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We’re continuing to get you ready for the 2025 high school football season, and we’re getting a little nostalgic as well.
The crew put together lists of the top five players they’ve seen in person, and not limited to our coverage area, either. Granted that some of them skew younger, you either may or may not recognize some of the names on these lists.
Even so, here are our top five players we’ve each seen in person and why:
Cam
1. Jalen Hurd, Beech (2010-2013)
Undoubtedly the most dominating player I’ve seen. Everyone knew 18 was getting the ball and there was nothing they could do to stop it. The physical run-style with sneaky breakaway speed helped Hurd to the best rushing season in TSSAA history. Played at Tennessee and Baylor.
2. Jordan James, Oakland (2018-2021)
Jordan James fits almost every tangible you want in a running back. His ability to turn the modest play into a home run was rare and land him in my 2-spot. James played at Oregon before being drafted to the 49ers.
3. Corn Elder, Ensworth (2009-2012)
Definitely the best two-way player I’ve seen. It didn’t matter if it was toting the rock, catching it, or intercepting it. Elder was just merely a game changer. Elder played collegiately for Miami.
4. Daniel Bituli, Nashville Christian (2012-2015)
Freak! 6’3′, 215+ (at the time) and could run like a deer. Bituli helped lead the Eagles to their first state title in school history in 2015. He went on to stand out at linebacker at Tennessee.
5. TT Harper, Trousdale County (1999-2002)
The first player to ever make me go wow! The 2002 3A Mr. Football winner amassed nearly 5,500 total offensive yards with 93 touchdowns for his career. Harper was a nightmare for defenses, with elite speed and ‘can’t touch this’ athleticism.
Chris
1. Jalen Hurd, Beech (2010-2013)
They’re still chasing Hurd’s single-season rushing record in this state, which is why he’s atop my list. Nobody has yet to eclipse the 2012 season Hurd put together, rushing for 3,357 yards and 43 touchdowns.
He had single-game totals of 451, 396 and 394 yards during his illustrious junior season, but that also begs the question of what his senior season could have been had he not gotten injured in an ESPN-televised season opener at Station Camp in 2013.
2. Jordan James, Oakland (2018-2021)
Jordan James had a way to take over a game the way few were able to, and the 2021 BlueCross Bowl title game against Brentwood can be Exhibit A of his dominance. It’s almost ironic that the San Francisco 49ers drafted him to replace the very next player on my list…
3. Jordan Mason, Gallatin (2013-16)
Mason will get to show what he can do in Minnesota after being traded from San Francisco, where he turned some heads early on in his pro career after being an undrafted free agent. That’s not surprising, as his work ethic showed in green and gold in Gallatin.
He rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior year before heading to Georgia Tech. Just don’t tell his new fans in Minnesota what colors he wore in high school.
4. Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Northeast (2009-12)
Not many had the chance to take down Hurd in 2012, but Reeves-Maybin and his Northeast teammates came closest in what is still the best high school game I’ve ever covered. JRM had five touchdowns that night against the Bucs, and had he managed to haul in a Hail Mary that Hurd batted down at the end, we might have been talking even more about a guy who became one of the best special teams players both at Tennessee and in the NFL.
5. Barion Brown, Pearl-Cohn (2018-21)
It’s not fair to have the kind of speed Brown possesses, especially when you have him standing deep to return a kickoff. But it wasn’t just Brown’s return skills that set him apart at Pearl-Cohn. He was a guy you simply didn’t want lining up across from you, becuase it was going to be a challenge just keeping up with him, let alone get him to the ground when he has the ball.
All four players on my list before him made it to the NFL, and we’ll probably see Brown make the leap soon as well.
Isaac
1. Jordan James, Oakland (2019-2021)
Picking a player from Oakland for this list is kind of a given, but there’s no doubt James was the most dominant back I have ever seen. His skill set as a runner shined in Oakland’s offense and he only got better every year. By his senior year, that 2021 team was his, which says a lot considering how talented that group was as a whole.
2. Master Teague III, Blackman (2014-2017)
Teague is probably the most insane physical specimen I have ever seen. I was still pretty young when he graduated from Blackman, but what I do remember about him is he never got taken down by the first man, and that’s if you could get your hands on him. His ability to improvise and find creases to run in is something not many guys have.
3. Zion Logue, Lebanon (2015-2018)
All you have to do is see how big Logue is to be able to tell how special he was at Lebanon. His ability to absolutely swallow up anything that come through the interior of the defensive line was what led him to being a part of the dominant Georgia defenses he was a member of.
4. Rusty Staats, Watertown (2013-2016)
Offensive line is possibly the hardest position to stand out at. For Rusty, though, you couldn’t miss him when he stepped on the field. His quick feet and insane reach made him the anchor of the offensive line at Watertown, and he only got better when he left for college at WKU and later Texas Tech.
5. Isaiah Groves, East Robertson (2021-2024)
The Groves name is a staple in Cross Plains and each member of the family has left their mark at East Robertson. However, Isaiah was something special to watch. The way he could just slip past anyone trying to tackle him made it so fun to cover games he was in.
Joe
1. Darren Evans, Warren Central (2003-06)
I’m going with homer picks for my first picks but to this day, I have not seen a better high school running back than Evans. His senior year in particular is one that I just don’t think will ever be matched by any player I’ll ever cover.
A perfect mix of size and speed, he cruised to Mr. Football honors in 2006 rushing 2,731 years and 61 touchdowns (yes, 61). That Warren Central team won its fourth straight Class 5A state title and was nationally ranked in the top-five because of his play.
2. Jerimy Finch, Warren Central (2003-06)
While Evans is the best running back I’ve ever seen, Finch is the best safety and kick returner. Unfortunately for opposing teams, when they weren’t dealing with Evans on offense, they were dealing with Finch on defense and on returns.
At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Finch looked like an NFL safety and played like one. After he’d end a drive on defense, you prepped yourself for a return he was likely taking to the house.
3. Jaylon Smith, Fort Wayne Bishop Leurs (2009-12)
When I was entering going into my junior and senior years of high school, there was no bigger name in the Indiana high school football scene than Smith. He was a legit five-star prospect who led the Knights to four straight state championships.
Whether he was a linebacker or running back, Smith was always the best player on the field by quite a lot and as a Notre Dame fan, I nearly did a backflip when he committed to the Fighting Irish.
4. Terry McLaurin, Cathedral (2010-13)
I grew up with the guy who would eventually be known as ‘Scary Terry’ and let me tell you, he’s always been a problem.
I’ve only seen one receiver who’s even come close to being as good as McLaurin at the high school level and there’s still a decent gap there. The 2013 Indiana Mr. Football winner, I hated seeing him at Ohio State but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching all the success he’s accumulated in the NFL.
5. Barion Brown, Pearl-Cohn (2018-21)
When I was thinking of what player from Tennessee to include on here, several names popped into my head. However, none of them excited me quite like Brown did during his junior and senior years.
Everything about Brown’s game I’m a fan of. He’s probably the fastest player I’ve ever seen live and I’m a fan of any player that can talk the talk while backing it up. Brown wasn’t afraid to let you know he was better than you and he proved why every single down.
Konner
1. Cam Coleman, Central (2020-2023)
It was incredible being back in my hometown, Phenix City (Ala.) and getting to witness five-star wide receiver Cam Coleman live. He put on an absolute show against Auburn High School, tallying an astounding 293 yards and four touchdowns to lead his team to a 41-20 victory over the Tigers.
Without a doubt, it was the most impressive performance by a player I’ve ever seen with my own eyes.
2. Jordan James, Oakland (2018-2021)
Being in Middle Tennessee, you couldn’t talk high school football without hearing about Jordan James. I had the opportunity to watch him play a few times at Oakland, and his talent was undeniable.
Across his junior and senior seasons alone, he compiled 3,000-plus combined yards and over 50 touchdowns. Without a doubt, he stands out as one of the most impressive running backs I’ve ever seen firsthand in this area.
3. Kenny Minchey, Pope John Paul (2019-2022)
It was always evident that Minchey was a gifted quarterback, destined for success in the Knights’ offensive scheme. While the Pope John Paul games I attended unfortunately ended in losses, Minchey never failed to put his talent on display.
His junior season was remarkable, with over 3,200 passing yards and 32 touchdowns. Though his senior year was cut short, he stands out as one of the most impressive quarterbacks I’ve personally witnessed.
4. Kaleb Carver, Green Hill (2019-2022)
I unfortunately only watched Kaleb Carver play against my alma mater, Station Camp, but he never failed to impress. In 2022, he torched my Bison for 224 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
The following year, he delivered a similar performance with 133 all-purpose yards and another two touchdowns. In my opinion, he’s solidified his place as one of the best returners to come out of the 615 area.
5. Malaki Dowell, White County (2019-2022)
Dowell was a force, and he proved it against my Bison. Despite our junior-year survival against White County, he came back to haunt us, putting up 346 yards and five touchdowns. What made his play even more remarkable was that, for a significant stretch, he was leading the entire nation in rushing yards.
His blend of versatility and lightning-fast agility on the field was unparalleled in my experience. He is, without a doubt, the second-best running back I’ve ever seen play.
Scott
1. Barion Brown, Pearl-Cohn (2018-2021)
Few players are as dynamic as Brown is with the football. He could affect plays just by being on the field as teams often kicked away or out of bounds to keep the ball away from him.
He is speed personified and lit up the stats page despite COVID-19 delays his junior year and an ankle sprain his senior year that caused him to miss the final two games of the season.
2. Jordan James, Oakland (2018-2021)
The primary cog in the undefeated Patriot team in 2020, James averaged 134 yards a game and led the team with 26 rushing touchdowns despite a crowded backfield. His magnum opus was a 231-yard, six touchdown performance in the state title win over Brentwood.
He would lead an undefeated Oakland repeat the following year, piling up 232 yards and another gold ball to close out his career.
3.Juaun Jennings, Blackman (2011-2014)
Jennings charged onto the scene in 2014 as an electric dual-threat quarterback. I was at Oakland when they knocked off a 1-loss Patriot team before losing an unbeaten Maryville squad in the semifinals.
It was his senior year where he really came to life throwing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for 17 touchdown. He was nearly impossible to catch if he got the edge.
4. Graham Barton, Ravenwood (2016-2019)
In high school, 6-foot-5 offensive tackles that can run a sub-4.8 40 is mythical. Barton did though and was one of those players that literally stood head and shoulders over his opponents.
He was a big part of the Raptors’ 2019 runner-up finish in the Class 6A game.
5. Ted Roof, Central Gwinnett (1978-1982)
Roof was one of the toughest to play the game. I won’t even lie, it struck fear in me to line up against him in high school.
Every cliche’d tough as nails, nasty linebacker that has ever been was rolled up into the Black Knights linebacker. He recorded 417 career tackles in high school before going on to star at Georgia Tech.
Tyson
1. Chris Parson, Ravenwood (2021-2022)
Parson was absolutely electric for Ravenwood, and he single handedly won the 2021 Battle of the Woods. Not to mention he put up 28 points on one of Brentwood’s best defenses ever.
He was insanely accurate and almost impossible to take down.
2. Damon Sisa, Houston (2020-2023)
I only saw Sisa for one game, and it was one of the worst days of my life.
In that semifinal game, he ran through our defense like butter, someone no other team had done that season.
Similar to Parson, he dominated one of the best Brentwood defenses ever and led Houston to a gold ball.
3. Baylor Hayes, Brentwood (2023)
Hayes only played one season for us and he was one of the best quarterbacks skill-wise in program history. He went 11 straight games without an interception and he was an insanely good scrambler with a big and accurate arm becoming a key factor during our semifinal run.
4. Dominic Reed, Centennial (2020-2023)
Reed did everything for Centennial. He was difficult to bring down on offense and always making a play on defense.
Watching him in our 2023 Week 8 game, a 7-0 vs 7-0 barn-burner, I was hoping he wouldn’t live up to the hype but he definitely did and he was a big reason that game was as close as it was.
5. Luke Armistead, Brentwood (2020-2023)
You knew I had to have a specialist on this list. This man was genuinely one of the best punters I’ve played with, college included. He was a lefty, but for some reason could hit rugby punts with his right foot.
Armistead averaged over 40 yards per punt with his left foot directional, left foot rugby, and right foot rugby. Not to mention his ability to pin punts. Against Beech 2022, he had four inside the 10, with one at the five and TWO at the one.
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