Fourteen high school football standouts from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties have been selected for the 2026 Queen City Senior Bowl.
The annual all-star game unveiled its team rosters on Saturday, Oct. 24. Scheduled for 12:30 p.m., Dec. 19 at Olympic High School in Charlotte.
Players are predominantly selected from schools in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Rowan and Union Counties, though rosters often feature players from other neighboring counties as well.
IN ELITE COMPANY: 3 Cleveland County football standouts, coach picked for Shrine Bowl of Carolinas
EAST vs. WEST: 8 Gastonia, Shelby football players chosen as NCCA East-West all-stars
Here is a list of area players selected to play in the 2026 Queen City Senior Bowl as members of the West Team.
- Nick Albright, Crest OL
- Davis Beam, East Lincoln QB
- Markalen Camp, Burns LB
- Max Davis, Burns RB
- Paxton Dobbins, Crest DL
- Khali Clark, Crest LB
- Brayden Fortenberry, Stuart Cramer LB
- C.J. Hill, Bessemer City WR
- Savion Lindsay, Ashbrook RB
- Jordan Littlejohn, Kings Mountain DL
- J.J. McElhaney, Cherryville ATH
- Jaydin Phillips, Ashbrook OL
- Anthony Smith, Stuart Cramer OL
- Ryan Umscheid, Mountain Island Charter K
In addition to area players, Cherryville football coach Patrick Bowman is also serving as a West Team assistant coach.
The group is the latest to be selected to participate in postseason all-star games.
Florida State recruit and Crest wideout Majay Thompson, Gardner-Webb commit and Burns offensive lineman Gage Camp, as well as Shelby all-purpose man Kendrick Raper will represent North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Burns football coach David Devine was also tabbed as an assistant for the North Carolina side.
Played annually in Spartanburg (South Carolina) High’s Viking Stadium, it is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
Eight other area standouts will play the same afternoon in the NCCA East-West All-Star Game at Grimsley High’s Jamieson Stadium in Greensboro.
North Lincoln running back Landen Agee, South Point defensive lineman Gregory Blair, Shelby wideout Immanuel Collins, Burns offensive lineman Beau Harrill, Shelby linebacker Landon Hollifield, Crest defensive back Javion Hopper, Ashbrook’s A.J. McClain, as well as Ashbrook’s Phillips were among the local selections. Shelby football coach Mike Wilbanks will serve as West Team head coach, with North Lincoln head man Brad Baker an assistant.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 14 Gastonia, Shelby football standouts earn Queen City Senior Bowl nod