State’s Finest Named to Mr. Football List

On the eve of playoff football here in Tennessee, Mr. Football Semi Finalists were announced and this is a big honor for all names involved, even those that do not come away as the winner because being named simply means you are legit!

It was a long, entertaining season that is still ongoing for a lot of the prospects listed, so while this is a big honor, I’m sure most, if not all players listed have their minds focused on their 1st round matchups. 

The finalists will be named in a few weeks where the list will be narrowed to three and it will be a tough decision with so many top names and top performers to choose from. 

Some of the biggest names across the in-state 2022 class cracked the list, including Chrst. Brothers running back and Ohio St. commit, Dallan Hayden Dallan Hayden 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Christian Brothers | 2022 State TN who made the cut for the second year in a row. 

Other top names listed as semi finalists include: Cameron Miller Cameron Miller 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH/TE M.A.H.S. | 2022 State TN from M.A.H.S., who is committed to Tennessee, Westview and current Alabama commit, Ty Simpson Ty Simpson 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Westview | 2022 State TN , elite Pearl Cohn wideout Barion Brown Barion Brown 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR Pearl-Cohn | 2022 State TN , current Arkansas commit Jaylen Lewis Jaylen Lewis 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Haywood | 2022 State TN and the superstar twins from Summit, Destin Wade Destin Wade 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Summit | 2022 State TN and Keaten Wade Keaten Wade 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB Summit | 2022 State TN . 

While the senior crop is well represented, the underclassmen have strong names up for top honors as well. 

Among the top underclassmen names include Jamarion Dowell Jamarion Dowell 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Covington | 2023 State TN from Covington, the state’s leading rusher in Karns running back DeSean Bishop DeSean Bishop 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Karns | 2023 State TN and two of the best quarterbacks in the state with Pope Prep’s Kenny Minchey Kenny Minchey 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Pope Prep | 2023 State TN and Marcel Reed Marcel Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB MBA | 2023 State TN from MBA. 

It’s a star studded list of semi finalists for Mr. Football, so it will be hard to pick a winner as several guys deserve the award but there can only be one winner per classification. 

The finalists will be announced on November 23rd and then on December 7th, the winners will be named live online and in front of an audience inside Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans. 

Class 1A – Semi Finalists 

(RB) Seth Birchfield – Cloudland, (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, ‘23 (Ath) Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB McKenzie | 2023 State TN – McKenzie , ‘23 (RB/LB) Thomas Wills – McEwen 

Class 2A – Semi Finalists 

(WR/S) Cameron Huckaby – Meigs Co., (RB) Aden Hutcherson – Huntingdon, (WR/DB) Cameron Miller Cameron Miller 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH/TE M.A.H.S. | 2022 State TN – M.A.H.S., (QB/S) Luke Myers Luke Myers 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB South Greene | 2022 TN – South Greene, (QB) Ty Simpson Ty Simpson 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Westview | 2022 State TN – Westview 

Class 3A – Semi Finalists 

(RB) Ranen Blackburn Ranen Blackburn 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB White House | 2022 State TN – White House, (QB) Caden Buckles Caden Buckles 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB Alcoa | 2022 State TN – Alcoa, (QB) Jacob Dooley Jacob Dooley 6'1" | 195 lbs | QB Waverly Central | 2022 State TN – Waverly, ‘23 (RB) Jamarion Dowell Jamarion Dowell 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Covington | 2023 State TN – Covington, (QB/S) Keaton Harig – Loudon 

Class 4A – Semi Finalists

(WR) Barion Brown Barion Brown 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR Pearl-Cohn | 2022 State TN – Pearl Cohn, (RB) Shawn Gary Shawn Gary 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB South Doyle | 2022 State TN – South Doyle, (RB) Mason Gudger Mason Gudger 5'8" | 180 lbs | RB Greeneville | 2022 State TN – Greeneville, (DB) Jaylen Lewis Jaylen Lewis 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Haywood | 2022 State TN – Haywood, (WR) Kaydin Pope Kaydin Pope 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Hardin County | 2022 State TN – Hardin Co. 

Class 5A – Semi Finalists 

‘23 (RB) DeSean Bishop DeSean Bishop 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Karns | 2023 State TN – Karns, (RB) Jamarious Brooks Jamarious Brooks 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Memp. Central | 2022 State TN – Memp. Central, ‘23 (Ath) Malaki Dowell Malaki Dowell 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB White Co. | 2023 State TN – White Co., (DT) Walter Nolen Walter Nolen 6'4" | 300 lbs | DL Powell | 2022 State TN – Powell, (QB) Jake McNamara Jake McNamara 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Page | 2022 State TN – Page 

Class 6A – Semi Finalists 

(RB) Jordan James-Bryant – Oakland, (QB) Carson Jones Carson Jones 6'2" | 210 lbs | QB Maryville | 2022 State TN – Maryville, (LB) Alex Mitchell Alex Mitchell 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Riverdale | 2022 State TN – Riverdale, (QB) Destin Wade Destin Wade 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Summit | 2022 State TN – Summit, (LB) Keaten Wade Keaten Wade 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB Summit | 2022 State TN – Summit 

D2-Class A Semi Finalists 

‘23 (RB) Kameron Boyd – Jackson Chrst., (QB) Bradford Gaines – DCA, (RB) Steele Haynes Steele Haynes 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB USJ | 2022 State TN – USJ, (RB) Nakelin McAfee Nakelin McAfee 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB King's Academy | 2022 State TN , (RB) Josh Strickland, jr Josh Strickland, jr 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Nash. Christian | 2022 State TN – Nash. Christian 

D2-Class AA Semi Finalists 

(RB) Alex Broome Alex Broome 5'8" | 190 lbs | RB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN – Lipscomb Acad., (RB) Craig Cunningham II Craig Cunningham II 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Lausanne | 2022 State TN – Lausanne, (LB) Langston Patterson Langston Patterson 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Presbyterian | 2022 State TN – CPA, (QB) Luther Richesson Luther Richesson 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN – Lipscomb Acad., (RB) Sean Williams Sean Williams 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB BGA | 2022 State TN – BGA

D2-Class AAA Semi Finalists 

(RB) Dallan Hayden Dallan Hayden 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Christian Brothers | 2022 State TN – CBHS, ‘23 (QB) Kenny Minchey Kenny Minchey 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Pope Prep | 2023 State TN – Pope Prep, ‘23 (QB) Levi Moore – Ensworth, ‘23 (QB) Marcel Reed Marcel Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB MBA | 2023 State TN – MBA, (QB) William Riddle William Riddle 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB McCallie | 2022 State TN – McCallie