Who is all-time greatest North Carolina high school football player?

North Carolina has a sports history as rich and legendary as any other state in the country. That tradition carries over to the gridiron as several notable football stars got their starts in the Tar Heel State. Who is the all-time best North Carolina high school football player, the top-tier talent who defined Friday Night Lights in the state?

More: Who's the all-time greatest Tennessee high school football player? VOTE now As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary , USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.

These are our selections for the football players who defined North Carolina. The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standout players at the high school level before playing at the next level. Did we miss someone?

There's a spot for you to write in your own candidate who wasn't included on our list of 15. Jaire Alexander, Cornerback, Rocky River Now regarded as one of the best corners in the NFL, Alexander has been a standout on the field dating all the way back to his playing days at Rocky River. Then he was a standout on both sides of the ball as one of the state's best receivers and cornerbacks.