D2-Class A POTY/Title Contenders

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who will make it to Chattanooga by season's end? Who will be your Class MVP's? Find out here w/ our D2-Class A pre-season preview on the top title contenders and players of the year! </h2>     Players of the Year (MVP's)   D2-Class A MVP: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='402548' first='Jared' last='Curtis'] - Nash. Christian   Off. Player of the Year: ‘26 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='471474' first='LeKhy' last='Thompkins'] - TCA    Def. Player of the Year: (LB) Kai Wyatt - Jackson Christian    Lineman of the Year: (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='467234' first='Skylan' last='Staten'] - Jackson Christian   Underclassman of the Year: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1043649' first='Ethan' last='Bones'] - Clarksville Academy    Coach of the Year: Seth Anderson - Columbia Academy   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/ebones.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1325971" style="width:304px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    The Five: Top Title Contenders   Jackson Christian Eagles - West Region   - The JCS program has been building around this senior class for the past few years and have won a lot of ball games but have yet to breakthrough into the D2-Class A title game but maybe the 2024 season changes that. The Eagles return a nice balance of talent on both sides of the ball this year along with reigning Mr. Football winner in Top 30 #PRZTN prospect [player_tooltip player_id='219345' first='Jaylen' last='Mosley'] making plays at receiver and in the secondary. Mosley may be Mr. Everything for his Eagles squad but quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='390711' first='Austin' last='Kelley'] is just as important. He is a steady performer that can beat you with both his arm and his legs while providing strong leadership. Those two alone give JCS a leg up but it's everybody else around Mosley and Kelley that make this team a contender for the D2-Class A title.    The Eagles should have one of the better defenses this year with three top tier stars on all three levels in Mosley, Kai Wyatt and [player_tooltip player_id='467234' first='Skylan' last='Staten']. The D-line itself could be a difference maker with Staten and [player_tooltip player_id='1102487' first='Gavin' last='Walker'] causing havoc up front. Where the Eagles may be lacking is with their overall athleticism. If they can find a few playmakers to add on the back end along with Mosley, JCS could have a dominating defense. The O-line is another area that will need further development throughout the coming months to make this team title worthy. Junior Tristan Nash is a good piece to build around but he will need others to step forward.    Last year was good training on the job for Jackson Christian as they had a successful season but getting knocked out early in the playoffs wasn't the results everybody was hoping for. I think this Fall could be different and if the Eagles can get by TCA and win their region, Jackson Christian will be set up to contend for that D2-Class A title along with placing another finalist for Mr. Football.    - - - - -    Nashville Christian Eagles - Middle Region   - When you have the #1 prospect in the state and it's your quarterback, everybody will be paying attention to you while thinking you are the team to beat, so there will be a lot of pressure on NCS this year to deliver. Committing to Georgia back in the spring, junior [player_tooltip player_id='402548' first='Jared' last='Curtis'] will have all the eyes on him to see how he performs this year and how he is able to lead his Eagles team to victories. He has more experience under his belt along with a year to continue learning the game, so I expect a big season out of this high caliber quarterback. What should help Curtis have a big year is the athletic playmakers around him. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='284142' first='Bryson' last='Holt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1116798' first='KeAndre' last='Gibson'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1328886' first='Michael' last='Hoskins'] are capable of turning short gains into big plays and should be nice go-to options for their star quarterback.    Where I have questions about the Eagles is within their line of scrimmage. Both the offensive and defensive line are lacking the depth or size that is desired but it must get figured out one way or another if NCS wants to compete for a D2-Class A title. All that being said, opportunity is there for multiple players to step forward into lead roles and establish themselves as not only starters but difference makers.    Defense will also be key towards a title run for Nash. Christian and where their strength lies is on the backend where the Eagles secondary should be quite good. Having Holt and Gibson along with senior safety Lawson Andrews, gives NCS a nice trio of defensive backs to lean on with the expectations to make plays on a consistent basis.    Having a quarterback like Curtis already puts you ahead of your competitors but it may not be enough to achieve a title. If the line can get settled and their playmakers fall in place properly, NCS could find themselves in Chattanooga by season's end, fighting for another state title.    - - - - -    Columbia Academy Bulldogs - Middle Region   - There is a scenario in my head that says Columbia Academy is “the” best team from the D2-Class A ranks this year but they must prove it. Opportunity is there for the Bulldogs to have a special 2024 season, however all the pieces must gel together properly while their top guys perform at a high level on a consistent basis. It's possible that Columbia Academy may have the best offense within this classification this year. They have the top returning ball carrier in D2-Class A in [player_tooltip player_id='1002753' first='Montae' last='Baldwin'], one of the top productive receivers as well in [player_tooltip player_id='839988' first='Harrison' last='Brownlee'] and a new addition at quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1192882' first='Stephen' last='Nieves'] that sports some top level mechanics along with good arm strength. The skill positions are strong but so is their O-line, which may be the best from the D2-Class A ranks.    Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1323060' first='Blake' last='Barker'] leads the way from the interior while rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1136472' first='Daniel' last='Cepicky'] handles the pass rush at tackle. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1246881' first='Boone' last='Pollard'] is another name to watch up front that should make this unit even stronger. The pieces are in place for this offense to shine this season but they will need help from the other side of the ball, where I think the biggest question mark sits.    On paper, the Bulldogs defense should be ok with the chance to be good by season's end but several guys must step forward into lead roles and contribute. The secondary is where I see their strength. Brownlee is the top guy on the back end but others like Mac Jackson, Jake Ballard and Jackson Underwood should be key contributors as well.    Collectively, I like this team and how they are put together this year. I can easily see Columbia Academy win the Middle Region again this year while fighting for the top spot overall in the D2-Class A ranks. If everybody stays healthy and everybody performs to the level I think they can, the Bulldogs should have a special 2024 season that could end in Chattanooga.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/141-Daniel-Cepicky.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1299002" style="width:363px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Trinity Christian Academy Lions - West Region    - Fighting with Jackson Christian for the top spot in the West Region are these Lions that return two of best overall players from the D2-Class A ranks in senior wideout [player_tooltip player_id='466267' first='Brayden' last='Waller'] and junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='471474' first='LeKhy' last='Thompkins'] that should put TCA in contention for a region title and possibly more. Going into the 2024 season, expectations are high for the Lions but all the pieces must come together for a special year to happen. The competition will be tough but I think TCA has enough talent to compete with the best in this classification with an outside shot at making it to Chattanooga.    Everything starts with Waller and Thompkins and those two must perform at a high level for TCA to have a big year but they also must find guys to contribute around them while also receiving strong play up front. Both sides of the ball show potential but questions sit out there as we head into the season, especially in the line of scrimmage. The offensive and defensive line will always be key to winning ball games and both those positions for TCA have question marks. If the trenches can be shored up with some guys stepping forward as key performers, the Lions will be better than expected.    The defense should be solid on the back seven with rising juniors in linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1049318' first='Hank' last='Miller'] and ball hawk defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1103503' first='Gabriel' last='Lee'] leading the way. The Lions defense as a whole I feel will get better as the season goes on as there are some up and coming underclassmen in Blake Carlson, Cole Snider and others that could become future top guys and turn this defense into a formidable unit.    I don't know if you could call TCA a sleeper for the title as we rank them within our top four contenders but many will look at the top three and possibly others as having a better shot at making it to Chattanooga, however I think Lions have something other teams don't and that's star power. If everything can fall into place around Waller and Thompkins, the Lions will have a shot to contend for a region title and possibly go on a deep playoff run.    - - - - -    Friendship Christian Commanders - East Region   - Two years ago, the Commanders brought home the “Gold Ball” and could officially call themselves champs but now after a transition season, FCS is looking to make it back to Chattanooga and potentially bring home another title. If the Commanders are to compete for a championship, they will need several new names to step forward into starting roles and contribute in a major way. Most of those positions that will need to be filled are at quarterback, receiver and several spots within the defense. Knowing this staff and how they go about their business, I'm sure guys will step up and take on the responsibility needed to become productive players, especially on offense within their ground and pound game style.    Where the Commanders could have an edge and it's a big one is in the trenches. FCS has some star power on both the offensive and defensive lines, led by multi-year starter Car'lando Barton. Over on the D-line, Barton has been a terror for two years now and he will be expected to produce yet again. He should be complimented well by Cayden Brown, Dylan Davenport and others. Over on offense, the Commanders line should be a strength with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1323070' first='Adam' last='Pennington'] leading the way and talented underclassmen [player_tooltip player_id='705894' first='Kaden' last='Buchanan'] moving people with ease. When you are good in the line of scrimmage, you are always in play to win ball games.    The biggest question marks surround the skill positions. If the Commanders can find some playmakers, they will certainly have the blocking up front as well as a defense to contend for a region title that consistently, year in and year out always plays at a high level. This will be a curious team to watch in the Fall as I could see them have a successful season or remain in transition. FCS has been a winning program for several years now and can get things back on track this year with the evolution of some unknowns.    Two Sleeper Teams: Clarksville Academy, First Assembly   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/jcurtis.jpg?w=982" alt="" class="wp-image-941718" style="width:388px;height:auto" /></figure>