#TNHSFB: State Title Contenders (Class 4A-6A)

Class 4-A

1. Elizabethton Fighting Cyclones (Region 1)

– The Class 4A defending champs are primed to repeat as champions as they have key pieces returning from a dominating 2020 team along with rising underclassmen. Everything starts under center with (QB) Bryson Rollins Bryson Rollins 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Elizabethton | 2022 State TN . The two sport star (baseball) led the Cyclones to a title last year and he should be even better headed into the Fall season. His main target will be receiver Jake Roberts Jake Roberts 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Elizabethton | 2022 State TN and he has two D-linemen in senior Trenton Taylor Trenton Taylor 6'5" | 285 lbs | DL Elizabethton | 2022 State TN and junior Bradley Cannon Bradley Cannon 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Elizabethton | 2023 State TN that should be forces on the defensive side of the ball. No reason to not think the Cyclones will find their way to the title game yet again this year.

2. Milan Bulldogs (Region 7)

– Last year in Cookeville, the Bulldogs fell one game short of winning a state title but that experience could bode well this season in their hopes to return and bring that Gold Ball back to Milan. The one thing that helps the Bulldogs cause this season is having an all-state talent in Anthony Brown Anthony Brown 6'2" | 195 lbs | DB Milan | 2022 State TN running the show on both sides of the ball. The Power Five talent will be the focus of the opposition every game, so his teammates will need to step up and provide strong play if the Bulldogs want to make it back to Cookeville.

3. Haywood Tomcats (Region 7)

– This could be the season the Tomcats have been waiting for as they return multiple key starters and have the senior class to lead them to Cookeville. Defensively, the Tomcats should be quite strong, led by three senior standouts in (DB) Jaylen Lewis Jaylen Lewis 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Haywood | 2022 State TN , (DT) Camron Douglas Camron Douglas 6'3" | 300 lbs | DL Haywood | 2022 State TN and linebacker Anthony Brewer Anthony Brewer 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Haywood | 2022 State TN . Those are three significant guys that will lead the team overall but also produce at a high level. If Haywood can generate enough offense this season, they could find themselves competing for a 4A state title.

4. Tullahoma Wildcats (Region 5)

– It was an outstanding season put together by the Wildcats last year but it’s a new team and while they must replace key pieces, Tullahoma has several talented starters returning. Offense should lead the way this year, headed up by (QB) Ryan Scott Ryan Scott 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Knox. West | 2024 State TN and Division 1 recruit, O-lineman Ian Poe Ian Poe 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Tullahoma | 2022 State TN . The Wildcats also have some talented, under the radar guys like Keishawn Cummings Keishawn Cummings 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Tullahoma | 2022 State TN and Malik Grizzard Malik Grizzard 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Tullahoma | 2024 TN that could have breakout seasons and help Tullahoma towards another deep playoff run.

5. Anderson Co. Mavericks (Region 2)

– The sleeper team of Class 4A is the Mavericks and they have a great balance of upperclassmen and youth on both sides of the ball that put this East Tennessee program in contention come playoff time. The offense for Anderson Co. is where this team’s strengths are right now and are led by a talented junior thrower in Walker Martinez Walker Martinez 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Anderson County | 2023 State TN . He has good pieces to toss it to in senior (HB/LB) Zach Shannon Zach Shannon 6'2" | 215 lbs | ATH Anderson County | 2022 State TN and has a beast up front to block in Sully Sexton Sully Sexton 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Anderson County | 2022 State TN . Rising prospect to watch this year for the Mavs is junior (WR) Bryson Vowell Bryson Vowell 6'4" | 190 lbs | WR/TE Anderson Co. | 2023 State TN . Teams better watch out for Anderson Co. this season because they have vets and talent, they are well coached and they love to compete.

Other Contenders: Fayette Ware (Reg. 8), Marshall Co. (Reg. 5), Pearl Cohn (Reg. 5), South Doyle (Reg. 2), Upperman (Reg. 4)

Class 5-A

1. Knox. West Rebels (Region 2)

– The Rebels head into the 2021 season with one goal on their mind and that is walking away from Cookeville with another Gold Ball and another state title. They certainly have the pieces to get there but it’s a long season where anything can happen. The focus of the opposition this season will be two way talent and Michigan St. commit Shannon Blair Shannon Blair 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Knox. West | 2022 State TN . Defensively the Rebels should be stout as well led by (DE) Noah Giger Noah Giger 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Knox. Central | 2022 TN and (LB) Isaac Boehleber. Collectively, Knox. West has the talent and pieces to be at the top of 5A class by season’s end.

2. Knox. Central Bobcats (Region 2)

– Central comes into the 2021 season with key pieces at key positions that can lead to an eventual state title. Leading the way on offense is senior (QB) Ryan Bolton and he is a seasoned guy that knows how to run the Bobcats offense. He has a solid O-line in front of him led by Joshua Bland Joshua Bland 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Karns | 2022 State TN and skill pieces like Will Siaway Will Siaway 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Knox. Central | 2022 State TN that will help Bolton and the Bobcats offense in many ways this season. They also have an under the radar talent in (LB/DE) Quisean Jackson Quisean Jackson 6'4" | 200 lbs | LB Knox. Central | 2022 TN and (DE) Mark Adams, Jr that could be a force on defense. Central is always a team to watch come playoff time and this year looks to be no different.

3. Powell Panthers (Region 3)

– Could this finally be the season where the Panthers earn their way to Cookeville and walk away with a Gold Ball? That could be possible as the Panthers are ultra talented with the horses to lead them to the promiseland. Running the show at (QB) is Jordyn Potts Jordyn Potts 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Powell | 2023 State TN and he has three big time targets in Adarius Redmond Adarius Redmond 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR/TE Powell | 2023 State TN , Ayden Greene Ayden Greene 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2023 State TN and Jayden Collins Jayden Collins 5'9" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2022 State TN to throw to. Jarvis Stockton Jarvis Stockton 5'8" | 190 lbs | RB Powell | 2022 State TN totes the ball at running back and the Panthers defense should be much improved this year. The pieces are in place for a deep run, so the Panthers just need to get it done.

4. Henry Co. Patriots (Region 7)

– The next two years will be prime opportunities for the Patriots to go after a state title as they are led by talented underclassmen in Ryan Damron Ryan Damron 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Henry Co. | 2023 State TN (QB), Zamaryion Kendall Zamaryion Kendall 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB Lausanne | 2023 State TN (RB) and 4-star junior O-lineman Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'6" | 305 lbs | OL Henry Co. | 2023 State TN . The Patriots also have key pieces like junior athlete Jayce Kendall Jayce Kendall 5'8" | 165 lbs | WR Henry Co. | 2023 TN and rising sophomore Caden Marshall Caden Marshall 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Henry Co. | 2024 State TN to go along with the other stars. Henry Co. has always been a tough out and they look poised to be that way yet again this season along with a great shot to make it to Cookeville.

5. Mt. Juliet Golden Bears (Region 5)

– People better watch out for the Golden Bears this season! This Middle Tennessee program has some serious talent and a collection of upperclassmen and youth that could help the Golden Bears compete for a state title. They have two QB’s in senior Stephen Swoner Stephen Swoner 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Mt.Juliet | 2022 TN and rising junior Griffin Throneberry Griffin Throneberry 6'3" | 190 lbs | ATH Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN running the offense and handing it off to junior back Keion Irby Keion Irby 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Mt Juliet | 2023 TN . Blocking up front for them is junior (OT/G) Ayden Bussell Ayden Bussell 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN and senior (OG/C) Conner Coker Conner Coker 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Mt. Juliet | 2022 TN . We can’t forget about the beast on defense in junior (LB) Ethan Crisp Ethan Crisp 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN . Overall, this could be the best Golden Bear team they have put on the field in several years.

Other Contenders: Hillsboro (Reg. 5), Oak Ridge (Reg. 3), Page (Reg. 6), Sevier Co. (Reg. 2), Springfield (Reg. 7)

Class 6-A

1. Oakland Patriots (Region 4)

– The road to Cookeville runs through the Patriots and they look stocked and loaded for shot at defending and repeating as champions. Oakland has a two headed monster at running back in Jordan James-Bryant and Antonio Patterson Antonio Patterson 5'11" | 190 lbs | ATH Oakland | 2022 State TN that could be playing in college football right now. The Patriots also have an elite receiver to throw it when they want to in 4-star Isaiah Horton Isaiah Horton 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR/TE Oakland | 2022 State TN . The defense is quite talented too with (DE) Ethan McLaurin Ethan McLaurin 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL Oakland | 2022 State TN , (DB) A.G. McGhee A.G. McGhee 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Oakland | 2022 FL and (S) Dylan King Dylan King 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Oakland | 2022 State TN leading the way. All the pieces are there to run it back to back for the Rutherford County program.

2. Maryville Rebels (Region 2)

– The powerhouse Rebels are loaded yet again and big competition to Oakland for the 6A title this season. They return a big time talent in (QB) Carson Jones Carson Jones 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Maryville | 2022 State TN and have one of the better O-line’s in the state, led by juniors Cal Grubbs Cal Grubbs 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Maryville | 2023 State TN and (OT/G) Aidan Edwards Aidan Edwards 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Maryville | 2023 TN . Over on defense, the Rebels have a star in (S) D.J. Burks D.J. Burks 6'0" | 190 lbs | DB Maryville | 2022 State TN along with two senior, high producing linebackers in Brayden Hoy Brayden Hoy 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Maryville | 2022 TN and Zach Braden Zach Braden 6'0" | 230 lbs | LB Maryville | 2022 TN . If the defensive line can produce and cause havoc, it will make the entire Rebels team quite formidable. It is not hard to look at this Maryville team and think they won’t be there at the end and either be competing for a state title or be one game away, they are that talented.

3. Summit Spartans (Region 7)

– After winning a state title for the 1st time in school history, the Spartans decided to move up the Class 6A and try their shot at the toughest classification in Tennessee. It will be a harder road to Cookeville but the Spartans return just about every key starter from last year’s title team. They are led by Kentucky commits, Destin Wade Destin Wade 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Summit | 2022 State TN (QB) and linebacker Keaten Wade Keaten Wade 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB Summit | 2022 State TN . The Spartans also sport key seniors in safety Brady Pierce Brady Pierce 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Summit | 2022 State TN , O-lineman Mason Richardson Mason Richardson 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Summit | 2022 State TN and receiver Brandon King Brandon King 5'9" | 180 lbs | WR Summit | 2022 State TN . It will be a fun and interesting 2021 season to watch the Spartans maneuver through Class 6A football.

4. Ravenwood Raptors (Region 7)

– Look out for the Raptors this year, especially with the new addition at quarterback in Chris Parson Chris Parson 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Ravenwood | 2023 State TN , who recently committed to Florida State. He is a talented passer with athleticism that can lead this Raptors team on a special ride but only if everybody works on the same page. Part of compliments of players around Parson include a beast up front in (OG) Carter Miller Carter Miller 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Ravenwood | 2022 State TN and tall, long wideout in (Sr) Lee Molette Lee Molette 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Ravenwood | 2022 State TN . The Raptors might have one of the best secondaries in the state, led by Sr’s Myles Pollard Myles Pollard 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Ravenwood | 2022 State TN and Isaac Rollins Isaac Rollins 5'11" | 185 lbs | DB Ravenwood | 2022 State TN . They also have an underrated D-Tackle poised for a big year in (Sr) Roman Bundza Roman Bundza 6'3" | 285 lbs | DL Ravenwood | 2022 State TN . Region 7 might be the toughest region of all in the entire state, so it will be tough but the Raptors are talented for a big 2021 season.

5. White Station Spartans (Region 8)

– The 2020 football season was not pleasant for the Spartans or the city of Memphis but White Station is excited to get back on the field this year and they have a team and some significant players to cause damage through 6A football. It all starts under center with rising junior (QB) Braylen Ragland Braylen Ragland 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Bartlett | 2023 State TN . He is a talented young man with a bright future. Key pieces around him include Sr (Ath) Shamari Covington Shamari Covington 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH/TE White Station | 2022 State TN , two way talent Jalen Shelton and rising sophomore (Ath) Isaiah Cobbs Isaiah Cobbs 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Munford | 2024 State TN . Over on defense is where the Spartans will need to step up and compliment their offense if they look at making a deep playoff run.