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Aside from a state championship, the one award that all players covet is to hold the Mr. Football award at Nissan Stadium.
This state is loaded from end to end with unbelievable talent. We decided to take a look at some of those guys we think could be holding that award in December.
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK 1: The top 10 games in the 615 Preps coverage area for Week 1
DRAFTS: Top Coaches / Top Stadiums
Class 6A
Cam, Daune Morris (Oakland): Morris, a USC commitment, may be the most dynamic player in the entire state regardless of classification. He leads the Patriots with 1,500+ yards rushing and 20+ Touchdowns.
Chris, Daune Morris (Oakland): The backfield at Oakland is a bit more crowded, but that might keep Morris’ legs fresh enougn to put up monster numbers when he does touch the ball in 2024.
Isaac, Daune Morris (Oakland): Morris was a finalist last year with close to 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. Expect Morris to build upon those numbers in 2024.
Joe, Daune Morris (Oakland): It may be a loaded backfield with T.T. Hill there now, but Morris will still get a ton of touches and he’ll make the most of those opportunities.
Scott, Jackson Stroup (Gallatin): Morris would be my pick if that backfield wasn’t so crowded. I’m going with the guys that will improve on 2,400 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. Gallatin is poised for a breakout year and Stroup will light up 6A.
Tyson, Jackson Stroup (Gallatin): Stroup was overlooked last year by most but he quietly put up over 2,400 yards with 25 touchdowns and only three picks. In a region where anyone can win, Stroup’s ability to not turn the ball over will be crucial for the Green Wave.
Class 5A
Cam, Eric Hazzard (Page): I’m doubling down on a bold take. Hazzard wins Mr. Football while leading a Patriot defense with 30+ tackles for loss.
Chris, Kelvin Perkins (Southwind): I think Eric Hazzard could grab the award, but I’m worried about recency bias with the committee as they’ll likely stick with the returning winner. Perkins is worthy, but I need to see the winner get it on 2024 merit and nothing more.
Isaac, Kelvin Perkins (Southwind): Perkins won the award last year passing for over 2,800 yards and a state-high 46 touchdowns. He could replicate those numbers this year as Southwind should be better and their region is not.
Joe, Kelvin Perkins (Southwind): I’d like to see a Brenden Anes or Eric Hazzard winning here, but the committee isn’t picking against Perkins especially if he repeats what he did last year. He should do that and more as he’s a legit talent and Southwind’s schedule isn’t formidable.
Scott, Eric Hazzard (Page): Hazzard has put on 30 pounds of muscle and leads a defense that has gotten better, especially on the line. That means less double teams and more to eat for the big guy.
Tyson, Eric Hazzard (Page): Call me unoriginal, but the Louisville comitment makes plays on both sides of the ball and with a finalist under his belt, he’s got a taste for blood.
Class 4A
Cam, Gabe Borders (Macon County): Finally, after finishing as a finalist twice, Borders gets it done in 2024. He will be a man on a mission in 2024 seeking the Tigers first Mr Football winner as well as the school’s first trip to a state title game.
Chris, Gabe Borders (Macon County): A two-time finalist, Borders has the inside track to the award starting out, but the Tigers will likely need to up his touches in order to get him across the finish line this year. Javion Kinnard will push him to the limit in what may be one of the closer calls.
Isaac, Gabe Borders (Macon County): Borders has been a finalist twice before but has yet to bring it home. That changes this year as he leads Macon County’s best team ever.
Joe, Javion Kinnard (Pearl-Cohn): I get the argument for Borders, but I ain’t picking against Kinnard as long as he’s healthy. This kid is electric and may provide the best plays of the year regardless of class.
Scott, Gabe Borders (Macon County): A two-year finalist, Borders is a big part of the consistent success of the Tigers. With Macon sporting what may be their best team in years, he should move to the winner’s circle.
Tyson, Javion Kinnard (Pearl-Cohn): Not only is he an amazing athlete that can put up numbers anywhere on the field, but he’s playing with a young and inexperienced quarterback in LJ Funk, a sophomore transfer from Brentwood. Until Funk gets experience and his confidence, the Firebirds will be relying on Kinnard heavily.
Class 3A
Cam, Radarious Jackson (Sheffield): The Tennessee WR commit will have monster numbers again in 2024. Jackson does so much for his team it’s hard to not see him going back to back.
Chris, Radarious Jackson (Sheffield): Incumbent bias is real, but so were Jackson’s numbers last year. Anywhere close to replication of his 2023 season could get him a second award.
Isaac, Skylan Smith (Covington): Smith was a finalist last season leading Class 3A in touchdowns. With most of his line back, I’m expecting him to be even better in 2024.
Joe, Radarious Jackson (Sheffield): This is another situation where I want to go with an area guy but I just don’t see the committee picking against the incumbent. Jackson should put up big numbers again against a weak schedule.
Scott, KJ Johnson (East Nashville): Sense a theme here? Johnson is part of another runner up team that is focused on walking away from Chattanooga a champ. He has the talent to put up big numbers.
Tyson, Travon Murry (Fairview): In an offense where 5 players carried the ball 20+ times, Murry still had 1,200 yards and averaged over six yards per carry. Fairview is my dark horse to win the title and they’re gonna do it on the back of Murry.
Class 2A
Cam, Isaiah Groves (East Robertson): Groves and the Indians are primed for a dominate 2024. The question is will the 3,000 yard campaign in 2023 lead to a new Tennessee single season rushing record in 2024? Only time will tell.
Chris, Isaiah Groves (East Robertson): We may have several repeat winners and I expect Groves to be one of them. We don’t get many opportunities for a player to make a run at the state rushing record, but he could provide one.
Isaac, Isaiah Groves (East Robertson): Groves won it last year and he’ll do it again this year. He’s the type of rusher that never gets taken down by the first man.
Joe, Isaiah Groves (East Robertson): This one doesn’t need much of an explanation. The real question is, does Groves come close to breaking the state’s rushing record? I wouldn’t bet against him.
Scott, Isaiah Groves (East Robertson): Groves is one of the most electric backs in the state and improvements in the offense will likely propel him to statue No. 2.
Tyson, Isaiah Groves (East Robertson): He’s the best player in the class and one of the best player’s in the entire state. Groves should run away with it here.
Class 1A
Cam, Tate Surber (McKenzie): Surber propelled the Rebels back to Chattanooga last year with almost a 3,000 yard season. The signal caller improves in 2024 and brings home some hardware
Chris, Tate Surber (McKenzie): Surber should build on a strong 2023 with enough improvement to land his name on the trophy at year’s end.
Isaac, JaMychal Buckner (South Pittsburg): The Pirates won a state title last year thanks to their ground game. They could do so again this season with Buckner as the new bell cow.
Joe, Tate Surber (McKenzie): Admittedly, I didn’t know what to think of Surber last season. I left Chattanooga impressed with his game and the realization that he should be the favorite to win Mr. Football this year.
Scott, Tate Surber (McKenzie): Last year Surber walked away with a silver ball. This year he’s hunting gold, and might just pick up some extra hardware too.
Tyson, Tate Surber (McKenzie): Surber is in his second year as the starter, is a three sport athlete, and is the No. 2 QB in TN for the 2025 class. In my opinion, the second best in the state behind Jared Curtis. ‘Nuff said.
Division II-AAA
Cam, George MacIntyre (Brentwood Academy): While the Eagles struggled in 2023 to a tune of 2-10, it was astonishing to look at the stat sheet and see a 3,000 yard passer. There will be much of the same in 2024, with MacIntrye determined to have a more successful farewell season.
Chris, Shekai Mills-Knight (Baylor): Will the award have to go through customs? It might if Mills-Knight takes it home to Canada, where they’ll see a Mr. Football award before they do a Stanley Cup.
Isaac, Cam Sparks (Baylor): Sparks is a five-star talent that should dominate on the field. He leads a Baylor team many expect to compete for a state title.
Joe, Shekai Mills-Knight (Baylor): I’ve been a fan of Mills-Knight since I first saw him play as a sophomore. The Ole Miss commitment can do it all and will be one of the state’s leading rushers on what may be the best offense in Tennessee.
Scott, Kris Thompson (Lipscomb Academy): Last year Thompson ransacked offenses. This year the Mustangs will be playing angry as they remain ineligible. Thompson will racked up tackles like a pinball machine.
Tyson, Shekai Mills-Knight (Baylor): The Ole Miss commitment is unstoppable. The Canadian will have some help with another Mr. Football candidate out wide to take some of the focus off of him. I think he’s primed for at least 1,500 yards this year.
Division II-AA
Cam, Shavar Young, (Knoxville Webb): Young is a two-way standout committed to Clemson. He returns to Webb for his senior season, and is poised for a great year.
Chris, Shavar Young (Knoxville Webb): Young going back home will put him in a good situation to have a standout year with a less daunting opposing schedule than the one he would have seen at BA.
Isaac, Shavar Young, (Knoxville Webb): Back home, I’m expecting the Clemson commitment to have a big year dominating on both sides of the ball.
Joe, Rawls Patterson (CPA): He may not be as flashy as Young but I predicted last year Patterson would end up with a Mr. Football award. He’ll rack up a ton of yards this year leading CPA’s punishing fround game.
Scott, Shavar Young (Knoxville Webb): No one is as electric at the wide receiver position than Young. He returns home and gets a statue out of the deal.
Tyson, Rawls Patterson (CPA): Although he seems smaller, this kid will run folks over. He had a great sophomore season and will be one of the best in DII-AA as a junior.
Division II-A
Cam, Jared Curtis (Nashville Christian): Mr. Football typically goes to the best player in that classification, and that is Georgia commit Jared Curtis. Curtis shines bright as a junior accounting for 30+ touchdowns in route to winning Mr. Football.
Chris, Jared Curtis (Nashville Christian): This is one where the incumbent could get knocked off if Curtis truly has the kind of season that cements his five-star status. It might take a 40-TD season or more to do it, however.
Isaac, Montae Baldwin (Columbia Academy): To succeed in DII-A, you need a great back. The Bulldogs have that in Baldwin who will build off of the 1,900+ rushing yards and 26 touchdowns he scored last season.
Joe, Jaylen Mosley, (Jackson Christian): Curtis will get his next year but Mosley closes out his career with another Mr. Football award. It doesn’t get talked about enough but these kid could have had 40 receiving touchdowns last season if he didn’t get hurt.
Scott, Jaylen Mosley (Jackson Christian): Can Mosley get to 2,000 yards this season? Not much is standing in the way of his second Mr. Football title and if something were in his way, he’d just run it over.
Tyson, Jared Curtis (Nashville Christian): There’s no explanation needed here. The Georgia commitment is the best quarterback in the state regardless of class.
Kicker of the Year
Cam, London Bironas (Brentwood Academy): Bironas may have the strongest leg in the state. A unfortunate junior season did not go as planned but look for a bounce back year.
Chris, Daniel Echeverria (Mt. Juliet): Consistency is a must-have for this honor and Echeverria has it in spades. Throw in a strong leg and the Golden Bears have a weapon capable of taking home the hardware.
Isaac, Daniel Echeverria (Mt. Juliet): Echeverria’s one of the most accurate kickers around. He was great last year and will be a difference-maker again this year.
Joe, Daniel Echeverria (Mt. Juliet): We have a lot of great kickers in the 615 but Echeverria’s been one of my favorites since he was a sophomore. This kid is as good as they come.
Scott, Roman Mathis (Davidson Academy): Mathis is a clutch do-it-all kicker for the Bears. If he repeats what he did last year, a Mr. Football award is a chip shot away.
Tyson, London Bironas (Brentwood Academy): Bironas has one of the most polished legs I’ve ever seen. He has a great combination of power, accuracy, and the Princeton commit doesn’t feel pressure.
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