Our fourth annual All-615 Preps teams have been determined by our staff. This year’s Large Class Team is made up of players from teams in Class 6A and Division II-Class AAA.

This is the first group of our postseason honors, and will be followed by the Medium Class and Small Class teams. Both of those will be released later this week.

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WAY-TOO-EARLY RANKINGS: 615 Preps large, medium and small class rankings entering 2024

Team of the Year: Oakland Patriots

The Patriots’ goal of a fourth straight gold ball may have come up short but they more than proved they were the best Large Class team in the 615 this year.

Kevin Creasy’s group finished the year 12-3 and returned to Chattanooga once again. While they lost to Riverdale at the end of the regular season, they bounced back three weeks later with a dominant 56-0 win over the Warriors.

The next week they went on the road and beat Bradley Central 38-17 to secure their spot back in the state title picture.

Player of the Year: Daune Morris, Oakland, Jr.

Welcome to Middle Tennessee, Mr. Morris. In his first year at Oakland, Morris established himself as one of the best in the state leading the Patriots back to the Class 6A championship game.

In a season where he racked up offer after offer, Morris finished his junior year with 2,012 yards rushing and 36 total touchdowns. Morris was also the Patriots’ leading receiver with 586 total yards through the air.

Athlete of the Year: Keshawn Williams, Riverdale, Sr.

Offense, defense, it didn’t matter for Keshawn Williams this year. He did it all for the Warriors.

Offensively, the Michigan State pledge was second on the team with 63 receptions for 874 yards and 14 touchdowns to also go along with one rushing score. On defense, he was just as effective racking up 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five pass deflections, a sack, and an interception.

Offensive Player of the Year: Braden Graham, Riverdale, Sr.

Efficient would be the best way to describe Graham, especially during the regular season. He led the Warriors to the 6-6A Region title and a state quarterfinal appearance.

On the season, he completed 73% of his passes for 3,492 yards and 42 touchdowns with only three interceptions.

Defensive Player of the Year: Atticus Fiorita, Mt. Juliet, Jr.

Fiorita was a constant nuisance in the backfield for opposing quarterbacks and running backs. The rising junior totaled 80 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and an area-high 17 sacks.

He also forced five fumbles, recovered three, and also had three pass breakups.

Lineman of the Year: Chauncey Gooden, Lipscomb Academy, Jr.

You might as well call Gooden the Pancake Man.

Gooden proved that his more than 60 college offers are more than well-deserved as the Mustangs’ top offensive lineman. For the year he racked up 55 pancake blocks.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Daniel Echeverria, Mt. Juliet, Sr.

A Kicker of the Year finalist, Echeverria was efficient both in the kicking and punting department. Punting, he averaged 40.2 yards on 18 punts and pinned eight inside the 20.

As a kicker, he was 30-for-30 on PATs and 10-of-12 on kicks with a long of 50 yards. On field goals longer than 40 yards, he was 7-of-7.

Coach of the Year: Clint Finch, Brentwood

Brentwood’s season came to an end thanks to eventual state champion Houston in the state semifinals, but it was still a historic year for the Bruins under Finch.

Finch’s squad completed their first undefeated season since 1997, won the region title, and made a deep postseason run with one of the most complete teams in the area. Every year under Finch, the Bruins have gotten better with this being the best so far in his three seasons at the helm.

First Team

Offense

Quarterback: Baylor Hayes, Brentwood 

Running Back: Ashton Jones, Oakland, Harrison Edwards, Mt. Juliet

Wide Receiver: Aaron Mattingly, Green Hill; Brock Montgomery, Riverdale; Shavar Young, Brentwood Academy

Offensive Line: Jake Riggs, Oakland; Miles Metheny, Independence; Ryan Barker, Brentwood; Ta’khyian Whitset, Antioch; Will Zielinski, Clarksville

Athlete: Key Crowell, Lebanon; Ladainian McMurry, Gallatin

Kicker: Landric Mayeski, Independence

Defense

Defensive Line: Jacob Thompson, Ravenwood; Quentin Norfolk, Oakland; Sam Hall, MBA; Tony Carter, Lipscomb Academy

Linebacker: AJ Barbat, Brentwood Academy; Edwin Spillman, Lipscomb Academy; Korey Smith, Oakland; Max Orefice, Brentwood

Defensive Back: Jaylen Thompson, Riverdale; Johnny Silvestri, Brentwood; Kaleb Beasley, Lipscomb Academy; Nigel Maynard, Stewarts Creek

Athlete: Tarrion Grant, Siegel; Thomas Jones, Smyrna

Punter: Jacob Taylor, Oakland

Second Team

Offense

Quarterback: Andre Adams, Antioch

Running Back: James Dalrymple, Clarksville; Brooklen Davis, MBA

Wide Receiver: Ben Hubbard, Ravenwood; Charlie Becker, Father Ryan; Clayton Merrill, Brentwood

Offensive Line: Cameron Bosen, Ravenwood; Jacob White, Clarksville; Mason Duke, Gallatin; Max Kidd, Father Ryan; Xavier Wesley, Blackman

Athlete: Kenny Jordan, Stewarts Creek; Kolbe Harmon, Brentwood Academy

Kicker: Isaac Hayes, Brentwood

Defense

Defensive Line: Ethan Utley, Ensworth; Hank Weber, Brentwood Academy; Jake Moore, MBA; Kail Burroughs, Green Hill

Linebacker: Caleb Ellison, Oakland; Jack Watts, Ensworth; Kole Phillps, Rossview; Kris Thompson, Lipscomb Academy

Defensive Back: Cayson Walz, Mt. Juliet; CJ Jimcoily, Lipscomb Academy; Craig Tutt, Oakland; Quentin Groves, Siegel

Athlete: Jaren Sensabaugh, Ensworth; JT Sims, Rossview

Punter: Andrew Bingham, Independence