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The 2025 high school football season kicks off on August 21st. To get ready for the upcoming season, we’re counting down the top 10 teams in the 615 Preps coverage area. Oakland is our No. 1 team.
The simplest way to describe Oakland’s 2024 season is that the kings made their way back to the top.
In 2023 Houston ended the Patriots’ run atop the class. Oakland wouldn’t let them make a run of their own though winning last year’s championship matchup between the two 42-20.
Now entering a new year reloaded with some high-profile new faces added to the mix, it’s hard not to think that the Patriots are the favorites once again to bring another gold ball back to Murfreesboro,
“It’s really hard to repeat and last year we were coming off of loss so we were really hungry,” Oakland head coach Kevin Creasy said. “We have to make sure that we’re still hungry. This group has to realize that the state champs from last year, a lot of those guys graduated.
…we’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of improving to do but I think our guys are made out of the right stuff.”
Transfers make Patriots that much better
Senior graduations may leave some holes every year but the Patriots have been one of the best when it comes to young players stepping up and making a name for themselves.
Not only will Oakland have that this year, a couple of notable transfers are set to start and should shine in their new home.
Columbia transfer Justis Haggard is one of those guys who can make an impact on both sides of the ball this season. Last year he did just that with the Lions as one of their leading tacklers and also the team’s leading rusher.
The transfer that stole the spotlight in the offseason was that of Joel Wyatt coming in from Webb-Bell Buckle.
A Tennessee commitment and top-60 prospect in the 2026 class, Wyatt did a bit of everything at Webb last season totaling over 900 all-purpose yards and scoring 11 times.
The change of scenery was one the brought a new challenge for Wyatt but one he’s seemed to embrace.
“The pace here is a lot different than it was at Webb,” Wyatt said of the Patriots. “Every day I’ve been adjusting and now it’s starting to feel a lot more normal. Iron sharpens iron so everyone makes each other better.”
TOP 10 AREA TEAMS: No. 10 Nashville Christian | No. 9 Page | No. 8 FRA | No. 7 Brentwood Academy | No. 6 Ensworth | No. 5 BGA | No. 4 Riverdale | No. 3 CPA | No. 2 Ravenwood
Tutt ready to go out with a bang
Wyatt may be the highest-rated prospect on the Patriots per recruiting outlets, but he’s not the only future SEC player on the roster.
In a lot of ways both the Patriots’ offense and defense runs through Ole Miss pledge Craig Tutt.
A Mr. Football finalist last year, Craig ran for 1,232 yards and 18 touchdowns while also accounting for 64 tackles and seven pass breakups on defense.
Having a pair of established backs in the backfield like Tutt and Haggard will be pivotal for whoever wins the quarterback battle between Riverdale transfer Donte Cameron and rising freshman Kam Morton.
No matter who touches the ball or wins certain battles, Tutt is focused on the bigger picture. He wants a gold ball and then to close high school career as a Mr. Football winner.
“We’ve got the same goals and it’s the same mission given to us by our coaches,” Tutt said. “We just need to do what we do and we’ll bring home another championship.
Oakland’s 2025 Schedule
August 22: vs. CPA
August 29: vs. Huntington (W.V.)
September 5: at Smyrna
September 12: vs. Pearl-Cohn
September 19: at Siegel
September 26: at Blackman
October 2: vs. Rockvale
October 17: at La Vergne
October 24: vs. Stewarts Creek
October 31: vs. Riverdale
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