#TNHSFB: Class 1A All-State, Region Preview & More
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We are exactly one week away from the start of the 2021 high school football season here in the state of Tennessee and I think it’s the right time to make some predictions on the upcoming year! Along with region…
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Continue ReadingWe are exactly one week away from the start of the 2021 high school football season here in the state of Tennessee and I think it’s the right time to make some predictions on the upcoming year!
Along with region and state title predictions, Prep RedZone Tennessee will also provide an All-State team. Our first edition looks at the football programs on the Class 1A level.
(Teams are ranked in predicted order)
Class 1A-Region 1
1. Cloudland
2. Unaka
3. North Greene
4. Hancock Co.
5. Cosby
Notes: Cloudland is a perennial playoff contender that is replacing several key starters but have enough to talent returning to win this region; Unaka will be their biggest competitor; The Rangers have a dangerous 1-2 punch with brothers Devan Ramsey and 2023 (QB) Landon Ramsey Landon Ramsey 6'2" | 225 lbs | QB Unaka | 2023 TN ; This looks like the best Unaka team in a long time; North Greene, Hancock Co. and Cosy will all battle for 3rd place and work at finding a way into the playoffs.
Class 1A- Region 2
1. Coalfield
2. Midway
3. Greenback
4. Oliver Springs
5. Oakdale
6. Harriman
7. Jellico
8. Sunbright
Notes: This region should be a good battle between 1A power Coalfield and a senior laden Midway team led by quarterback Emmett Hegland Emmett Hegland 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Midway | 2022 TN ; He has two good offensive weapons to use in (WR) Caleb Goodman and (RB/DB) Ty Mason; Where Coalfield has the edge is up front in the line of scrimmage, showcased by senior Bryson Ridge; Greenback is the sleeper team in the region to win the title as they don’t have the veterans that the top two teams have but they have youthful talent that should get become formidable by season’s end; Watch out for Oakdale as well as they have a few players this season to make some noise
Class 1A-Region 3
1. South Pittsburg
2. Sale Creek
3. Whitwell
4. Lookout Valley
5. Copper Basin
Notes: There is no hesitation to say that South Pittsburg wins this region with ease and walks into the playoffs as an immediate state title contender; They are talented with a mix of vets and youth, led by star by players (RB) De’Andre Kelly De’Andre Kelly 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB South Pittsburg | 2022 State TN and two-way lineman Gio Davis Gio Davis 6'4" | 285 lbs | DL South Pittsburg | 2022 State TN ; Don’t sleep on talented athlete Christopher Jackson either; Sale Creek appears right now to be the top contender at dethroning the Pirates but it will be a tough task; Best option for the rest of the teams in this region is to win enough games to make their way into postseason play while the Pirates handle this region.
Class 1A-Region 4
1. Gordonsville
2. Jo Byrns
3. Clay Co.
4. Red Boiling Springs
5. Pickett Co.
Notes: Much like the region above, Gordonsville is the clear cut favorite and looks to have a nice path towards the postseason; The Tigers have the one of the top players in region in two-way talent Matthew Albritton along with a nice mix of vets and youth surrounding him; The team that might give the Tigers some fits is Jo Byrns; They appear to have a roster that has increased it’s talent, led by junior (DE/TE) Bailey Serignet Bailey Serignet 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Jo Byrns | 2023 TN that should compete with the Tigers and become the next best team in this region.
Class 1A-Region 5
1. Fayetteville
2. Cornersville
3. Eagleville
4. Huntland
5. Wayne Co.
6. Moore Co.
7. Collinwood
Notes: Cornersville is a good looking team this year that should make it to the playoffs but Fayetteville is the no-brainer here as they have as much talent as anybody in the Class 1A ranks. The upperclassmen between the seniors and juniors run the show for the Tigers with a star sophomore at running back in K.J. Jackson K.J. Jackson 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Fayetteville | 2024 TN ; Blocking from him up front are two stud seniors in Gus Hill Gus Hill 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Fayetteville | 2022 State TN and Andre Thomison; They also have two highly talented juniors on defense in (LB) Isaiah Thomison and (LB/DE) Braxton Wilson; Cornersville is a senior laden team that will be ready to compete with the Tigers for the top spot, led by senior (WR) Tanner Edwards and (OL) Blake Jones; Sleeper teams for playoffs spots in this region include Eagleville and Huntland.
Class 1A-Region 6
1. McKenzie
2. Dresden
3. McEwen
4. Perry Co.
5. Gleason
6. Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central
7. South Fulton
Notes: The Rebels head into the 2021 season with two of the better talents in the entire Class 1A ranks but also the 2023 class. Junior standouts (Ath) Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB McKenzie | 2023 State TN and quarterback Jackson Cassidy Jackson Cassidy 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB McKenzie | 2023 State TN already hold P5 and D1 offers and will be focal points for the Rebels team and the rest of their competition over the next two years; McKenzie’s main competition for the top spot in this region appears to be Dresden; The Lions are looking to make a statement this season and work their way to the playoffs and they will need 2023 two way talent Tatum Oliver Tatum Oliver 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Dresden | 2023 TN to lead the way; McEwen could play spoiler in this region.
Class 1A-Region 7
1. Peabody
2. Lake Co.
3. Greenfield
4. Humboldt
5. West Carroll
6. Halls
Notes: The two Class 2A state champs have moved down to 1A and they are looking to continue their championship streak with possibly their most talented team ever; The Golden Tide have a strong senior class leading the way with (RB) Khalik Ganaway Khalik Ganaway 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Peabody | 2022 State TN , (OL) Connor Meadows Connor Meadows 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Peabody | 2022 State TN , (DE) Jordan Shepherd Jordan Shepherd 6'4" | 235 lbs | DL Peabody | 2022 State TN , two way talent Malik Ganaway Malik Ganaway 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Peabody | 2022 State TN and under the radar defensive back DeMarkus Kee DeMarkus Kee 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Peabody | 2022 TN at the top of the list; They have good leader at quarterback too in junior signal caller Sam Driggers Sam Driggers 6'0" | 200 lbs | QB Peabody | 2023 State TN ; The Golden Tide will have their hands full with Lake Co. in this region but they sit at the top in Class 1A as a team poised for a title run.
Speaking of the Falcons, they are not too shabby either; They have a nice handful of talent that ranges all across the roster; The top guys to know with the Falcons include seniors Jamarius Williams Jamarius Williams 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Lake Co. | 2022 TN and Miguel Abbott along with an up and comer in junior two way talent Malachi Clay Malachi Clay 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Lake Co. | 2023 State TN ; Peabody may be the top team but the Falcons won’t back down and should be ready for a deep playoff run; Watch out for Greenfield as the next best team in this region and a squad that can make it into postseason play.
Class 1A-Region 8
1. Middle College.
2. M.A.S.E.
3. Middleton
4. Westwood
5. Washington
6. Bluff City
Notes: This region is hard to call due to most of the teams missing out on the 2020 season and there being a lack of film from their programs; What little I do know about this region is that Middle College has a talented two-way prospect in Antonyus Moore that can play on the collegiate level; He has dynamic, play making abilities from both sides of the ball that translate to the college gridiron; The Bulldogs do look like the top team at this point but with so little information and it still being preseason, anything could happen in this region.
Playoff Predictions
Final Four: Coalfield, South Pittsburg, Fayetteville, Peabody
State Championship: South Pittsburg vs. Peabody
Pre-season All-State (Class 1A)
Offense
(QB) Sam Driggers Sam Driggers 6'0" | 200 lbs | QB Peabody | 2023 State TN – Peabody
(RB) Khalik Ganaway Khalik Ganaway 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Peabody | 2022 State TN – Peabody
(RB) De’Andre Kelly De’Andre Kelly 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB South Pittsburg | 2022 State TN – South Pittsburg
(RB) K.J. Jackson K.J. Jackson 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Fayetteville | 2024 TN – Fayetteville (‘24)
(Ath) Antonyus Moore – Middle College
(Ath) Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB McKenzie | 2023 State TN – McKenzie
(OL) Gus Hill Gus Hill 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Fayetteville | 2022 State TN – Fayetteville
(OL) Luke Allen – Greenfield
(OL) Andre Thomison – Fayetteville
(OL) Bryson Ridge – Coalfield
(OL) Connor Meadows Connor Meadows 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Peabody | 2022 State TN – Peabody
Defense
(DL) Jordan Shepherd Jordan Shepherd 6'4" | 235 lbs | DL Peabody | 2022 State TN – Peabody
(DL) Gio Davis Gio Davis 6'4" | 285 lbs | DL South Pittsburg | 2022 State TN – South Pittsburg
(DL) Jason Baskerville – Peabody
(DE/LB) Braxton Wilson – Fayetteville (‘23)
(LB) Jamarius Williams Jamarius Williams 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Lake Co. | 2022 TN – Lake Co.
(LB) Isaiah Thomison – Fayetteville (‘23)
(DB) Malik Ganaway Malik Ganaway 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Peabody | 2022 State TN – Peabody
(DB) Corian Cash – South Pittsburg
(DB) Miguel Abbott – Lake Co.
(DB) Devin Ramsey Devin Ramsey 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Unaka | 2022 TN – Unaka
(DB) DeMarkus Kee DeMarkus Kee 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Peabody | 2022 TN – Peabody
Honorable Mention: (LB) Tatum Oliver Tatum Oliver 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Dresden | 2023 TN – Dresden, (OL) Blake Jones – Cornersville, (OL) Andre Allen – Fayetteville, (OL) Hunter Johnson – Gleason, (QB/S) Matthew Albritton – Gordonsville, (LB) Chandler Finch – Greenfield, (OG) Chase Johnson – Harriman, (DE) Bailey Serignet Bailey Serignet 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Jo Byrns | 2023 TN – Jo Byrns, (WR) Malachi Clay Malachi Clay 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Lake Co. | 2023 State TN , (Ath) DayDay Williams – Lake Co., (QB) Jackson Cassidy Jackson Cassidy 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB McKenzie | 2023 State TN – McKenzie, (QB) Emmett Hegland Emmett Hegland 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Midway | 2022 TN , (WR) Caleb Goodman – Midway, (Ath) Christopher Jackson, (Ath) Reginald Hunter – South Pitt, Landon Ramsey Landon Ramsey 6'2" | 225 lbs | QB Unaka | 2023 TN – Unaka
Others to Know: (DB/DB) Carson Sharp – Clay Co, ((WR) Tanner Edwards, (RB/LB) Cason Warner – Cornersville, (DB/WR) Dylan Pratt – Eagleville, (S) Cam Sheridan, (RB/LB) Alajarea Johnson – Fayetteville, (RB) Micah Franklin, (LB) Ashton Orr – Greenback, (RB/LB) Isaiah Agnew, (LB) DJ Sangster – Humboldt, (OL) Jay Lebo Jay Lebo 6'6" | 315 lbs | OL Lake Co. | 2023 TN – Lake Co., (DT) Gary LaPrairie, Jr – McEwen, (OL) Hunter Johnson – McKenzie, (Ath) Ty Mason – Midway, (QB) Connor Partin – Moore Co., (OL) Riley Underwood – Oakdale, (DE/LB) Brier Brown – Perry Co., (QB) Landon Ramsey Landon Ramsey 6'2" | 225 lbs | QB Unaka | 2023 TN – Unaka, (Ath) Keaton Johnson – West Carroll