Week 11 is here which means that the postseason kicks off in a little over a week. The 615 is loaded with elite high school football talent year-in and year-out.
This year is no exception.
The 615 Preps crew decided to switch some things up and now that the regular season is nearing its end, the guys decided to put together their dream team for the year.
Please note that these do not replace our end-of-season awards or All-Area teams.
Here’s a look at who Chris thought deserved to be on his team.
Offense
Quarterback
Braden Graham, Riverdale, Sr.: I’m looking for someone who will take care of the ball and Graham has done that while still throwing it all over the place – just one interception while passing for more than 2,400 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Running backs
Tyson Wolcott, Friendship Christian, Sr.: The area’s top rusher is a no-brainer. Wolcott averages 226.2 yards per game and has 34 rushing touchdowns through nine games. He’ll provide great depth on defense as well.
Daune Morris, Oakland, Jr.: He’s been a dynamic playmaker in a loaded backfield for the team that keeps doing what it does week in and week out. And he’s only going to get better in the playoffs.
Wide receivers
Brock Montgomery, Riverdale, Sr.: Montgomery has been Braden Graham’s favorite target and he’s finding the end zone on one out of every four receptions this season – 11 TDs on 43 catches. He also averages 115 yards per game, more than anyone in the area.
Arnett Hayes, BGA, Jr.: He’s the top receiver most of you don’t know about because of the Wildcats’ overall struggles, but Hayes has 11 TDs on 50 catches and leads the area in yards as well.
Charlie Becker, Father Ryan, Sr.: Becker’s scored on better than a third of his receptions this year (12 TDs on 29 receptions) despite missing some time.
Offensive linemen
John Wayne Oliver, CPA, Sr.: He’s named after The Duke and might be as intimidating on the line. He’s my top lineman in the area and there’s no way he’s not anchoring this unit.
Luke Masterson, FRA, Sr.: An undervalued part of FRA’s success has been its line play – Masterson leads on both sides of the ball.
Jesse Perry, MTCS, Sr.: Perry’s play has helped lead the Cougars to heights they’ve never reached before, with a running attack going for more than 200 yards per game.
Javiar Gaspar, Smith County, Sr.: Good luck going up against the 6-foot-4, 345-pound Gaspar – the Owls’ ground game leans on him to open big holes, and he consistently does.
Chauncey Gooden, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Gooden is more than happy to lean on opponents all night – and does it on both sides of the ball.
Athlete
Javion Kinnard, Pearl-Cohn, Jr.: Kinnard has 868 yards of total offense on 52 touches this season – that’s 16.7 yards every time he touches the ball. I don’t care that he hasn’t carried it more than 43 times this year – he makes it count when he does.
Kicker
Roman Mathis, Davidson Academy, Jr.: Mathis has been consistent this year and has the leg to produce touchbacks on kickoffs, which I’m big on.
Defense
Defensive Linemen/EDGE
Atticus Fiorita, Mt. Juliet, Jr.: If I’m starting an All-Name team, Fiorita’s on it, too. Ball carriers don’t have fun running near him, because he simply puts them into the ground.
Ethan Utley, Ensworth, Jr.: Ensworth’s defense doesn’t give up much when Utley can wreak havoc in opponents’ backfields.
Glenn Seabrooks III, Davidson Academy, Sr.: A true force in the middle, one-on-one blocking usually doesn’t get it done against Seabrooks – and he also has a pick-six this year, too.
Eric Hazzard, Page, Jr.: Hazzard seems to spend more time in opponents’ backfields than most – and he’s just a junior. He is the engine that powers the Patriots’ defense.
Linebackers
Zeion Simpson-Smith, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.: He’s the unbeaten Firebirds’ top tackler on arguably the state’s top defense. Oh, and he’s also averaging 11.9 yards per carry on offense, too.
Edwin Spillman, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: The homing missile of the Mustangs’ defense, Spillman is always around the ball. And, if I need a short-yardage run, he’s not bad to put in the backfield, either.
Korey Smith, Oakland, Sr.: I need linebackers who get to the ball carrier looking to do damage, and Oakland’s top senior defender is one of those.
Crews Law, CPA, Sr.: Hard to leave off anyone wearing No. 11 for the Lions these days. Law gets it done on both sides of the ball, but here he’ll finish out a ruthless linebacking corps.
Defensive Backs
Kaleb Beasley, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: There’s a reason teams don’t throw to Beasley’s side much – he finds ways to create takeaways even with limited chances.
Johnny Silvestri, Brentwood: I had several I could have put here, but Silvestri is an outstanding tackler (85 total stops) and ball-hawk (six interceptions) backing a defense that’s allowed all of one opponent to reach 20 points this year.
Ondre Evans, CPA: Like Beasley, Evans doesn’t see many teams throw to his side – and it’s usually not a good result when they do.
Athlete
Dominic Reed, Centennial: A true two-way star that is a difficult matchup on either side of the ball. He should win Mr. Football in Class 5A.
Punter
Jacob Taylor, Oakland: He doesn’t have to punt much – he’s averaging one attempt per game – but at 44.5 yards per punt, he’s nearly four yards better than anyone else in our coverage area.