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It’s never too early to lead ahead to the 2025 season is it?
Several area teams should have legitimate chances to bring home gold next season. Others are flying under the radar now but won’t be once the season kicks off again next August.
With all that in mind, we decided to go ahead and rank our top-10 large, medium and small class teams well before the start of next season.
Large Class
1. Oakland: They may be losing a lot of pieces like Daune Morris, Kyler Creasy, Chase Bandy, TT Hill and Caleb Ellison but the Patriots just seemingly reload every year. Even with the losses, the Patriots are the kings of Class 6A until they’re dethroned again.
3. Ensworth: The Tigers lose a majority of their front seven defensively but they still will be a factor in Division II-AAA. Justin Hopkins will be in the Mr. Football mix next season.
4. CPA: Moving up from Division II-AA to Division II-AA would hurt most teams but that shouldn’t be the case for the Lions. Losing Hutson Chance will hurt but returning a core led by Rawls Patterson, Preston Patterson and Owen Cabell
5. Blackman: Don’t let the record fool you, the Blaze were an up-and-coming team in 2024. Now that most of their young players have that experience under their belt, expect them to compete with Oakland as the best team in Rutherford County.
The rest of the top 10
6. Green Hill
8. Brentwood
Medium Class
1. BGA: It’s a toss up between who you want to pick as the Division II-AA favorite between BGA and FRA. At the moment, we’ll lean with the Wildcats as Kaedyn Marable will be one of the best quarterbacks in the state next season.
2. FRA: Figuring out the quarterback situation may be the only thing the Panthers need to do in 2025. Their young core led by Mike Hassell will be back and have them in contention as true state contenders.
3. Page: It’ll be a new age at Page with Brenden Anes, Eric Hazzard and William Wiebush gone. Expect the Patriots to be better on the offensive side of the ball in this next phase led by Mitchell Grandjean, Knight Wilson and a plethora of other rising underclassmen.
4. Springfield: The Yellow Jackets were going to be a really, really good 5A team in 2025 with everyone they have that’s returning. Moving down to 4A only means that they’ll be in an even better spot to compete for a gold ball in 2025.
Small Class
1. Nashville Christian: As dominant as they were this year, the Eagles may be even better next season. Jared Curtis and TJ Ward lead a young but talented group that could have Nashville Christian competing for gold for years to come.
2. East Nashville: Even with the loss of KJ Johnson early in the year, the Eagles were able to recover and find new stars en route to a semifinals appearance. Having Johnson back and the move down to Class 2A next year just means that a return trip to Chattanooga may very well be on the table.
3. East Robertson: Isaiah Groves’ season-ending injury in Week 1 could have derailed the Indians’ season. They did lose earlier in the postseason than expected but newer, younger stars like Kason Young were forced to step up painting a brighter future for 2025.
4. White House Heritage: New weapons will have to step up for Xavier Murray with Aric Lopez and Dason Springer graduating. That shouldn’t be an issue for Murray though as he’ll be one of the best quarterbacks in 3A next season.
5. Gordonsville: Injuries plagued the Tigers throughout the 2024 season but. they still found success in a lot of ways. J Foster enters his final year and will have a great back in Jemario Williams to work alongside.
The rest of the top 10
6. DCA
7. Sycamore
8. Eagleville
9. Providence Christian
10. Stratford
