#PRZTN Class 5A Players of the Year (Positional MVP’s)

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The 5A ranks are full of top players and exceptional teams, so it was a challenge to choose our 2023 MVP's but we got it done after some extensive evaluation and scouting. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["995166"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eSome could be surprised by this selection but to me it was well earned as Wilhite had a monster senior season where he produced in a big way on both sides of the ball while helping lead his Panthers team to the 5A playoffs. Wilhite was the “go-to” guy for Lenoir City this year, who was asked to produce each and every week and the East Tennessee talent did just that. On offense, Wilhite produced 1,770 yards rushing and 22 touchdown's as well as 760 yards passing and 4 scores. On defense, the Panthers senior prospect had 127 total tackles, 9 TFL, 2 blocked field goals, 2 FR with both returned for touchdowns along with three interceptions. It was a season to remember for Wilhite and a great individual performance to cap off his high school career.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae962175c74"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402556"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIf you wanted to find who was the breakout star across the entire state for the 2023 season, Perkins might be your guy. The Jaguars stud quarterback had a breakthrough sophomore year where he earned Mr. Football for the 5A ranks as well as this award for PRZTN 5A Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 2,860 yards with 46 touchdowns through the air and only 2 interceptions. Perkins was accurate, efficient and football smart with knowing when and where to throw the ball last Fall and I expect him to only get better as he continues to mature over the next two years.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae962175cdd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219439"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eFor three years now, Hazzard has done nothing but produce at a high level and his junior season was no different as this Williamson County native led the Class 5A ranks in sacks while being a consistent force on his Patriots defense that made it all the way to the title game for third year in a row. Hazzard was a steady presence from game one till the final whistle in Chattanooga this season where this Pats junior edge rusher produced 12.5 sacks on the year along with 70 total tackles and 23 tackles for loss. He forced one fumble while breaking up seven passes, showing his ability to drop into space. This 6 '3 Mid-Tennessee talent played in opponents backfield on a consistent basis all year long and I expect another big season out of Hazzard for his senior campaign next Fall.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ae962175d32"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lamar Brown - Knox. West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earning back to back state championships, Coach Brown has put himself into history lore after achieving his second straight Class 5A title by defeating Page in Chattanooga back in December. Under the teaching of Coach Brown and his staff, the Rebels have turned into one of the better football programs in the entire state that gets the job done with a roster that doesn't have a ton of college talent. The 2023 season was the exception as the Rebels had multiple college guys, which were leaders behind the Rebels title run. Coach Brown has done a great job of building this program into what it is and I don't expect them to drop off as long as the current staff sits in place at Knox. West.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1155933,"width":"417px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/lambrown.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1155933" style="width:417px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Positional MVP's&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB: [player_tooltip player_id='688719' first='Evan' last='Schwarzl'] - Walker Valley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The Mustangs captain and leader had an outstanding senior season where he helped lead Walker Valley the furthest into the playoffs in school's history while also tossing the ball for 2,393 yards with 25 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB: [player_tooltip player_id='741423' first='De'Jauvis' last='Dozier'] - Oak Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Dozier took full advantage of his senior year by having his best season yet with 1,717 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging seven yards a carry.&nbsp; The Wildcats senior back provided a steady presence at RB and someone the staff could lean on when the passing game was struggling.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR: [player_tooltip player_id='301402' first='Vanzale' last='Hinton'] - East Hamilton ‘25&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- This Chattanooga area talent stepped up big time into a lead role this year for East Hamilton where he led not just his team in receiving with 850 yards but also the entire 5A ranks. Hinton also produced 9 touchdowns on 58 receptions while averaging 14.6 yards per catch (He also played a key role on defense as well). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":984718,"width":"309px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/vhinton.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-984718" style="width:309px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL: [player_tooltip player_id='149185' first='Britton' last='Carver'] - Knox. West&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Carver made his one season at West worth it as he not only had his best season yet but also ended his high school career with a state championship. This 6 '1 mauler was as steady as they came up front on the 5A ranks where he kept his quarterback clean as well as consistently opened up holes for the Rebels rushing attack.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL: [player_tooltip player_id='149317' first='Kavion' last='Benton'] - Southwind</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Playing on one of the best defenses in the state this year, Benton was an impact player for the Jags that did just about everything right up front while producing 6 sacks on the season. The sack numbers may not be large but Benton's impact vs. the run and the attention opposing O-line's gave him allowed his Jaguar teammates to shine brighter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id='864980' first='Ryan' last='Scott'] - Knox. West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- This was a tough call as we had several strong contenders for this honor but I had to go with Scott as he produced a monster year with 178 tackles while being that consistent force on a state title winning defense. The Rebels senior backer earned this honor after playing and producing at a high level every single game (Played in 15 games) on his way to his 2nd 5A championship in a row.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB: [player_tooltip player_id='360065' first='D'Mon' last='Marable'] - Clinton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Marable is a tackling machine that never backs down from physicality. His 174 tackles from his safety position shows how much this East TN talent likes to be involved with the action. Marable also produced 13.5 tackles for loss on the year along with 7 forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks and 1 interception for his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":453470,"width":"394px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/09/dmonmarable.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-453470" style="width:394px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->