#TNHSFB: Class 3A Preview & Predictions
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Moving up the classification ranks, we now take a look at Class 3A and how everything stacks up for all the teams as we head into the upcoming 2021 season. Alcoa is the class of the 3A ranks but there…
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Continue ReadingMoving up the classification ranks, we now take a look at Class 3A and how everything stacks up for all the teams as we head into the upcoming 2021 season.
Alcoa is the class of the 3A ranks but there are a few teams throughout this classification that have talent and the means to compete with the Tornadoes. Here is how we see Class 3A laying out this year.
Class 3A – Region 1
1. Chuckey-Doak
2. Johnson Co.
3. Claiborne
4. Unicoi Co.
5. West Greene
Notes: This could be a wide open region where multiple teams could walk away as Region champs. Early pre-season research shows that Chuckey-Doak might have the best team and chance to win this Region and be set up nicely for postseason play. The Black Knights are having to replace some key guys from last year’s team, so while Chuckey-Doak may be looked at as the top team right now, both Johnson Co. and Claiborne have a great shot to win this Region as well and make their way into the playoffs.
Class 3A – Region 2
1. Alcoa
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman
3. Northview Academy
4. Pigeon Forge
5. Austin-East
6. Union Co
Notes: Alcoa is not only the class of the Region but the entire 3A classification. The Tornadoes are a state power and defending 3A champions that are loaded yet again for another run at the title. Running the show on offense will be stud QB Caden Buckles Caden Buckles 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB Alcoa | 2022 State TN and he will be helped by a stellar defense sporting stars like Major Newman Major Newman 6'3" | 190 lbs | LB Alcoa | 2022 State TN , Isaiah Bryant Isaiah Bryant 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Alcoa | 2022 State TN and others. The biggest question about this Region headed into the 2021 year is who will finish second. It will be a competition with everyone in this Region but right now all eyes point towards Gatlinburg-Pittman and Northview Academy fighting it out for that second spot. The Highlanders have some key seniors in Jacob Ferguson and Cayde Simpson Cayde Simpson 6'4" | 260 lbs | OL Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2022 TN but watch out for Northview as this may be the best team they have put together in many, many years. They have a stud up front in senior guard Ryan Wright Ryan Wright 6'5" | 295 lbs | OL Northview Academy | 2022 State TN .
Class 3A – Region 3
1. Loudon
2. Brainerd
3. Roane Co.
4. Signal Mountain
5. Sweetwater
6. McMinn Central
Notes: The 2021 season could be a big one for the Loudon Redskins as they return a lot from last year’s playoff team and have bigger expectations for the coming year. A strong senior class leads the way for the Redskins with Keaton Harig at quarterback and Gabe Sturgill Gabe Sturgill 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Loudon | 2022 TN and Joshua Gonzalez being standouts on defense. While the Redskins are the pre-season top pick, they must not sleep on Brainerd as the Panthers might have the more talented team. Senior safety Talijah Witt Talijah Witt 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Brainerd | 2022 TN is the star for the Panthers but they have a rising prospect in Donivon Thomas Donivon Thomas 6'5" | 225 lbs | LB Brainerd | 2023 State TN that many should know about. Roane Co. looks to have a solid team this year as well. The Yellow Jackets return enough veterans and youthful talent to give the Redskins and Panthers a run for their money.
Class 3A – Region 4
1. Sequatchie Co.
2. Giles Co.
3. Cannon Co.
4. Community
5. Grundy Co.
Notes: Looking into Region 4 you see a collection of teams that are not consistently on the tongue as top programs but what these teams provide for the 2021 season is a balanced, competitive Region that doesn’t have a clear cut favorite. Sequatchie Co. is deemed the leader in the clubhouse right now but this Region is wide open for any one of the teams to win it and move into postseason play. Giles Co. is making the move down to 3A football and into a whole new region of the state with different competition. This move for the Bobcats should pay off big in the long run.
Class 3A – Region 5
1. East Nashville
2. Stratford
3. Smith Co.
4. Maplewood
5. Jackson Co.
Notes: East Nashville is the team that has the most overall talent but that doesn’t mean the Region is automatically theirs. Stratford and Smith Co. will have something to say about who wins this Region, even though I feel that the Eagles will eventually be the winner. What all these teams are lacking is star power or that collection of guys that are known and can lean on for victories. What gives East Nashville the edge is their line of scrimmage, led by seniors Chazell Adkins and Taylan Fletcher. This is honestly a Region that is up for grabs where any one of the teams listed could walk away as Region champs.
Class 3A – Region 6
1. White House
2. Waverly Central
3. Fairview
4. Stewart Co.
5. Cheatham Co. Central
6. Sycamore
Notes: It’s a fresh new look at Region 6 this season as you have new teams added and teams that make this Region much more competitive. Early look at this Region says it’s a three team race with White House holding the early billing as the top squad. The Blue Devils have some talented seniors in (Ath) Ranen Blackburn and linebacker Pierce Scholato Pierce Scholato 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB White House | 2022 State TN to lead the way with several other key contributors around them. Waverly has the best quarterback in this Region with Jacob Dooley Jacob Dooley 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Waverly Central | 2022 State TN . Fairview is a perennial playoff team that is making a transition in several ways, including a revamping of the roster. The Yellow Jackets will be young this year but should remain competitive. Stewart Co. is the sleeper team.
Class 3A – Region 7
1. Covington
2. Dyersburg
3. Ripley
4. Bolivar Central
5. Millington Central
6. Bolton
Notes: This Region begins and ends with Covington. The Chargers are one of the top programs in Class 3A and go into the 2021 season with a strong team that has their eyes on a state title. Covington has two D1 or FCS level stars to lean on in senior (DB) Jalen Fayne Jalen Fayne 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Covington | 2022 State TN and rising junior A.C. Mason-Young A.C. Mason-Young 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Covington | 2023 State TN . They also have a variety of athletic skills spread throughout the roster that will be key factors on the upcoming season. The main competition for the Chargers looks to come from either Dyersburg or Ripley. Both these teams have some good players and talent to lean on this year but might not have enough juice to take the top spot from Covington.
Class 3A – Region 8
1. Memphis East
2. Sheffield
3. Trezevant
4. Raleigh-Egypt
5. Douglass
6. Hamilton
7. Memphis Business Academy
Notes: Every single one of these teams will be itching to hit the field this week as most, if not all did not have a 2020 season. It is somewhat hard to pick a winner in this Region as you really don’t know what each one of these teams have for the upcoming year but early research shows that Memphis-East and Sheffield might be the two teams to beat. The Mustangs and the Knights both sport teams with a good mix of veterans and youthful talent and enough pieces to win this Region and find themselves in postseason play. The big names to know in this Region are (DB) C.J. Owens and (WR/S) Kenji Lewis from East and linebacker Ernest London and (DB) Joquavious Gray from Sheffield. Right now this Region could be wide open but East and the Knights right now appear to be the two teams to beat.
Playoff Predictions
Final Four: Alcoa, Loudon, White House, Covington
State Championship: Alcoa vs. Covington
Pre-season All-State (Class 3A)
Offense
(QB) Caden Buckles Caden Buckles 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB Alcoa | 2022 State TN – Alcoa
(RB) Jordan Harris – Alcoa (‘23)
(RB) Jamarion Dowell Jamarion Dowell 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Covington | 2023 State TN – Covington (‘23)
(WR) Terrance Edler Terrance Edler 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR Ripley | 2022 State TN – Ripley
(WR) Isaiah Bryant Isaiah Bryant 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Alcoa | 2022 State TN – Alcoa
(Ath) Ranen Blackburn – White House
(OL) Max Hodge Max Hodge 6'5" | 250 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2022 TN – Alcoa
(OL) Lance Williams Lance Williams 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN – Alcoa (‘23)
(OL) Luke Streeter Luke Streeter 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Dyersburg | 2022 State TN – Dyersburg
(OL) Ryan Wright Ryan Wright 6'5" | 295 lbs | OL Northview Academy | 2022 State TN – Northview Academy
(OL) Tyler Jeffries Tyler Jeffries 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN – Alcoa (‘23)
Defense
(DL) Michael Williams, Jr – Alcoa
(DL) Demetrius Locklin Demetrius Locklin 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Brainerd | 2023 TN – Brainerd (‘23)
(DL) Chazell Adkins – East Nashville
(LB) Major Newman Major Newman 6'3" | 190 lbs | LB Alcoa | 2022 State TN – Alcoa
(LB) Pierce Scholato Pierce Scholato 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB White House | 2022 State TN – White House
(LB) Jacob Ferguson – Gatlinburg-Pittman
(LB) Aaron Davis Aaron Davis 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Alcoa | 2023 State TN – Alcoa (‘23)
(DB) A.C. Mason-Young A.C. Mason-Young 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Covington | 2023 State TN – Covington (‘23)
(DB) Talijah Witt Talijah Witt 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Brainerd | 2022 TN – Brainerd
(DB) Jalen Fayne Jalen Fayne 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Covington | 2022 State TN – Covington
(DB) C.J. Owens – Memphis East
Others Considered: (LB) Elijah Cannon Elijah Cannon 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Alcoa | 2024 State TN – Alcoa, (DB) Keveon Garland, (DT) Kasey Bonds, (RB/S) Cuaron Price Cuaron Price 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Bolivar Central | 2023 State TN – Bolivar Central, (WR) Ra’Shawn Winston, (DB) Morris Washington – Bolton, (Ath) Jaylyn Dupree – Brainerd, (OL) Keenan Bain, (DT/OL) Josh Mingle Josh Mingle 6'3" | 325 lbs | DL Cannon Co. | 2023 TN – Cannon Co., (OL/DT) Carlos Dimas – Chuckey-Doak, (LB) James Satkowski – Claiborne, (LB) Cristian Barbee – Covington, (FB/LB) Darius Harris – Dyersburg, (OL) DeMarco Ellis, Jr – East Nashville, (RB) Layden Grant Layden Grant 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Fairview | 2023 TN , (OL) Connor Farris Connor Farris 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Fairview | 2023 State TN – Fairview, (DT/OL) Cayde Simpson Cayde Simpson 6'4" | 260 lbs | OL Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2022 TN , (WR/S) Jackson DeSear Jackson DeSear 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Gatlinburg-Pittman | 2023 TN – G-Pittman
(OL) Dawson Misiolek – Grundy Co., (DT/OL) Kaleb Poole – Jackson Co., (LB) Gabe Sturgill Gabe Sturgill 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Loudon | 2022 TN , (DE) Joshua Gonzalez – Loudon, (WR/S) Kenji Lewis – Memp. East, (OL) Dylan Cooper – Northview Academy, (RB) Aidan Littles Aidan Littles 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Pigeon Forge | 2023 State TN , (DL) Caleb Wolfe – Pigeon Forge, (TE/DE) Skyler Kibbler – Roane Co., (LB) Ernest London, (DB) Joquavious Gray, (DL) Jailian Lee, (Ath) Mark Joseph – Sheffield, (QB/Ath) Will Page – Stewart Co., (DE/TE) Noah Monroe – Union Co., (QB) Jacob Dooley Jacob Dooley 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Waverly Central | 2022 State TN , (WR/S) Ryan Edwards – Waverly, (RB/LB) Montrel Black Spencer Noah – White House, (OL) Devin Lejsek – WH-Heritage