HOMETOWN HEROES: Former Grier Middle School, Mountain Island High star on national award watch list

By Richard Walker

Elijah Burris, a former Grier Middle School and Mountain Island Charter star, was last week named to the Black College Football Player of the Year 2022 Watch List.

A sophomore at Hampton University, Burris rushed for 640 yards and six touchdowns last season for the Pirates to win Big South Offensive Freshman of the Year and second team All-Big South running back honors.

This season, Hampton’s first in the Colonial Athletic Association, the Pirates open their season on Sept. 3 at home against Howard at 6 p.m.

The Black College Football Player of the Year Award is presented annually to the most outstanding football player from a Historically Black College & University. Four finalists will be unveiled after the season with the winner announced during halftime of the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl that will be played Feb. 25, 2025in New Orleans and broadcast live on NFL Network.

Burris, a Gastonia native, is a 2020 Mountain Island Charter graduate who set Gaston County career rushing (7,515 yards) and scoring (646 points) records. At Grier, he helped the Knights win the 2014 and 2015 Gaston County titles while rushing for 2,375 yards and scoring 246 points in two seasons.

Burris is one of several former standouts from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties who are playing college football this year. Here are some others as not all schools with local products have updated their respective websites with 2022 rosters:

Appalachian State: Santana Hopper (Shelby 2022 graduate) is a freshman defensive lineman, Carter Greene (Crest 2022) a freshman defensive back), Nate Blanton, Jr. (Crest 2019) a freshman linebacker and Lance Ware (Shelby 1992) a senior assistant to the head coach for the Mounaineers, who open on Sept. 3 at home against North Carolina at noon.

Averett: Dondra Burris (Huss 2019) is a senior defensive end, Namari Borders (Crest 2019) a senior cornerback, Dkyieon Byers-Henderson (Forestview 2019) a senior offensive lineman, Justin Dunavant (North Gaston 2020) a junior defensive tackle, Jabbari Foster (Crest 2016) a senior cornerback, Nathan Hopper (Shelby 2022) and D.J. Fuller (Crest 2022) are on the roster and David Clark (Kings Mountain 2007) is an assistant coach for the Cougars, who open on Sept. 3 at home against Apprentice School at 6 p.m.

Barton: Dameon Spikes (Crest 2019) and Dylan Williams (Mountain Island Charter 2019) are sophomore defensive backs and Darnell Johnson (Cramer 2017) is a senior defensive back for the Bulldogs, who open on Sept. 1 at Chowan at 6 p.m.

Bluefield State: Tanner Leeson (Mountain Island Charter 2022) is a freshman defensive linamen for the Rams, who open on Aug. 27 at Thomas More at 7 p.m.

Campbell: Lamagea McDowell (Huss 2020) is a junior running back and Christian Hunter (Mountain Island Charter 2021) is a freshman defensive back for the Camels, who open on Sept. 1 at home against the The Citadel at 6 p.m.

Catawba: Kujuan Pryor (Burns 2020) is a freshman wide receiver, Calvin Stephens (Mountain Island Charter 2018) is a sophomore defensive back, Jaylen Mims (Kings Mountain 2021) is a freshman running back, Wyatt Painter (North Lincoln 2020) is a junior offensive lineman and Kobe Christian (Highland Tech 2020) is a freshman tight end for the Indians, who open on Sept. 3 at Livingstone at 6 p.m.

Charleston Southern: Isaiah Bess (Shelby 2020) is a freshman quarterback and T.J. Ruff (Crest 2021) is a freshman running back for the Buccaneers, who open on Sept. 3 at home against Western Carolina at noon.

Charlotte: Calvin Camp (Shelby 2017) is a senior running back and Prince Bemah (Huss 2019) is a junior linebacker for the 49ers, who open on Aug. 27 at Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m.

Clemson: Kyle Richardson (South Point 1996) is an assistant coach for the Tigers, who open on Sept. 5 at Georgia Tech at 8 p.m.

Davidson: Mari Adams (Crest 2022) is a freshman running back and Daniel Carter (North Lincoln 2021) is a sophomore safety for the Wildcats, who open on Sept. 3 at Jacksonville State at 1 p.m.

Duke: Tony Davis (Huss 2019) is a junior defensive back and Eric Gallman (Mountain Island Charter 2017) is a graduate wide receiver for the Blue Devils, who open on Sept. 2 at home against Temple at 7:30 p.m.

East Carolina: Aapri Washington (Mountain Island Charter 2017) is a graduate cornerback, Devin King (South Point 2020) is a sophomore safety and Carson Smith (South Point 2021) is a freshman kicker for the Pirates, who open on Sept. 3 at home against N.C. State at noon.

Emory & Henry: Justin Hill (East Gaston 2022) is a freshman running back for the Wasps, who open on Sept. 3 at home against Concord, W.Va., at 1 p.m.

Gardner-Webb: Tyler Arrington (Shelby 2021) is a sophomore defensive back, Kendall Massey (Ashbrook 2020) and Jalin Graham (Crest 2020) are junior running backs, Jamie Wilson (Kings Mountain 2021) is a sophomore long snapper, Larry Dowdy (South Point 2019) is a junior offensive lineman, Eli Brooks (Crest 2020) is a junior wide receiver, Christopher Richardson (Crest 2020) is a junior defensive lineman and Stormy Mosteller (Burns 2018) is a senior defensive end and Torrian Arrington (Shelby 2021), Caleb Borders (Crest 2021), Jaycob Neely (Forestview 2022) and Jacob Patterson (South Point 2022) are on the roster for the Bulldogs, who open on Sept. 1 at home against Limestone at 7 p.m.

Guilford: Cale Gibson (South Point 2019) is a junior running back, Skylar Evans (Lincolnton 2018) is a graduate defensive back, Paulie Menegay (East Lincoln 2021) is a sophomore running back, Nick Sigmon (North Gaston 2021) ia s sophomore wide receiver, Cade Ratliff (South Point 2019) is a senior kicker, Blake Moore (Cramer 2021) is a sophomore wide receiver and Jad Stetson (East Gaston 2020) is a junior defensive lineman for the Quakers, who open on Sept. 3 at Greensboro College at noon.

Howard: Malik Hyatt (Ashbrook 2017) is a graduate tight end for the Bison, who open on Aug. 27 in Atlanta against Alabama State at 7 p.m.

Lenoir-Rhyne: James Ussery (Kings Mountain 2020) is a freshman safety, B.J. Ramseur (Crest 2019) is a junior linebacker, Xavier Jennings (Burns 2020) is a sophomore offensive lineman, Shayle Gash (Shelby 2021) is a freshman offensive lineman and Rae-Kwon Young-TUrner (Crest 2019) is a junior defensive end for the Bears, who open on Sept. 3 at home against Virginia State at 6 p.m.

Limestone: Marquis Fewell (Kings Mountain 2019) is a junior defensive back and Wesley Barker (South Point 2018) is a graduate offensive lineman for the Saints, who open on Sept. 1 at Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m.

Maryville: Jace Brittain (Cherryville 2019) is a senior offensive lineman for the Scots, who open on Sept. 3 at home against Berry at 7 p.m.

Mercer: Arias Nash (Cramer 2022) is a freshman offensive lineman for the Bears, who open on Aug. 27 at home against Morehead State at 7 p.m.

Methodist: Trevor Hargett (Huss 2019) is a junior kicker and Nick Wiggins (Huss 2018) is a senior offensive lineman and Kadin Beaver (Cherryville 2022), Dameian Bentley (Cramer 2022), Myles Hamilton (Cramer 2022) and Amir Waddell (Cramer 2022) are on the roster for the Monarchs, who open on Sept. 3 at home against Shenandoah at 1 p.m.

Missouri: Shelby’s Ty’Ron Hopper is a junior linebacker, Dameon Wilson (Kings Mountain 2021) is a freshman linebacker and Charlie Harbison (Crest 1978, Gardner-Webb 1995) is an associated head coach for the Tigers, who open on Sept. 1 at home against Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m.

Newberry: Todd Knight (Gardner-Webb 1989) is head coach of the Red Wolves, who open Sept. 3 at home against Allen at 6 p.m.

Norfolk State: Javari Rice-Wilson (Kings Mountain 2021) is a sophomore defensive lineman and Dawson Odums (Crest 1992) is head caoch for the Spartans, who open on Sept. 3 at Marshall at 3:30 p.m.

North Carolina: Dontavius Nash (Huss 2021) is a freshman defensive back, Malaki Hamrick (Shelby 2022) and Gabe Stephens (Mountain Island Charter 2021) are freshmen linebackers, Aiden Cloninger (East Gaston 2022) is a freshman wide receiver, Spencer Triplett (Shelby 2020) is a sophomore long snapper, Kendall Karr (Cramer 2020) is a sophomore tight end, Kings Mountain’s Kobe Paysour is a freshman wide receiver and Todd Pledger (Mountain Island Charter 2021) is a freshman kicker, A.J. Blue (North Gaston 2008) is an assistant strength coach and senior running back British Brooks (Ashbrook 2018) suffered a season-ending injury in preseason drills for the Tar Heels, who open on Aug. 27 at home against Florida A&M at 8 p.m.

North Carolina A&T: Zach Leslie (Burns 2016) is a graduate wide receiver, Devin Harrell (Huss 2017) is a graduate defensive lineman and Kendrick Leslie Jr. (Burns 2020) is a freshman wide receiver for the Aggies, who open on Sept. 3 against North Carolina Central in Charlotte at 7:30 p.m.

North Carolina State: Former East Lincoln standout Jalen Frazier is a freshman safety, Travali Price (North Lincoln 2021) is a freshman defensive end and Jaylon Scott (Shelby 2019) is a junior linebacker for the Wolfpack, who open on Sept. 3 at East Carolina at noon.

North Carolina Wesleyan: Travon Clark (Ashbrook 2021) is a sophomore running back for the Battling Bishops, who open on Sept. 3 at Randolph-Macon at 6 p.m.

Presbyterian: Anthony Dye (Huss 2020) is a sophomore defensive end for the Blue Hose, who open on Sept. 3 at Austin Peay at 7 p.m.

Tennessee State: Rayonta Rose (South Point 2020) is a freshman wide receiver for the Tigers, who open on Sept. 2 at Eastern Michigan at 7 p.m.

Towson: Dorian Davis (Shelby 2019) is a sophomore defensive back for the Tigers, who open on Sept. 3 at Bucknell at 6 p.m.

Virginia: Sam Brady (North Lincoln 2020) is a sophomore linebacker and former Burns standout Jay Guillermo is a graduate assistant for the Cavaliers, who open on Sept. 3 at home against Parkwood at 12:30 p.m.

VMI: Dorien Starnes (Burns 2021) is a sophomore defensive lineman for the Keydets, who open on Sept. 1 at Wake Forest at 7:30 p.m.

Virginia Tech: Dax Hollifield (Shelby 2018) is a senior linebacker and Jack Hollifield (Shelby 2021) is a freshman offensive lineman for the Hokies, who open on Sept. 2 at Old Dominion at 7 p.m.

Virginia Lynchburg: Omari Hunt (South Point 2021) is a freshman defensive back for the Dragons, who open on Sept. 1 at Virginia Union at 7 p.m.

Wake Forest: Nick Sharpe (Huss 2021) is a freshman offensive lineman and Elijah Hall (Crest 2022) is a freshman defensive lineman for the Deacons, who open on Sept. 1 at home against VMI at 7:30 p.m.

Western Carolina: Quenten Zanders (Crest 2018) is a senior runningback, Camury Reid (Forestview 2022) is a freshman runningback and Nathan Linkous (Cramer 2021) is a freshman offensive lineman for the Catamounts, who open on Sept. 3 at Charleston Southern at noon.

Winston-Salem State: Amontre Finger (Lincolnton 2021) is a freshman runningback for the Wolves, who open on Sept. 4 against Central State in Canton, Ohio at 4 p.m.