Class 3A POTY/Title Contenders

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wrapping up our look at the 3A classification, here we drop our pre-season player of the year honors as well as provide the top teams to watch for win it comes to winning a state title. </h2>     Pre-season Honors   Class 3A MVP: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='783053' first='Eli' last='Graf'] - Alcoa   Off. Player of the Year: (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1110699' first='Skylan' last='Smith'] - Covington    Def. Player of the Year: (DE/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='467259' first='Jaeden' last='Isbell'] - Tyner Acad.    Lineman of the Year: (DT/OL) [player_tooltip player_id='611975' first='Kalen' last='Edwards'] - Dyersburg   Underclassmen of the Year: ‘26 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='971296' first='Keith' last='Johnson'] - East Nashville    Coach of the Year: Bart Stowe - Dyersburg    - - -    Top Title Contenders   Alcoa Tornadoes - Region 2   - How can the Tornadoes not be at the top of the list when it comes to thinking about winning the 3A championship. Nobody has been able to knock them off in years and for the 2024 season, the Tornadoes are still the team to beat. Now this is a different Alcoa team that doesn't have the star power as years past but they are still legit and the top of class in the 3A ranks. Winning a state title this year will be done with balance, meaning everybody from offense, defense and special teams will have to contribute. The offense will be run by new Harding commit, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='783053' first='Eli' last='Graf'] and he has a stud to throw at and lean on in Top 40 in-state prospect, tight end [player_tooltip player_id='219408' first='Eli' last='Owens']. That connection will be key this season but so will the run game and the consistent play needed up front.    Over on defense, the Tornadoes are implementing several new starters alongside returning players in [player_tooltip player_id='1189145' first='Jamir' last='Turner'], [player_tooltip player_id='402523' first='Blair' last='Goodson'] and others. This side of the ball has been consistent throughout the years but for this season, there are questions that need to be answered. There will be new names that pop up to become key starters this year, so I think eventually this unit will be just fine. It will just be interesting to see how this side of the ball comes together because it's almost without question that the Tornadoes will be there in the end, fighting to return to another 3A title game.    I do think Alcoa will face tougher competition this year due to other teams being better and this Tornadoes team not being as talented as years past. However, I don't think the competition will still be good enough to knock Alcoa off their mountain. I do foresee the Tornadoes returning back to Chattanooga this winter to compete and bring home another “Gold Ball” and continue building the lore of possibly the best football program in the entire state of Tennessee.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/123-Jamir-Turner.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1298988" style="width:394px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Dyersburg Trojans - Region 7    - Throughout the 2023 season, many saw Dyersburg as a team that could end up in Chattanooga, competing for the 3A title but it didn't happen. Maybe the Trojans were just a year away from that happening as the 2024 football year looks like a great opportunity for this West TN program to get there. Several players return from last year's squad while new starters are being added in as well, so even though I foresee the Trojans being legit, there are still questions that need to be answered throughout the coming season.    One thing that is for sure is the play up front of current Kentucky commit, [player_tooltip player_id='611975' first='Kalen' last='Edwards']. The Trojans two-way lineman is a candidate for Mr. Football and a force up front that most opposition won't be able to deal with. His presence on both lines of scrimmage are important but on defense, Edwards will be joined by fellow senior Lucas Pounders and juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1275120' first='Jysen' last='Grant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1148636' first='Isaiah' last='Thomas'] to form possibly the best D-line in the entire 3A classification. The Trojans defense should be formidable but will the offense be complimentary? That is yet to be seen as I do know Dyersburg will run the ball and do so often, meaning as long as the O-line does their job, generating points shouldn't be a problem.    Getting to Chattanooga won't be easy for the Trojans as they sit within possibly the toughest region inside the 3A ranks. Fellow competitors Covington and Westview won't make things easy for Dyersburg and if and when they make the playoffs, East Nashville and a few others may be in the way as well. Offense is where I need to see further development with this team but defensively, the Trojans will be good and as long as you have good line play and a salty defense, you can win a lot of ball games. I do think in the end, Dyersburg will be among the final four 3A teams with a chance at getting to the title game and coming home with a championship.    - - - - -    East Nashville Eagles - Region 5    - Besides the team out East that keeps winning 3A titles, the East Nashville Eagles have been the most consistent program in this classification for several years now and they will be good yet again for the 2024 season where I think they will compete to be in the championship for the third year in a row. Where this program has been the most consistent is in the line of scrimmage and they should be good again, led by senior standouts [player_tooltip player_id='1286224' first='Jaylen' last='Jackson'] and Tyrik Lawson. Winning the line of scrimmage is key to gaining victories and I believe East will have the beef to play with anyone in this classification.    The Eagles have a senior quarterback returning in Martez Lamb that gained significant experience last year, starting in the 3A title game. The star of this team is junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='971296' first='Keith' last='Johnson'], who should run his way into Mr. Football contention by season's end. He will be used a ton this year as East likes to run the ball and with the O-line they have this season, the ground game should be the focal point. Over on the defense, the team strength will be their secondary. The Eagles have potentially the best defensive backfield in the 3A ranks with eventual college guys in [player_tooltip player_id='835861' first='Austin' last='Kent'], [player_tooltip player_id='1159809' first='Antoni' last='Morton'] and juniors J'Brein Crawford and [player_tooltip player_id='1194077' first='Demontez' last='Anderson']. The front seven should be good as well but the secondary should flash excellence game in and game out.    From an overall talent standpoint, East Nashville may have more than the two teams listed above and ahead of them but what's holding the Eagles back from earning that elusive state title. I think it's simply the big stage and what comes with it. You have to embrace the chaos that comes with being in a championship and rise above it. This Eagles program has tasted it but watched Alcoa walk away with the belt each time. Maybe this is the year it can finally happen for East as they have the talent to get it done and a star offensive player in Johnson to lead the way.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/kjohnson.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1394922" style="width:324px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Sheffield Knights - Region 8   - Under the coaching and teaching of Edward Kuykendoll and his staff, the Knights have been a consistent and steady ball club over the past several and expect things to be no different this Fall as Sheffield is clear favorite in their region and a team that could play their way into the 3A title game. They can get to Chattanooga by continuing their explosive offensive play from last year as well as their defense remaining stingy up front. They also need to stay healthy, especially star player [player_tooltip player_id='466266' first='Radarious' last='Jackson']. The reigning 3A Mr. Football winner will be expected to continue his high level play this year while taking others under his wings and teaching them the ropes.    The Knights will be good on defense as well and that's an area that has been consistent under Coach Kuykendoll since he's been at the helm. The front seven has been a constant through the years and I expect the D-line to be just as good this year, led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1142885' first='Isaiah' last='Lackey']. The back end of the defense should compliment the line well, especially with the off-season addition of [player_tooltip player_id='1393892' first='Jaylen' last='Flood']. He is an athletic guy that can handle a variety of secondary roles. Jackson should remain on this side of the ball as well, being the ball hawk he is at safety.    Going into the off-season, I wasn't sure how good this year's Knights team would be but adding Flood and quarterback Elijah Brinson to the fold definitely makes this squad better. It will be interesting however to see if they have enough pieces to compete with Dyersburg, East Nashville and others on their side of the playoff bracket in order to reach Chattanooga. They will have the best player on the field in Jackson along with good play in the trenches, so I definitely see a path for Sheffield to make a deep playoff run and potentially compete for the 3A title.    - - - - -    Sequatchie Co. Indians - Region 4   - At this point in our previews, we aren't talking about region titles, we are talking about state championships, so if you want a sleeper team to watch this Fall, it could be these Indians. Now I think they are a tick behind the others written about above but have certain pieces in place to put forth a special 2024 season that may end in Chattanooga. One piece in place is a multi-year starting quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='279486' first='Sam' last='Evitts'], who has college aspirations and upside but also the arm talent and leadership to lead his Indians team to a lot of victories. It's not just the quarterback that's a plus but Sequatchie has a veteran offensive line along with a nice set of skill players in [player_tooltip player_id='1142019' first='Jackson' last='Tate'], Tripp Stewart, [player_tooltip player_id='1142005' first='Austin' last='Griffith'], [player_tooltip player_id='454466' first='Jack' last='Evitts'] and others that can make this a high scoring Indians offense.    Offensively, Sequatchie should be fine but it's on defense where I need to see a little something to truly become a state title contender. There are pieces on this side of the ball like Tate, J. Evitts, [player_tooltip player_id='540022' first='Harrison' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='904934' first='Kason' last='Hicks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1144213' first='Gowan' last='Brown'] that tells me the Indians could be just fine but is there enough athleticism to go all the way? We will certainly find out but I think potential is there for this to be a good defense that will be able to do enough to pick up wins when the offense isn't clicking.    This 2024 season is something this senior class has been building towards and everything seems to be in place for Sequatchie County to do something special but they must take one game at a time. Nothing will be easy, especially in football but this team has something others may not and that's brotherhood. This is a close unit of ball players that enjoy the game and playing together and with this being the last go-around for many of their top players, nothing but championships is on their mind!    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/sevitts.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-984703" style="width:337px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Tyner Academy Rams - Region 3   - A true sleeper that has jumped on my radar late in the process are these Rams, who already had parts that speaked towards a region title but the deeper I researched, the more I saw a potential state title contender. The immediate thing that jumps out to be considered a contender is the Rams defense and how dominating they could be up front. They have two of the better D-linemen in the 3A ranks with [player_tooltip player_id='467259' first='Jaeden' last='Isbell'] and Landis Raliff along with a few up and comers like juniors [player_tooltip player_id='491556' first='Jamarcus' last='Varnell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1640169' first='Jaqraun' last='Little'] that can cause issues for the opposition. Setting the tone up front and the line of scrimmage is key to winning ball games and the Rams have the dudes in the trenches to get it done.    The remainder of the defense appears to be solid as well with guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1417875' first='Chris' last='Green'] and Javion Loving roaming on the back end. It's over on offense where questions remain but things are starting to become clearer after some preseason scrimmages. The Rams are young but show size and talent across the offensive board that screams upside. One guy in particular that's already standing and should play a major role is freshman running back D'Aerion McNeely. This 5'8 ball carrier shows a mature running style along with great burst and speed that should make a big difference within this offense.    Looking at the landscape in front of Tyner Academy this Fall, the path will be tough but the Rams should be battle tested, especially with non-region contests against Bradley Central, Marion Co., McMinn Co. and Red Bank. That non-region schedule should have the Rams prepared for region play and the postseason. Sporting the kind of defense Tyner does, they should always be within arms reach of a victory, so to me, that makes the Rams a potential contender for the 3A title.    - - - - -    Three Other Contenders to Watch;  Fairview, Covington, Westview   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/tyner.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1394925" style="width:506px;height:auto" /></figure>