As the regular season nears its end, it’s time to look ahead to the postseason and award season. One of the biggest awards any player can win is to win the Mr. Football award for their class.
Here’s a look at 30 players in our coverage area who deserve to be looked at as potential Mr. Football finalists in each class, plus Kicker of the Year.
Note: Mr. Football is a regular-season award only, and nominations are typically due the Friday of Week 11.
Class 6A
Baylor Hayes, Brentwood, Sr.: Hayes moved to Tennessee from Florida ahead of his senior year and hasn’t missed a beat. In the Bruins’ 8-0 start, Hayes has completed 94-of-148 passes for 1,254 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Braden Graham, Riverdale, Sr.: After some struggles as a junior, Graham has quickly ascended to one of the best quarterbacks in the state this season. He’s completed 123-of-172 passes for 1,796 and 24 touchdowns with just one interception.
Daune Morris, Oakland, Jr.: Morris has quickly established himself as one of the Patriots’ top offensive threats accounting for 1,125 total yards, 15 rushing touchdowns and three receiving touchdowns.
James Dalrymple, Clarksville, Jr.: Dalrymple has been dominant from the jump this season rushing for 854 yards, 17 touchdowns, and throwing for two more. His production has played a major factor in Clarksville setting a new season scoring record through the first eight weeks.
Atticus Fiorita, Mt. Juliet, Jr.: Fiorita has been a defensive monster for the Golden Bears recording 40 tackles, a team-high 11 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles.
Class 5A
Dominic Reed, Centennial, Sr.: Reed is the Cougars’ do-it-all man. On defense, he’s racked up 90 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six quarterback pressures, five pass breakups, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Offensively he’s rushed for 862 yards and 18 touchdowns on 66 carries in five games playing offense, and he also has a passing touchdown.
Eric Hazzard, Page, Jr.: The defensive leader for a stout Patriots defense, Hazzard has been on a tear this season racking up 40 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and five sacks off of the edge.
Kaiki Baker, Hillsboro, Sr.: All Baker does is fill up the stat sheet for the Burros. He has 27 receptions for 715 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with 49 tackles, six pass breakups, five interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns.
Class 4A
Gabe Borders, Macon County, Jr.: Borders continues to do a little bit of everything for the Tigers. He’s the team’s leading rusher with 529 yards and nine touchdowns as well as their leader in receptions with 21 for 407 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three kicks returned for touchdowns as well as a punt returned for a touchdown.
Keshawn Tarleton, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.: Tarleton leads a loaded Firebirds offense full of explosive firepower. This season he’s completed 60-of-99 passes for 1,310 yards and 20 touchdowns to go along with four rushing touchdowns.
Zeion Simpson-Smith, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.: Simpson-Smith leads the Firebirds in nearly every defensive statistic this season with 58 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, six sacks, three fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. He also has 346 rushing yards and two touchdowns on offense.
Class 3A
Brian Rager, Liberty Creek, Sr.: Rager might be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the area this year, completing 67 percent of his passes for 990 yards and 12 touchdowns to go along with 614 yards on the ground and eight more touchdowns.
Justyce Law, Stratford, Sr.: Law’s been a spark plug for the Spartans offense, completing 107-of-211 passes for 1,814 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 347 yards and six more touchdowns.
Keith Johnson, East Nashville, So.: Johnson’s had a breakout sophomore season for the Eagles, rushing for 888 yards and 14 touchdowns on 105 carries.
Class 2A
Isaiah Groves, East Robertson, Jr.: Groves is seemingly a touchdown waiting to happen anytime he touches the ball. He’s rushed for 1,553 yards and 15 touchdowns on 142 carries to go along with three receiving touchdowns.
Javiar Gaspar, Smith County, Sr.: Not only does Gaspar anchor the Owls’ offensive line helping produce a brutal rushing attack, but he’s also one of their top defensive lineman constantly finding his way into the backfield. Gaspar has 38 total tackles, two sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Oh, and he’s also the Owls’ primary kicker, going 15-of-18 on extra points and 1-of-4 on field goal attempts.
Division II-AAA
Edwin Spillman, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: Spillman has been a wrecking ball once again this season keeping opposing offenses on their toes at all times. The Vols’ commitment has racked up 77 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.
Ethan Utley, Ensworth, Jr.: Utley has been a constant menace in the backfield this season racking up 23.5 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, and four forced fumbles.
George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: The results may not be there so far this season but MacIntyre has been able to prove time and time again why he’s one of the best junior quarterbacks in the country. He’s completed 187-of-278 passes for 2,218 yards and 16 touchdowns to go along with three rushing scores.
Division II-AA
Elijah Robb, Pope Prep, Sr.: The Knights may have had their struggles this year, but Robb has continued to prove he’s one of the best in the state. Entering Week 9, Robb has racked up 1,249 yards and 13 touchdowns on 203 carries.
John Wayne Oliver, CPA, Sr.: Offensive linemen may not get the love skill position guys do but there’s no denying that Oliver is the wheel that steers CPA’s offense. Running behind the Ole Miss commit, the Lions average 168.1 yards per game on the ground and have racked up 19 rushing touchdowns while he’s recorded 38 pancake blocks.
Knox Roberts, Davidson Academy, Sr.: Roberts has been at his best this season. Through eight weeks Roberts led the Bears to a 7-1 record completing 72% of his passes for 2,039 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Ty Clark III, FRA, Sr.: Following a sensational breakout junior year, Clark has only upped his game as a senior. Entering FRA’s off week, Clark has 1,174 yards and 20 touchdowns on 118 carries.
Division II-A
Eli Wilson, MTCS, Sr.: Is there anything Wilson can’t do for the Cougars? This season he’s rushed 982 yards and 16 touchdowns on 65 carries, caught a touchdown pass, and recorded 23 tackles
Mitchell Carey, DCA, Jr.: Carey’s accuracy through the air makes the Wildcats offense a constant threat. He’s thrown for 1,971 yards and 27 touchdowns through eight weeks.
Tyson Wolcott, Friendship Christian, Sr.: Tyson Wolcott is a touchdown-scoring machine for the Commanders scoring 28 on the ground to go along with 1,643 yards on 178 carries. He’s also one of their top defensive players recording 45 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and two sacks.
Kicker
Issac Hayes, Brentwood, Sr.: Hayes has been clutch for the Bruins going 24-of-25 on PATs and 5-of-7 on field goals with a long of 44 yards. He also kicked the game-winning field goal earlier in the year against Brentwood Academy.
Landric Mayeski, Independence, Jr.: Mayeski is the definition of efficiency when it comes to kicking. He’s 27-of-27 on PATs and 5-of-6 on field goals with a long of 48 yards.
London Bironas, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: Bironas boasts one of the biggest legs in the state and has kept it busy this year. To go along with his 28 touchbacks, he’s 14-for-14 on PATs and 5-of-9 on field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards.
Roman Mathis, Davidson Academy, Jr.: Mathis may not be talked about enough when it comes to kickers in Middle Tennessee. Arguably the most efficient stat-wise, he’s only missed one of his 38 PATs and is 6-of-8 on field goal attempts with a long of 47 yards.
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