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Over the last three days, we’ve revealed our large, medium and small class all-area teams. In those lists were a number of superlatives highlighting certain players, teams and coaches.
With all three classes out now, our group decided to choose this year’s overall winners for the area’s top athlete(s), coach, defensive player, lineman, offensive player, overall player and team.
Each member of the 615 Preps staff was asked to vote anonymously in a poll choosing their winner for each category. Here’s who the winners were following those votes.
LARGE CLASS: Craig Tutt headlines All-615 Preps Large Class Teams
MEDIUM CLASS: Eric Hazzard headlines All-615 Preps Medium Class Teams
SMALL CLASS: Jared Curtis headlines All-615 Preps Small Class Teams
Athlete(s) of the Year: Gabe & Zach Borders, Macon County
What the Borders twins were able to do this season was so unique that we couldn’t distinguish between the two. So why not just name them both our athletes of the year?
Gabe was somehow not a Mr. Football finalist, but he was the ultimate winner raising the gold ball on the final Saturday of the season. Offensively, he ran for 1,584 yards, 23 touchdowns and also had five touchdown receptions. Defensively, he racked up 49 tackles three pass breakups, three blocked kicks, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
Zach was the championship game MVP, rushing for 249 yards and four touchdowns. On the season, he ran for 1,917 yds and 22 touchdowns. Defensively, he accounted for 42 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Coach of the Year: Kyle Shoulders, Macon County
Shoulders returned to his alma mater in 2017 and under a decade later he was leading them to gold for the first time ever.
The Tigers crushed Melrose 45-14 for the title in their first championship game appearance.
That win capped off a 13-2 season for Shoulders and the Tigers. Their playoff run included revenge wins over Upperman and White County before a semifinal instant classic against Anderson County.
Defensive Player of the Year: Atticus Fiorita, Mt. Juliet
Last year’s Large Class Defensive Player of the Year, Fiorita was just as dominant this year for a Mt. Juliet side that took the eventual state champs to the wire in the second round.
Fiorita was a nuisance for opposing offenses, racking up 90 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on a defense that only allowed just over 12 points per game.
Lineman of the Year: Brady Smith, CPA
Last year John Wayne Oliver ran away with this award. This year it was Smith’s time to shine.
A three-year starter and an all-region selection this season, Smith is arguably the state’s best center. His three years as a starter never saw him give up a sack.
This season he anchored a fairly young Lions offensive line that averaged 362.8 yards per game. On the ground, the Lions averaged 187 yards per game and 6.7 yards per carry.
Offensive Player of the Year: Daune Morris, Oakland
An ankle injury limited Morris’ production throughout the regular season. After missing the first four games of the season, he slowly came into form before taking over in the postseason.
The Tennessee signee ran for more than 130 yards and scored at least two touchdowns in each of the Patriots’ postseason games.
He ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns in the Class 6A championship to cap a year that saw he rush for 1,144 yards and 21 touchdowns in only 11 games.
Player of the Year: Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian
If Tennessee had just one Mr. Football award to give out, it’s hard not to think that it would be headed Curtis’ way.
The Gatorade Player of the Year, Division II-A Mr. Football winner, MaxPreps Tennessee Player of the Year and Region MVP, Curtis enjoyed the best season of his high school career justifying his five-star ranking.
En route to the gold ball, he completed 70% of his passes for 2,830 yards with 40 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He was just as affective on the ground bullying his way to 637 yards and 18 more touchdowns.
Special Teams Player of the Year: Cam Wade, East Nashville
Typically our Special Teams Player of the Year will be a kicker or punter, but Wade was too good as a returner this season.
Not only was he one of their leading receivers (670 yards, nine touchdowns) and a threat in the rushing game (665 yards, two touchdowns), he also returned three kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns.
Overall, he led the Eagles’ special teams unit with 408 kick return yards and 101 punt return yards.
Team of the Year: CPA Lions
In their final Division II-AA season, the Lions once again went out on top. This time, they did so by completing their first unbeaten season since 2018.
Beating BGA 38-26 in the championship game, CPA finished the season by outscoring their opponents 541-181. The Lions averaged 38.6 points per game, while only allowing just over 12 points. They only allowed opponents to score more than 20 points three times all season.
Their 14-0 season included wins over Brentwood Academy (31-24), Pearl-Cohn 21-15, MBA (34-6), FRA (21-7), Boyd Buchanan (34-7) and two double-digit wins over BGA.
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