The Five: Class 4A Top Title Contenders

Looking into the upcoming 2022 Fall football season, Class 4A looks to be quite competitive with several high quality teams ready to chase after a title but who are the top ones?   We got ya covered right here with our top contenders article with five teams we think have the best shot at coming away with the Class 4A Gold Ball this year.     1. Pearl Cohn Firebirds …#MidTN   - This Nashville based football program has been one of the more consistent entities not only in the greater Middle Tennessee region but also the entire state for more than a decade and beyond. Headed into the 2022 season, these Firebirds look poised for a big year as they are loaded with talent and depth along with a nice combination of veterans and youth leading the way. The pieces are there for these Firebirds to have a banner season but everything must fall into place with both sides of the ball playing at their maximum capabilities and I think they will.    Offensively, Pearl Cohn is loaded with skill and athleticism along with a young but talented offensive line. The Firebirds are led by a trio of juniors in quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='258845' first='Keshawn' last='Tarleton'], running back [player_tooltip player_id='239250' first='Malachi' last='Cromwell'] and Power Five level wideout [player_tooltip player_id='193750' first='D'Arious' last='Reed']. These three along with many others are poised for breakout season's and key cogs towards pushing the Firebirds into 4A title contention.   Over on defense, Pearl Cohn has a nice mix of talent spread throughout the entire defensive side of the ball, starting with [player_tooltip player_id='237399' first='LaJairus' last='Abernathy'] up front and junior [player_tooltip player_id='277759' first='Grace'son' last='Beach'] roaming around at linebacker. Behind those two is a talented secondary, headed up by senior cover man [player_tooltip player_id='258812' first='Kamari' last='Thompson'] and hard hitting junior safety [player_tooltip player_id='372306' first='Ja'Quis' last='Williams']. While the offense has explosive traits and will be hard to handle, I believe it will be the Firebirds defense that will be the driving force towards a championship run.    Competition will be strong this year inside the Firebirds region but also the entire classification as well, so it won't be easy but I feel at the moment and headed into the Fall football season, Pearl Cohn is best equipped to become Class 4A champions.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/07/labernathy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400233"/></figure>     2. Anderson Co. Maverick …#EastTN   - Is this the year that this East Tennessee program breaks through into the 4A title game and comes away as state champions? It's very possible as these Mavericks are full of talent and veteran leadership along with a strong coaching staff surrounding them that just smells of championship material. Everything starts with senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='102284' first='Walker' last='Martinez'] and his ability to lead his offense. Martinez missed a big chunk of last season after an injury but prior to that, he was on fire, tossing any and everywhere he wanted. If he can get back to where he ended off last season, watch out as opposing defense's will be fearful of Martinez and his offense.    Helping Martinez through the air is a Power Five offered prospect in receiver [player_tooltip player_id='153948' first='Bryson' last='Vowell']. A tall and long wideout with strong redzone upside, Vowell is a mismatch problem for smaller DB's that knows how to position his body very well and come down with tough grabs. Handling the duties at running back is senior and current Army commit, [player_tooltip player_id='102293' first='Gavin' last='Noe'], who is an excellent power back with deceptive speed and athleticism.    The key towards a long championship run this year will be on defense where multiple guys are stepping up into key starting roles and expected to contribute at a high level. One veteran that will be leading the way on defense is senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='102213' first='Eli' last='Davis']. This guy is a tackling machine that should have strong help in the linebacking corps this season from junior Nick Moog, who is the next great Mavs defensive prospect.    Offensively, these guys have tons of pieces that could help get them to Chattanooga but it's the defense that will be interesting to watch early on as many new pieces will be expected to step up, especially on the defensive line. The team below in Greeneville might have something about this before it's all over but as of now, Anderson Co. looks like the best team from the East Tennessee region in the Class 4A ranks this year.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/bvowell.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-342172"/></figure>     3. Greeneville GreenDevils …#EastTN   - Fighting for the top team in the East Tennessee region will be these GreenDevils and they are well equipped to not only make a deep playoff run but play their way to Chattanooga and compete for that Class 4A title. This is a well balanced team with talent spread out everywhere on the roster and on both sides of the ball that are also well coached and disciplined to cause a lot of damage this year.    The offense for Greeneville is led by a junior quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='148875' first='Corbin' last='Cannon'], who can spin it with the best of them and a talented target to throw it to in senior wideout [player_tooltip player_id='102209' first='Adjatay' last='Dabbs']. This could be a potent 1-2 punch on offense along with a balanced attack at running back with two-way [player_tooltip player_id='102269' first='Mason' last='Laws'] stepping up in the backfield. The trenches look strong as well with senior D1 offered prospect [player_tooltip player_id='317187' first='Ty' last='Williams'] paving the road. The GreenDevils offense looks stacked and positioned to be one of the best offense's not only in the East Tennessee region but the state as well.    Over on defense, the GreenDevils will be relying on a few vets to lead the way but will also be implementing several youngsters to take on big roles. A few names to keep an eye on this season include junior D-lineman Kameron Lester and junior linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='306578' first='Amanuel' last='Dickson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='390715' first='Drew' last='Armbrister']. Those three along with Laws at safety and several others will be asked to produce at a high level and provide steady play on a consistent basis.    This program in Greeneville is a well run program that plays football the right way and always puts themselves in contention for a title run. This season looks to be no different as the GreenDevils have a strong roster and a well versed coaching staff that provided sparks of greatness last year and bring back most of those major contributors. It would not be surprising at all to see these GreenDevils in Chattanooga come season's end.     4. Haywood Tomcats …#WestTN   - Over the last decade or so, Haywood has been one of the more consistent programs from the West Tennessee region and that's not just for the 4A ranks but all classifications. The Tomcats are well coached with outstanding athletes and the overall talent to position themselves as title contenders year in and year out and this season is no different as they looked stacked and ready for an outstanding 2022 football season.    Running the show on offense is a junior lefty passer in [player_tooltip player_id='149844' first='Cordero' last='Walker'] that can beat a defense with both his arm and his legs. He is supplemented well on offense with a variety of skill players with speed and athleticism, especially senior wideout [player_tooltip player_id='201101' first='Jamari' last='Person']. The Tomcats have a solid O-line as well, led by a pair of junior standouts in [player_tooltip player_id='250838' first='C'Mariyun' last='Hayes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='149180' first='Braden' last='Parrish']. One piece on offense that needs to be found and step up this season to make this Tomcats offense elite is a star running back. If they can find that piece, watch out because everything else is in place to have a sensational offensive season.    Moving over to defense, the Tomcats will be relying on a few vets while also implementing several new faces, so it will be interesting to see how their defense plays early and gels throughout the season. They have multiple key seniors to lean on as the rest of defense comes together, especially in the secondary with standouts in [player_tooltip player_id='185584' first='Marliss' last='Gray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='205276' first='Tyler' last='Williams']. One junior to keep an eye this season is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='287770' first='Elijah' last='Fauteux'], who is a big and athletic tackler with loads of upside.    The road to get to Chattanooga won't be easy for these Tomcats as they have a tough schedule to roll through and stiff competition residing in the Middle and Eastern Tennessee regions but they appear well equipped at making a deep run this year.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/07/corwalker-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400238"/></figure>     5. Elizabethton Fighting Cyclones …#EastTN   - How can you have a top title contenders list and not have these Fighting Cyclones included. This is one of the best football programs from the East Tennessee region and this entire state for over a decade now and with Coach Whitten at the helm, I don't see these guys falling off their pedestal anytime soon. Last season didn't finish the way the Cyclones wanted but it was a learning experience for many guys who are back this season and ready to chase after yet another Class 4A championship.    The biggest challenge this season will be finding a replacement for Bryson Rollins at quarterback, who was a state champion and ultimate leader for these Cyclones. His replacement has yet to be determined but what Elizabethton does have on offense is a solid offensive line and a stud at running back in [player_tooltip player_id='273372' first='Cade' last='Russell'], who can carry the load this season and compete for Mr. Football honors. The quarterback will be given time to develop but it's the rest of the offense that will need to step up and contribute a lot as that position gets settled.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/bcannon.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400243"/></figure>   It's a different story on defense where the Cyclones have some serious talent and a well versed squad that can lead the way this season and possibly deep into the playoffs. Multiple new faces will be taking on bigger roles on defense this Fall but the Cyclones have a few stalwarts that can shine while others develop. It starts and ends up front on the D-line with a pair of defensive ends in senior [player_tooltip player_id='102189' first='Bradley' last='Cannon'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='149385' first='Mason' last='Ball'], who both have size, length and the ability to get after the quarterback. These two can be a wrecking crew from the edge this season and provide a spark for the rest of the defense.   The Fighting Cyclones know how to win football games and they know how to win come playoff time, so while a few others may be seen as better contenders, this East Tennessee program can't be slept on.    Three Others To Watch: Carter (EastTN), Red Bank (EastTN), East Hamilton (EastTN)

Looking into the upcoming 2022 Fall football season, Class 4A looks to be quite competitive with several high quality teams ready to chase after a title but who are the top ones?