WRAL Sports Fan

College Football

Two N.C. athletes named Parade All-Americans

By Ryan Craig

Jan 22, 2009

When the Parade All-America High School Football Team was announced this week, two North Carolina athletes found themselves on the prestigious list.

Xavier Nixon of Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, N.C., and Donte Moss of Northside High School in Jacksonville, N.C., were among the 58 athletes chosen by coaches, journalists, scouts and recruiters from around the country.

Nixon, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive lineman, has verbally committed to play football for the Florida Gators next year, where he is likely to line up at tackle.Considered one of the most athletic offensive linemen in the nation, Nixon was rated the best offensive tackle nation-wide by Scout.com, and the third-best at the position by Rivals.

Moss will bring his 6-4, 235-pound frame and explosive quickness to the Carolina Tar Heels' defensive line, where he will almost certainly play on one of the ends. Scout.com tabbed Moss as the best defensive end in the country, while Rivals.com had Moss as the nation's second-best weak-side defensive end.