver caught 58 passes for 1,003 yards and scored 12 total touchdowns last season. Son of the former 10,000-yard Carolina Panthers receiver is set for a monster senior year receiving passes from Maye.

The future North Carolina Tar Heel caught 38 passes for 635 yards and eight touchdowns last season to lead the Storm to the NCHSAA 3A state tournament.

The 3-star guard was the only non-senior to earn N.C. Associated Press All-State honors as an offensive lineman last season.

The Clemson pledge checks in as the No. 5 offensive guard from the Class of 2020; set to be the catalyst for the Pride's line this season.

Earned first team NCISAA all-state honors to lead the Greenies to the NCISAA Division I state championship game. He'll anchor one of the most explosive passing games in the state.

Ranked as the No. 4 offensive guard in the Class of 2021, he also checks in as the seventh best junior from the Tar Heel State.

The 2020 North Carolina State commit is a top 50 offensive guard in the senior class.

AP — Kobe Paysour, Kings Mountain | Jr. | 6-1 | 175
The first team MaxPreps Sophomore All-American caught 71 passes for 1,596 yards and scored 26 touchdowns, setting a new school record in all three categories. He also had a pair of interceptions, including a 100-yard pick six that led to a crucial playoff win.

The Stanford commit earned N.C. Associated Press All-State honors last season after connecting on 12-of-14 field goals, including a 52-yarder. 79 of his 81 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.

DL — Payton Page, Dudley (Greensboro) | Sr. | 6-4 | 315

Finished his sophomore season with 80 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks to earn N.C. Associated Press All-State honors.

The 5-star defensive end is the No. 1 rated player in North Carolina and had a strong junior season with 12 sacks and 25 tackles for loss.

North Carolina pledge earned first team NCISAA All-State honors last season as the 4-star finished with 78 tackles, 13 sacks and two safeties.

The 3-star defensive end recorded 99 tackles, 22 sacks and two fumble recoveries last season to help guide the Eagles to the NCHSAA class 2A state championship game.

Finished sophomore season with 160 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Named the All-Mecklenburg Defensive Player of the Year and led Cougars to a 14-1 record in 2018.

The No. 5 outside linebacker in the Class of 2020 leads a loaded Mavericks squad before heading to Auburn next season. Finished with 74 tackles and 28 tackles for loss last year.

Finished a very productive sophomore season with 137 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five sacks and a pair of touchdowns.

The 4-star safety is the third Mustang player to earn preseason first team honors (most of any team in state). The 2020 North Carolina pledge recorded 69 tackles last season.

Parsons is a two-way star, finishing with 89 tackles and 10 interceptions returned for a pair of touchdowns. He also had 36 receptions for 726 yards and 12 touchdowns as a receiver.

Talented 4-star Class of 2021 athlete had 118 tackles and 5 sacks. He also had 10 receptions for 215 yards and four touchdowns during his sophomore campaign.

AP — Breon Pass, Reidsville | Jr. | 6-0 | 160
The ultimate do-it-all guy for the undefeated 2A state champions, totaling 1,321 all-purpose yards as a receiver and returner with 15 touchdowns. He also made an impact on defensive with 32 tackles and seven interceptions.

He was busy last season, punting the ball 63 times with an average of 41.7 yards per punt and a long of 65 yards. He also downed 16 punts inside the 20 and connected on 4-of-6 field goal attempts.

QB — Navy Shuler, Christ School (Arden) | Sr. | 6-0 | 195

The 2020 Appalachian State commit completed 254-of-362 passes for a state-leading 4,112 yards and 44 touchdowns with 11 interceptions last year. He averaged 342.7 passing yards per game.

Threw for 3,351 yards and 41 touchdowns with six interceptions in 14 games last season. He completed 61.4 percent of his passes and led the Eagles to the NCHSAA 3A state quarterfinals.

Finished sophomore year with 2,163 yards and 34 touchdowns on 243 carries, averaging 180.3 yards per game. Has offers from Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia State and North Carolina A&T.

The 2020 Wake Forest pledge is set for a monster year after rushing for 1,756 yards and 30 touchdowns on 149 carries last season playing behind North Carolina State freshman Zonovan Knight.

Averaged 97.5 receiving yards per game last season, finishing a terrific sophomore campaign with 74 catches for 1,170 yards and 18 touchdowns. The 3-star has offers from East Carolina, Louisville, Wake Forest and North Carolina State.

The 2020 Wake Forest commit caught 39 passes for 660 yards and six touchdowns during his junior season. He also recorded 10 tackles and had a 64-yard interception return on defense.

The 6-foot-8 offensive tackle holds offers from North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech and East Carolina.

Checks in as the No. 4 ranked offensive lineman in North Carolina's class of 2021. The 3-star has earned offers from North Carolina State, Old Dominion, Liberty and Alabama A&M.

Received nine offers so far as the No. 2 ranked offensive tackle in North Carolina's Class of 2021 with strong measurables to climb the rankings and gain momentum on the recruiting trail.

The No. 4 ranked running back in the junior class had 146 carries for 912 yards and 10 touchdowns, 24 receptions for 277 yards and four touchdowns, and 14 kickoff returns for 300 yards and one touchdown.

Williams proved to be extremely reliable for the NCHSAA 3AA state championships last season, connecting on 70-of-71 on extra points and 18-of-21 on his field goals attempts with a long of 52 yards.

DL — Myles Murphy, Dudley (Greensboro) | Sr. | 6-4 | 280The North Carolina commit finished last season with 53 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Found a way to get into the opponent's backfield with consistency last season as he had 15 sacks and 23 tackles for loss to go with 118 tackles.

The 4-star class of 2021 defensive end was a nightmare for quarterbacks with 15 sacks, 22 tackles for loss and 59 tackles as a sophomore.

2020 North Carolina State pledge was a major force in the trenches last year with 79 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

Last year was the first year the South Carolina played linebacker and he proved up to the task, finishing with 105 tackles, 17 for loss, two sacks and one interception.

Under-the-radar linebacker finished last season with 164 tackles, 100 solo tackles and 28 tackles for loss in 15 games. Cobbs also had five sacks, two interceptions and one touchdown on a pick six.

Finished last season with 150 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 15 games for the defending state champions.

Picked off nine passes last season, had one fumble recovery and recorded 71 tackles to lead Eagles to a strong 10-4 campaign.

The 2021 North Carolina bound defensive back recorded 50 tackles and two interceptions to go along with eight receptions for 163 yards.

DB — Deandre Boykins, Central Cabarrus (Concord) | Jr. | 5-11 | 184
One of the most versatile athletes in the state, recording three interceptions and a touchdown on the defensive end, while carrying the ball 37 times for 274 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Edmonds is widely regarded as the top lockdown corner in the Tar Heel State and is also a dangerous man in the return game. He totaled 33 tackles and returned nine kickoffs for an average of 49.4 yards per return and three touchdowns for the state semifinalists.

HIs versatility was on display last season with 70 receptions for 1,353 yards and 12 touchdowns at receiver. On defense, he had 25 tackles and three interceptions while connecting on 10-of-15 field goals and averaging 37.2 yards per punt.

Served as the kicker and punter last year, averaging 40.3 yards per punt and had a long of 68 yards. He also connected on 8-of-9 field goal attempts and was a perfect 25-of-25 on extra points.