#PRZTN Regional Breakdown: Class 1A-Region 1

<h2>We are several months away from the start of the 2023 season but with tons of programs spread throughout the state of Tennessee, it's never too early to start looking deeper into each classification and region. Here we start our region previews within the Class 1A ranks. </h2>     Class 1A-Region 1   Cloudland Highlanders    Roan Mountain, TN (Carter Co.)   HC: Zachary Benfield   ‘22 Record: 6-6 overall (4-0 region) - Lost to Oliver Springs (2nd Rd)   Top Returning Players: ‘25 (QB/Ath) Camden Peppers, (Ath) Silas Burleson   Team Outlook: The Highlanders are coming off a solid but sub-par 2022 season, especially by their standards and they must replace several key seniors off last year's roster, so the upcoming year for them will be interesting. Right now this early in 2023, it's hard to say exactly how this Cloudland team will look but I bet they will be competitive. This team and football program wins ball games based on their hard work, physicality and technique and that should be the same recipe come this Fall.    While the system and recipe for success will remain the same, Coach Benfield must find replacements and new players to plug into key roles for the season ahead. Everything starts and ends with the line of scrimmage for the Highlanders but they need a leader to guide them and looks to be rising junior Camden Peppers. The two-way talent looks to be the main guy at quarterback this year while also taking a key role on defense as well.    Everything looks like a rebuilding year for these Highlanders but the way this program has consistently won football games, you can almost expect them to make the playoffs yet again. All the players on this roster have a lot of work to do this offseason as well as summer team practice to develop and learn the game as best as they can because a lot of guys will be pushed into lead roles and be expected to perform.    Early Season Outlook: Region Title Contender, Playoff Team    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/cpeppers-crop-663x436-1678722567.jpg?w=663" alt="" class="wp-image-703058" width="429" height="281" /></figure>   ---------------------------------   Cosby Eagles    Cosby, TN (Cocke Co.)   HC: Levi Cooper   ‘22 Record: 4-6 overall (2-2 region) - Lost to Oliver Springs (1st Rd)   Top Returning Players: (WR/S) Peyton Raines, ‘25 (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='1557124' first='Devonte' last='Wigfall'], ‘25 (DB) Chase Joyce, ‘25 (G/C) Braden Boyd   Team Outlook: This Eagles program has gotten better over the past few years and while last season's record may not indicate their progression, their play on the field certainly did. Cosby earned a playoff berth last year after playing a valiant season with a roster full of hard working, dedicated players but now Coach Cooper must replace a lot of key senior departures and rely on some up and coming youngsters.    What these Eagles have are some young talent to build around over the next few years, including two players in [player_tooltip player_id='1557124' first='Devonte' last='Wigfall'] and Chase Joyce, who can make plays on both sides of the ball. The biggest challenge for Cosby and the coaching staff is finding enough beef up front to create holes on offense while causing havoc in the trenches on defense. If the Eagles can find some big guys that have enough size and play consistent football, this could be a sleeper region title team.    Many challenges lie ahead for the Eagles as many things can change between now and the start of the season this August. Starters, playmakers and depth must be created and found throughout the roster this offseason but I can see a good progression within this program that can build it even further this Fall football season.    Early Season Outlook: Playoff Team    -------------------------------------   Hancock Co. Indians   Sneedville, TN (Hancock Co.)   HC: A.J. Arnold   ‘22 Record:   Top Returning Players: (WR/S) Josh Collins, (QB) Chandler Parson   Team Outlook: The Indians are new to this region and a team that may take some lumps this year as they transition into new territory. There is much to learn about this Hancock Co. program and a long offseason ahead to do just that. Playing on the Class 1A level, the Indians will have a shot at building their program into a playoff caliber team over time and maybe build into possible region title contenders but growing pains appear to be a part of their future. Much will be updated about Hancock Co. as the months go on, so stay tuned to PRZTN for further info on these Indians.    Early Season Outlook: Bottom Three Region Team   -------------------------------   Jellico Blue Devils    Jellico, TN (Campbell Co.)   HC: Brent Peel    ‘22 Record: 0-9 overall (0-4 region) - No Playoffs    Top Returning Players: (RB) Tray Jefferson, (LB) Carter Terry, (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1634248' first='Jacob' last='Jones'], ‘25 (DB) Jadon Reno   Team Outlook: This is a sleeper title team and a squad that may have as much talent as anyone within this region. Yes, that opening statement is strong when you see that these Blue Devils went winless last year but I can see potential and I see a few stud players to lean on for success this year. Senior running back Tray Jefferson could be the best college talent in this region and he is a player the Blue Devils can lean on and be their workhorse on offense, pushing them towards a playoff berth.    Sitting over on defense are two physical talents working the edge in defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1634248' first='Jacob' last='Jones'] and edge linebacker Carter Terry. These two guys should be stalwarts for Jellico this year and two leaders that should force the rest of their defensive teammates to step up their games to become key contributors. The defense should be solid but the biggest question for the Blue Devils moving will be finding complementary parts to put around Jefferson on offense as well as shore up their offensive line.    Several pieces are in place for these Blue Devils to contend for a region title this Fall but the players must continue to develop while gaining confidence in themselves and their teammates if they want to have a big 2023 season. The opportunity is there for Jellico to take their program to the next step but will they do it? We shall see!!    Early Season Outlook: Region Title Contender, Playoff Team    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/tjefferson.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-703070" width="331" height="331" /></figure>   --------------------------------   North Greene Huskies    Greeneville, TN (Greene Co.)   HC: Eric Tilson    ‘22 Record: 1-9 overall (1-3 region) -    Top Returning Players: (TE/DE) Colton Robbins, ‘25 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1103449' first='Yeshua' last='Vaught'], ‘26 (WR/S) Thomas Darnell. ‘26 (OL) Eli Johnson    Team Outlook: Much like the team above, these Huskies didn't have the best of season's last year but they certainly had some bright spots to build off of this and possibly put together a big 2023 campaign. Many teams on the Class 1A level struggle to find enough size up front to do everything they want and North Greene has that issue too but they do have a big guy up front in sophomore Eli Johnson to build around. They also have a stud running back that could contend for Mr. Football this year, if all goes according to plan.    Junior tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1103449' first='Yeshua' last='Vaught'] put up some strong numbers last year as a sophomore and he will be looking for a bigger year this Fall as the star player for his Huskies team. A little undersized yes but Vaught plays much bigger than his size and gives North Greene a bell cow back to lean upon. If he can receive some help from his teammates, the Huskies may have a potent offense to lead them into the playoffs.    While the Huskies return some key pieces and have some talent to lead the way, North Greene may still have some struggles this year due to their depth and overall talent. I do believe this team could sneak up on some people and upset them, building off that and placing themselves into the playoffs. Vaught must stay healthy and their line must develop if the Huskies want to have a big 2023 year that takes their program into a positive direction.    Early Season Outlook: Playoff Team    -------------------------------   Unaka Rangers    Elizabethton, TN (Carter Co.)   HC: O'Brien Bennett   ‘22 Record: 7-5 overall (3-1 region) - Lost to Coalfield (2nd Rd)   Top Returning Players: (T/G) Marcus Shomaker, (G/C) Brayden Powell, ‘25 (S) Brynin Repass   Team Outlook: It will be tough for the Rangers to replace one of their best players of all-time in [player_tooltip player_id='150311' first='Landon' last='Ramsey'] but the 2023 season may not be as bleak as some might think as Unaka returns enough pieces to compete for a playoff spot and possibly turn into a region title contender by season's end. Ramsey was everything for the Rangers last year and his leadership, game play and production will be very hard to replace but it must be done one way or another.    One area where the Rangers might feel good about themselves going into summer practice is their offensive line with the return of Marcus Shomaker and Brayden Powell. Those are two big boys up front that can create holes, so if the coaching staff can find a back to run behind them, the Rangers might have a potent rushing attack this year. Transition will take place this year for Rangers as they might move from a pass heavy team to a squad that generates most of their offense on the ground but that is yet to be seen.    The Rangers are still equipped to make it to the playoffs this season but a lot of new faces must step into big roles and perform while the top returning guys who will be leaned on, have to perform at the highest levels possible. Unaka has been a program that has slowly built themselves into a yearly playoff contender but it must be maintained and this Fall football season will be a good indicator on where this Rangers program truly is.    Early Season Outlook: Playoff Team   -------------------------------   Region Superlatives   Team to Beat: Cloudland Highlanders    Sleeper Team: Jellico Blue Devils   Playoff Teams: Cloudland, Cosby, Jellico    Top College Prospect: ‘25 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1103449' first='Yeshua' last='Vaught'] - North Greene   Mr. Football Candidates: (RB) Tray Jefferson - Jellico, [player_tooltip player_id='1103449' first='Yeshua' last='Vaught'] - North Greene, ‘25 (QB) Camden Peppers - Cloudland   Def. POTY Candidates: (LB) Carter Terry - Jellico, (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1634248' first='Jacob' last='Jones'] - Jellico, (DE/LB) Colton Robbins - North Greene, ‘25 (DB) Chase Joyce - Cosby   Underclassmen to Watch: ‘25 (S/RB) Brynin Repass - Unaka