Class 1A Football: #PRZTN Top Position Groups

Wrapping up our in-depth look into Class 1A football, here we breakdown the top position groups across the classification and which players to know about and follow headed into the 2022 Fall football season. Offensive Backfield McKenzie: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="150306" first="Jackson" last="Cassidy"], (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="102344" first="Marquez" last="Taylor"] - The one-two punch of Cassidy and Taylor is a deadly combo for defenses to handle and both guys are prime contenders for Mr. Football this season. Fayetteville: (QB) Sam Holdmeyer, (RB) Aljarea Johnson, (Ath) Jaterious Derrick - The defending Class 1A state champs have a great shot to repeat, especially with this backfield of Holdmeyer, Johnson and Derrick. Johnson could have a breakout season as the Tigers primary running back. Gordonsville: (QB) Matthew Albritton, (RB) Canaan Musgrove - One of the top returning producers of offensive yards this season is Albritton and he will be the force behind the Tigers team this year and their efforts towards competing for a 1A state title. Three Others to Know Huntland: (QB) Trenton Morris, Darren Ford Dresden: (QB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id="150376" first="Tatum" last="Oliver"], (RB) DeAngelo Lambert Peabody: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="102221" first="Sam" last="Driggers"]   Receivers McKenzie: (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="123167" first="Zay" last="Webber"], (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id="150528" first="Zach" last="Chandler"] - The Rebels aren’t just loaded in the backfield but they have a nice combo of receivers to go to as well in Webber and Chandler. Both are good athletes with big play abilities. Taylor could be used as a slot receiver as well as running back. Peabody: (WR) Derek Kee, (DB/WR) Kylen Wade, (Ath) Camari Bonds - One of the top 1A quarterbacks in [player_tooltip player_id="102221" first="Sam" last="Driggers"] has a bevy of athletes to throw to in Kee, Wade, Bonds and others. The Golden Tide can get back their title winning ways with big season’s from Golden Tide wideouts. South Pittsburg: (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id="301362" first="Jacob" last="Bivens"], (Ath) Racash Kelly - Bivens and Kelly are nice two-way talents that should be expected to contribute in big ways this Fall for the Pirates offense and become the team’s possible top two go-to receivers. Three Others to Know Sale Creek: (Ath) Nick Hall, (WR) Andre Moore, (Ath) Jackson Moore Lake Co. (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="102197" first="Malachi" last="Clay"], (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="301348" first="Jeremiah" last="Williams"] Middle College.: (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="222284" first="Brandon" last="Mitchell"] <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-371394" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/06/zwebber-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />   Offensive Line Peabody: (OG/C) Isaac Dehaan, (OL/DL) David Whitten, (OT/G) [player_tooltip player_id="149178" first="Ace" last="Meadows"] - The Golden Tide could have the best collection of offensive linemen from the Class 1A ranks. Veterans in Dehaan and Whitten set the tone but Meadows is most talented and the guy who could make it into Power Five football. Gordonsville: (OL/DL) Jeremiah Musgrove, (OG/C) Ethan Elkins, (OL/DL) Colton Clemons, (OL) Jake Hill, (OL) Braden Wood - The deepest offensive line sits in Gordonsville and these trench monsters might be the difference in the Tigers competing for the Class 1A title this season. Coalfield: (OG/C) [player_tooltip player_id="273394" first="Brayden" last="Burgess"], (OL) [player_tooltip player_id="361308" first="Mason" last="Smith"] - Coalfield has a pair of top level O-linemen in Burgess and Smith that will help create holes in the running game but both also have the ability to pass block. Burgess is talented and underrated while Smith is a future D1 prospect. Three Others to Know Greenback: (OG) [player_tooltip player_id="102366" first="Tony" last="Yates"], (OG/C) Cash Herron Fayetteville: (OG/C) [player_tooltip player_id="317188" first="Andre" last="Allen"], (OG/C) Isaiah Serrano, (OG/C) Kellan Hockett Lake Co.: (OT/G) [player_tooltip player_id="150339" first="Jay" last="Lebo"], (OG/C) [player_tooltip player_id="294033" first="Jacob" last="Barker"] [caption id="attachment_371395" align="alignnone" width="225"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-371395" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/06/ameadows-225x300.webp" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Photo: jacksonsun.com[/caption]   Defensive Line Fayetteville: (DE) [player_tooltip player_id="102361" first="Braxton" last="Wilson"], (DL/OL) Cole Cash - Everything starts up front for the Tigers with Wilson, who is one of the best overall prospects from the Class 1A ranks. His play will be key this season but his teammates across the line will be equally as important. M.A.S.E.: (DE) Kendravious Sawyer, (DE/LB) Jahari Eskridge - The best Class 1A D-line out of Memphis comes from the Phoenix as they have two guys in Sawyer and Eskridge who can cause damage on the edge while also providing strong support in stopping the run. McEwen: (DE) Thomas Wills, (DT/OL) Blaine Gibson - One of the returning sack leaders for the Fall season is Wills and I expect another big year from the West Tennessee product. Gibson is a solid two-way talent who could have a breakout year in the middle for his McEwen team. Three Others to Know Greenback: (DE) Eli Tyson, (DE/TE) Cade Brown Harriman: (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="166318" first="Collin" last="Cagle"], (DT/OL) Jaiden Patterson Gleason: (DT/OL) [player_tooltip player_id="340398" first="Hunter" last="Johnson"], (DL) Jacob Johnson, (DL) Austin Clark   Linebackers Fayetteville: (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="211373" first="Isaiah" last="Thomison"], (LB/RB) Aljarea Johnson, (LB) Calvin Hughes - The front seven for this year’s Tigers team is scary good. The combination of Wilson up front along with Thomison (who could play DE in college), Johnson and Hughes could give Fayetteville the best defense in Class 1A this season. Gordonsville: (LB) Bryson Greer, (LB) Will Dudney, (LB) Eli Adams - This trio of linebackers for Gordonsville this season in Greer, Dudney and Adams could be major factors towards pushing the Tigers into contention for a state title. These are three talented backers with size and smarts that should be on the radar of many college coaches at the moment. South Pittsburg: (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="258684" first="Jamarion" last="Farrior"], (LB) Cameron Grider - Farrior and Grider are a nice two headed monster at linebacker for the Pirates defense that should be major contributors this coming Fall. Farrior is a possible FCS recruit with a big, productive junior season. Three Others to Know Humboldt: DJ Sangster, Isaiah Agnew Peabody: London Burkett, Jacolby Albea West Carroll: [player_tooltip player_id="242048" first="Seth" last="Edwards"] <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-371398" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/06/wdidney-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />   Secondary McKenzie: (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="102344" first="Marquez" last="Taylor"], (S/QB) [player_tooltip player_id="150306" first="Jackson" last="Cassidy"], (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="123167" first="Zay" last="Webber"], (S) [player_tooltip player_id="150528" first="Zach" last="Chandler"], (Ath) Etijay Tharpe - The Rebels not only have the best secondary in the entire Class 1A ranks but also one of the best in the entire state, regardless of classification. Taylor is a Power Five guy at this position while Cassidy and Webber have the talent and upside to get into D1 football as well. Lake Co.: (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="102197" first="Malachi" last="Clay"], (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="301348" first="Jeremiah" last="Williams"] - Competing with the Rebels for the top secondary in Class 1A are these Falcons, led by stud seniors Clay and Williams. Both of these guys are FCS level talents that will be ultimate factors for the Falcons team this coming Fall. Peabody: (DB) Kylen Wade, (WR/S) Derek Kee, (Ath) Camari Bonds - Upside is the key word here when looking into the Golden Tide’s secondary. Wade is the star on the back end but Kee is the guy with big potential. Bonds is a young up and comer that should see an increase of action this season. Three Others to Know Coalfield: (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id="273491" first="Rommel" last="Conlon"], (S/WR) Tucker West South Pitt: (RB/S) Jayden Mount, [player_tooltip player_id="301362" first="Jacob" last="Bivens"], Racash Kelly Dresden: Jaylyn Mitchell, Raymond Johnson, Tristan Jett <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-371399" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/06/mclay-300x151.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="151" />