100 Players to Watch in the TSSAA Playoffs
By Carter Mansfield
Here are 100 players to watch going into this year’s TSSAA playoffs. We have divided it out by class and only one player per team is listed.
6ADemitrius Bell, McGavock, WR/DB
Bell is a 4-star recruit with offers from schools such as Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee. He has 51 catches for 613 yards and 7 touchdowns receiving, 33 rushes for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, and even has 2 passing touchdowns.
Justin Brown, Blackman, WR/DB
Brown is a three-star recruit and is committed to Mississippi State. He had 63 catches, for 1,030 yards, and 14 touchdowns on offense, while also having 48.5 total tackles and an interception on defense.
Arion Carter, Smyrna, LB/RB
Carter is a four-star recruit and is committed to Memphis. Carter rushed for 917 yards and 16 Touchdowns on offense, while making 73 tackles and 5 TFLs on defense.
Jeremiah Collins, Oakland, DB/WR
Collins is a 3-star recruit with offers from schools such as Louisville, Kentucky, and Purdue. Collins has 13 catches for 195 yards and a touchdown on offense, with an interception on defense.
Cal Grubbs, Maryville, OL
Grubbs is a three-star recruit and is committed to Liberty.
Caleb Herring, Riverdale, LB/TE
Herring is the number-one rated senior recruit in the state and is committed to Tennessee. He had 74 total tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season.
Darius Johnson, Beech, RB/LB
Johnson has rushed for 1,092 yards on 92 carries with 14 rushing touchdowns on the season. He also has 40 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 3 interceptions on defense.
Brendan Jones, Centennial, QB
Jones has thrown for 1,782 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season.
Tre Hartwell, Independence, RB
Hartwell is a 3-star recruit with offers from schools such as Arkansas State, Toledo, and Tulane. Hartwell has rushed for 863 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Chris Parson, Ravenwood, QB
Parson is a four-star recruit and is committed to Mississippi State. Parson has only played 6 games this season due to injury, but has thrown for 1,032 yards and 5 touchdowns, while rushing for 540 yards and 3 touchdowns in the games he has played.
Braylen Ragland, Bartlett, QB
Ragland is a three-star recruit and is committed to Georgia State.
Damon Sisa, Houston, RB
Sisa has 1,143 yards rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns on the season.
5A
De’Sean Bishop, Karns, RB
Karns is a three-star recruit and is committed to Coastal Carolina. He is the defending Mr. Football winner and has rushed for 2,320 yards and 28 touchdowns this season.
Luke Brown, Henry County, OL
Brown is a four-star recruit and is committed to Arkansas.
Ayden Bussell, Mt. Juliet, OL
Bussell is a three-star recruit and is committed to Tennessee.
Malaki Dowell, White County, RB
Dowell currently holds offers from schools such as UT-Martin, Tennessee Tech, and Austin Peay. He rushed for 2,595 yards and 34 touchdowns on the season.
Chance Fitzgerald, Nolensville, WR
Fitzgerland is a three-star recruit and currently holds offers from schools such as Auburn, Michigan, and Wisconsin. He has 63 catches for 964 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns on the season.
Landen Hensley, Campbell County, QB
Hensley has thrown for 3,032 yards and 38 touchdowns this season.
Brandon Heyward, Oak Ridge, WR
Heyward is a four-star recruit and currently holds offers from schools such as Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Ronan O’Connell, Page, OL/DL
O’Connell is a three-star recruit and holds offers from schools such as Arkansas, Florida State, and Tennessee.
Jordyn Potts, Powell, QB
Potts has thrown for 1,861 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 1 interception on the season. He is currently committed to Tennessee Tech.
Braxton Sharp, Munford, RB
Sharp rushed 1,367 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season.
Ben Shrewsbury, Daniel Boone, K/P
Shrewsbury is one of the state’s best kickers, as he finished 8/12 on field goals for the season with a long of 46. He also was perfect on extra points this season, going 39/39.
4A
Gabe Borders, Macon County, RB/DB
Borders had 2,190 all-purpose yards and 26 total touchdowns on offense this season, while also having 41 tackles and 4 interceptions on defense.
Javion Kinnard, Pearl-Cohn, ATH
Kinnard has 1,033 total yards and 10 total touchdowns on the season.
Kaleb Flowers, Stone Memorial, WR/DB
Flowers has 1,232 total yards and 8 total touchdowns on the season.
Marcellus Jackson, Fulton, QB/DB
Jackson has 1,874 yards and 23 touchdowns passing,1,420 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing, and 57 tackles with 2 interceptions on defense.
Walker Martinez, Anderson County, QB
Martinez has 2,775 passing yards and 38 touchdowns on the season.
Isiah McClaine, Lexington, RB
McClaine has rushed for 1,512 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season.
Brady Quillen, Greeneville, QB
Quillen has thrown for 1,721 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, while also rushing for 283 yards and 7 touchdowns for the season.
Carter Smith, Hardin County, QB
Smith has 2,411 passing yards and 26 touchdowns on the season.
Silas Teat, Marshall County, QB
Teat has thrown for 1,441 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season.
Cordero Walker, Haywood, QB
Walker has 1,538 passing yards and 18 passing touchdowns, along with 500 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground for the season.
Chandler Wilson, Carter, QB
Wilson has 2,856 yards and 31 passing touchdowns on the season.
3A
Nehemiah Edwards, Unicoi County, RB
Edwards has rushed for 1,922 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season.
Easton Elliot, Waverly, RB
Elliot rushed for just over 2,000 yards on the season, along with 27 touchdowns.
Layden Grant, Fairview, RB/DB
Grant ran for 1,005 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense, while also having 56 tackles on defense.
Brady Hammonds, Gatlinburg-Pittman, QB
Hammonds has thrown for 2,095 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season, while also throwing only 2 interceptions.
Jordan Harris, Alcoa, RB
Harris has 1,358 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.
Mark Joseph, Sheffield, QB/DB
Joseph has thrown for 1,189 yards and 14 touchdowns, ran for 745 yards and 8 touchdowns, while also 46 tackles and 9 interceptions on defense.
Ryan Perkins, Cannon County, RB
Perkins ran for 1,278 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
Kaden Powell, Smith County, QB
Powell, a freshman, has 1,386 total yards and 20 total touchdowns on the season.
Cadin Tullock, Chuckey-Doak, QB
Tullock has thrown for 1,880 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season. He is also the school’s all-time leading passer.
Kamauri Turner, Giles County, QB
Turner has thrown 732 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season, while also rushing for 941 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Tre’Quan Waters, East Nashville, RB
Waters has rushed for 1,694 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season.
2A
Dyer Barnes, Lewis County, WR
Barnes has 64 catches for 871 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on the season.
Mason Bowman, Monterey, RB
Bowman has rushed for 1,681 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season.
Keaten Brown, Union City, QB
Brown has 1,084 yards of total offense and 20 total touchdowns on the season.
Nick Brown, Mt. Pleasant, QB
Brown has 1,143 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air, while also rushing for 442 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season.
Jacquan Davis, Fairley, DB
Davis has 12 interceptions this season, which is tied for the Tennessee record.
Gray Eubanks, Huntingdon, QB
Eubanks has 1,601 total yards and 22 total touchdowns on the season.
EJ Gilliam, Freedom Prep, QB
Gilliam has thrown for 1,869 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only 1 interception on the season.
Josh Jackson, Tyner Academy, QB
Jackson has thrown for 2,137 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions on the season.
Gregory Martin, Oakhaven, RB
Martin has rushed for 1,189 yards and 21 touchdowns, while also having 727 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving on the season.
Zech Prince, East Robertson, RB
Prince has run for 1,453 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season.
Hayden Smith, Westview, LB
Smith has 115 tackles and 7 TFLs on the season.
1A
Matthew Albritton, Gordonsville, QB
Albritton has thrown for 1,323 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.
Kumaro Brown, MASE, RB
Brown is a three-star recruit with offers from schools such as Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida State. He rushed for 1,033 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season.
Sam Driggers, Peabody, QB
Driggers has thrown for 2,001 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season, while also rushing for 366 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Cole Hines, Coalfield, QB
Hines has thrown for 1,332 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season, while also rushing for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Joseph Marcom, Clay County, RB
Marcom has 1,243 yards of total offense, along with 20 total touchdowns. On defense he has 62 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 defensive touchdowns.
Landon Ramsey, Unaka, QB
Ramsey has thrown for 1,637 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season, while also running for 726 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Marquez Taylor, McKenzie, RB
Taylor is a three-star recruit with offers from schools like Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. He has 1,272 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns on the season.
Isaiah Thomison, Fayetteville, LB
Thomison is a three-star recruit, and is committed to Memphis. He had 55 tackles, 16 TFLs, and 2 sacks on the season.
Jeremiah Williams, Lake County, WR/DB
Williams rushed for 1,071 yards and 16 touchdowns in 8 games, while also making 40 tackles and returning and interception for a touchdown on defense for the season.
Thomas Wills, McEwen, RB
Wills rushed for 1,819 yards and 24 touchdowns on the season.
Dawson White, Moore County, QB/DB
White has thrown for 1,516 yards and 15 touchdowns and ran for 1,027 yard and 23 touchdowns on the season.
DII-AAA
Charlie Becker, Father Ryan, WR
Becker currently holds offers from schools such as Vanderbilt, MTSU, and Toledo. He has 637 yards and 15 touchdowns receiving on the season.
Maxwell Carroll, Briarcrest, LB/WR
Carroll is a three-star recruit and is committed to TCU. He has 543 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving, while racking up 41 tackles and 2 interceptions on defense.
Carson Gentle, McCallie, DL
Gentle is a three-star recruit and is committed to Tennessee. He has 11 TFLs and 4 sacks on the season.
Jaxon Hammond, Christian Brothers, WR/DB
Hammond is a three-star recruit and is committed to Army. He has 390 yards and 4 touchdowns receiving, while also having an interception on defense.
Caleb Hampton, Baylor, RB
Hampton has rushed for 1,485 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season.
George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy, QB
MacIntyre is the second-ranked quarterback in the nation for the class of 2025 and currently holds offers from schools like Michigan, Auburn, and Tennessee. He has thrown for 1,901 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season.
Kenny Minchey, JP2, QB
Minchey is a four-star recruit and is committed to Pitt. He has only played in four games this season due to injury, but has 768 passing yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Jayden Neal, Knoxville Catholic, QB
Neal has thrown for 2,118 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.
Brandon Nicholson, MUS, DB
Nicholson is a three-star recruit and currently holds offers from schools like Arkansas, Florida State, and Stanford. He has 21 tackles, 5 TFLs, and 6 interceptions on the season.
Shamar Porter, Ensworth, WR
Porter is a four-star recruit and is committed to Kentucky. He has 557 yards and 10 touchdowns receiving on the season.
Marcel Reed, MBA, QB
Reed is a four-star recruit and is committed to Ole Miss. Reed has 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns passing, while also rushing for 644 yards and 13 touchdowns.
DII-AA
Kaleb Beasley, Lipscomb Academy, DB
Beasley is a four-star recruit and is committed to Tennessee. Beasley has 4 interceptions and 4 touchdowns on the season.
Pierce Browning, Knoxville Grace, WR
Browning has 814 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns on the season.
Boo Carter, Chattanooga Christian, ATH
Carter is a four-star recruit with offers from schools such as Michigan, LSU, and Tennessee. He has 1,549 total yards and 28 touchdowns on the season.
Ty Clark III, FRA, RB
Clark has rushed for 1,522 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season.
Jaron Elkins, Goodpasture, RB
Elkins has rushed for 1,035 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season. He also has 43 tackles and 2 sacks on the season.
Brock Glenn, Lausanne, QB
Glenn is a four-star recruit and is committed to Ohio State. He has thrown for 1,251 yards and 18 touchdowns on the season, while also rushing for 348 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Crews Law, CPA, LB
Law is a three-star recruit with offers from schools such as Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt. He has 70 tackles and 5 TFLs on the season.
Jack Patterson, Northpoint Christian, QB
Patterson has thrown for 2,085 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season.
Charles Robinson, Knox Webb, QB/DB
Robinson is committed to the Naval Academy and threw for 1,588 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also rushing for 620 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also had 37 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense.
Brett Rogers, Silverdale Baptist, QB
Rogers has thrown for 1,587 and 13 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,014 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
Courtland Simmons, Davidson Academy, RB/DB
Simmons has accounted for 927 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season.
DII-A
Montae Baldwin, Columbia Academy, RB
Baldwin rushed for 998 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
Corbin Bowling, Fayette Academy, QB
Bowling threw for 904 yards and 7 touchdowns, while also rushing for 728 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season.
Kade Butler, Trinity Christian, QB
Butler threw for 2,162 yards and 23 touchdowns on the season.
Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian, QB
Curtis, a freshman, threw for 1,962 yards and 23 touchdowns, while also rushing for 439 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season.
Kevin Finch, USJ, RB
Finch rushed for 1,406 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season.
Ashton Jones, DCA, RB
Jones rushed for 1,626 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season.
DJ Merriweather, Clarksville Academy, QB/DB
Merriweather threw for 2,040 yards and 27 touchdowns, while rushing for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense. He also had 41 tackles and an interception on defense for the season.
Brock Montgomery, Friendship Christian, WR
Montgomery is a three-star recruit and currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State. He had 944 yards and 12 touchdowns receiving on the season.
Jaylen Mosley, Jackson Christian, WR/DB
Mosley currently holds offers from schools such as Memphis, Ole Miss, and Liberty. He has 565 yards and 4 touchdowns receiving, along with 17 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense for the season.
George Steih, Franklin Grace, OL/DL
Steih is a 3-star recruit and is committed to Wake Forest. He has 37 tackles, 3 TFLs, and a sack on the season.
Eli Wilson, MTCS, RB/LB
Wilson has 1,622 yards and 18 touchdowns, along with 4 interceptions and 13 tackles on defense for the season.
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