Here are the 48 Gastonia, Shelby area products playing FCS football in 2023

The nation’s premier college football programs aren’t the only ones taking notice of the hotbed that is Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties.

Schools at the FCS level continue to fill roster spots with local talent, with 48 former standouts primed to take the field on Saturdays this fall. No one has supplemented its roster with talent from the tri-county more than Gardner-Webb, which has 15 area products listed on its 2023 roster.

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“(Before I arrived), Gardner-Webb was seen as somewhat of a last option,” said coach Tre Lamb. “Now it’s a lot more attractive (in Cleveland County and beyond).”

Norfolk State has also tapped into its Cleveland County pipeline in recent years. Coached by Crest alum Dawson Odums, the Spartans feature four local players — three of them signed as part of their 2023 recruiting class.

Davidson also has four former area standouts on its roster.

Here are products from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties on FCS rosters ahead of this upcoming season.

Ashbrook

• Kendall Massey, Gardner-Webb (senior)

Burns

• L.J. Allen, Alabama State (freshman)

• Dorien Starnes, Virginia Military Institute (junior)

• Ryan Thompson, Norfolk State (freshman)

Crest

• Mari Adams, Davidson (sophomore)

• Caleb Borders, Gardner-Webb (redshirt sophomore)

• Jalin Graham, Gardner-Webb (senior)

• Brandon McCall, Gardner-Webb (freshman)

• DaVonyae Pettis, The Citadel (freshman)

• Christopher Richardson, Gardner-Webb (senior)

• T.J. Ruff, Charleston Southern (redshirt sophomore)

• Quentin Zanders, Western Carolina (fifth-year senior)

East Lincoln

• Landon Glezen, Davidson (freshman)

Forestview

• Jaycob Neely, Gardner-Webb (sophomore)

• Camury Reid, Western Carolina (redshirt freshman)

Hunter Huss

• Tony Davis, Eastern Kentucky (redshirt senior)

• Anthony Dye, Presbyterian (redshirt sophomore)

• Marcus Mauney, Yale (graduate senior)

• Lamagea McDowell, Campbell (senior)

Kings Mountain

• Dariyon Black, Gardner-Webb (freshman)

• Isaiah Eskridge, Norfolk State (freshman)

• Jake Lloyd, Gardner-Webb (freshman)

• Javari Rice-Wilson, Norfolk State (junior)

• A.J. Richardson, Norfolk State (freshman)

• Jamie Wilson, Gardner-Webb (redshirt sophomore)

Mountain Island Charter

• Elijah Burris, Hampton (junior)

• Christian Hunter, Campbell (redshirt sophomore)

• Mason King, Hampton (graduate student)

• Ashton Miller, Davidson (freshman)

• JoTwan Patton, Presbyterian (freshman)

• Gabe Stephens, Eastern Kentucky (redshirt sophomore)

North Lincoln

• Daniel Carter, Davidson (junior)

• Bryson Esser, Richmond (freshman)

Shelby

• Torrian Arrington, Gardner-Webb (redshirt sophomore)

• Sam Baldree, Gardner-Webb (sophomore)

• Jack Berkowitz, Elon (freshman)

• Isaiah Bess, Charleston Southern (redshirt sophomore)

• Tyler Boyce, Wofford (freshman)

• Micah Daniels, Southern (freshman)

• Dorian Davis, Towson (redshirt junior)

• JaKeith Hamilton, Furman (freshman)

• Jacari Shell, Gardner-Webb (redshirt sophomore)

South Point

• Jackson Blee, William & Mary (freshman)

• Jacob Patterson, Gardner-Webb (redshirt freshman)

Stuart Cramer

• Eja Brice, Gardner-Webb (redshirt sophomore)

• Nathan Linkous, Western Carolina (redshirt sophomore)

• Arias Nash, Mercer (sophomore)

• Justin Rocquemore, Gardner-Webb (freshman)

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: NCHSAA football: 48 Gastonia, Shelby products playing in FCS in 2023