Class 5A Region Preview/Predictions (Part 2)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rounding out our pre-season look at the 5A classification, here we provide our predictions, player superlatives and a brief outlook for regions five through eight. </h2>     5A-Region 5   1. Tullahoma   2. Columbia Central   3. Shelbyville Central   4. Lincoln Co.   5. Franklin Co.   6. Lawrence Co.   7. Spring Hill    Region MVP: (WR/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1215424' first='Khani' last='Johnson'] - Tullahoma    Off. POTY: (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='500380' first='Rai'keyrean' last='Chandler'] - Shelbyville Central    Def. POTY: ‘26 (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1603958' first='Justis' last='Haggard'] - Columbia Central    Lineman POTY: (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='611956' first='Jhrevious' last='Hall'] - Columbia Central    Underclassmen POTY: ‘26 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='853128' first='Marvancy' last='Johnson'] - Tullahoma    Coach of the Year: Coy Sisk - Tullahoma    - This is one region here in our 5A preview that I can see going in multiple directions. I could see Tullahoma, Columbia, Shelbyville and Lincoln County all end up as region champs but only one can win it. The Wildcats have the edge going into the season but only by a small margin. Having a player like Johnson gives Tullahoma a leg up due to his game breaking abilities that should be displayed on offense, defense and special teams this year. Columbia has a game wrecker too but in the line with Hall. The Lions should be quite good on defense with the potential to be one of the best in the 5A ranks. The Golden Eagles have a potent one-two punch in the backfield with Chandler and junior [player_tooltip player_id='834613' first='Robert' last='Bailey'] along with a better overall roster that will allow them to compete for a top three region finish.    Lincoln Co. is the sleeper team for me in this region. They have a strong junior class that has been building together over the past two years and could be poised for a breakthrough season. [player_tooltip player_id='523936' first='Maddox' last='Franklin'] runs things at quarterback while senior [player_tooltip player_id='467261' first='Brett' last='Dobbs'] is the leader on defense. This is a good team that can certainly make noise within the top half of this region. Franklin Co., Lawrence Co. and Spring Hill all appear like bottom three teams this year but we are in talking season right now, so things can certainly change over the coming months.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/khjohnson.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1228883" style="width:355px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    5A-Region 6   1. Page   2. Nolensville   3. Centennial   4. Hillsboro   5. James Lawson   6. Glencliff    Region MVP: (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='219439' first='Eric' last='Hazzard'] - Page    Off. POTY: ‘26 (QB) Mitchell Grandjean - Page    Def. POTY: (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='390716' first='Brenden' last='Anes'] - Page    Lineman POTY: (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='808035' first='A.J.' last='Johnson'] - Page    Underclassmen POTY: ‘26 (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='853121' first='Jacob' last='Rathbone'] - Page     Coach of the Year: Charles Rathbone - Page    - Everything in this region begins and ends with Page. The Patriots are the top dogs here and will continue to be until someone knocks them off their throne. They are yet again loaded with talent and sporting another team that can compete for the 5A title. The biggest competition this season looks to come from Nolensville. Even though the Knights are having to replace key starters from last year, they still have enough talent to make some noise in this region and at least compete for 2nd place. Keep an eye on the Knights receiving corps as they have a solid group with [player_tooltip player_id='540040' first='Oliver' last='Bender'], [player_tooltip player_id='1091839' first='Landon' last='Smotherman'], [player_tooltip player_id='1104288' first='Caleb' last='Pharr'] and others.    Those final two playoff spots should come down to Centennial, Hillsboro and James Lawson with the Cougars and Burros holding the 3rd and 4th slot in our pre-season predictions. Centennial had a strong two year run but now must lean on a bunch of new guys to find victories. Two seniors to watch for them are [player_tooltip player_id='301403' first='Aidan' last='Wright'] and Kani Johnson. Hillsboro is a small mystery to me as they are very young but talented, so there is a lot to learn about them this Fall. James Lawson is a team that is still building and growing but you can't sleep on them. They have a tackling machine in D.J. Rucker to pay attention to along with a defense that could be quite solid this year.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/ajjohnson.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1366469" style="width:320px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - - -    5A-Region 7   1. Beech   2. Springfield   3. Henry Co.   4. Hendersonville   5. Portland   6. Hunters Lane    Region MVP: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='866718' first='Kaden' last='Powell'] - Beech    Off. POTY: (RB) Keenan Chatman - Springfield    Def. POTY: (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='951112' first='Gunnar' last='Clary'] - Beech    Lineman POTY: (OL/DL) [player_tooltip player_id='832830' first='Jaden' last='Owens'] - Beech    Underclassmen POTY: ‘26 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='800803' first='Chelton' last='Swafford'] - Beech    Coach of the Year: Anthony Crabtree - Beech    - The Bucs are built for a big 2024 season and not just to win this region but also compete for a 5A title. They are well equipped on offense with one of the best backfields in the state with Powell, Swafford and two-way backer [player_tooltip player_id='1206523' first='D.K.' last='Williams']. They are also good on defense with Clary being the star along with Owens, [player_tooltip player_id='976622' first='Josiah' last='Moore'] and a cast of others. Beech is the standard in this region but who will fight for the other playoff spots. I foresee a battle for second place between Springfield and Henry County. The Yellow Jackets appear to have more overall talent this year and a veteran squad but you can never sleep on the Pats as they are one of the better coached teams in the state.    Hendersonville and Portland are two intriguing teams for the Fall season as I could see either of them finishing as high as second place and as low as fifth. The Jordan brothers with the Commadoes ([player_tooltip player_id='467279' first='Cooper' last='Jordan'], [player_tooltip player_id='1544949' first='Riley' last='Jordan']) along with Landon Jones at linebacker should be key contributors and seniors this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1102520' first='Skylar' last='Hicks'] and Keilan Dalton are two talented prospects for Portland that show college upside. If all goes according to plan, both Hendersonville and Portland should make the playoffs. If running back [player_tooltip player_id='466231' first='Isaiah' last='McGill'] was on a different, more prominent team, you would know more about him because the senior ball carrier is talented.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/cswafford.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1326222" style="width:277px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    5A-Region 8    1. Southwind   2. Munford   3. Memp. Central   4. Brighton   5. Memp. Overton   6. Kingsbury    Region MVP: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='480742' first='Kelvin' last='Perkins'] - Southwind    Off. POTY: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='480742' first='Kelvin' last='Perkins'] - Southwind    Def. POTY: (S/WR) [player_tooltip player_id='552638' first='Tyler' last='Williams'] - Munford    Lineman POTY: (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='341252' first='Brycen' last='Boone'] - Memp. Central    Underclassmen POTY: ‘26 (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='854363' first='Charles' last='Sullins'] - Southwind    Coach of the Year: Jerome Griffin - Southwind    - The defending region champs, Southwind is back to defend their title and take that next step towards competing for a 5A state championship. They are loaded this year with one of the best QB's in the state with Perkins, playmaking at the skill positions and young but highly talented O-line, led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='1300424' first='Cameron' last='Mosby'] and rising stars in [player_tooltip player_id='1159814' first='Antonio' last='Keefer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='378854' first='Chris' last='Campbell']. The Jags are also stout on defense, spearheaded by seniors [player_tooltip player_id='841166' first='Cornelius' last='Thompson'], [player_tooltip player_id='611950' first='Taylor' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='1134335' first='Keshun' last='Archie'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1269150' first='Omari' last='Bonds'] along with a star junior in Sullins. If anybody has a chance at dethroning Southwind, it would be Munford.  The Cougars aren't as talented as years past but may have more overall depth. That will be seen throughout the season but they have some stud seniors to lean on while they grow in Williams, [player_tooltip player_id='1185009' first='Josh' last='Griffin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1300414' first='Jon'Trey' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='361309' first='Ethan' last='Maley']. Memp. Central should be pretty solid too with a nice veteran core and some youthful talent that should help in a big way at receiver and in the secondary. Brighton and Overton should be fighting for that final playoff spot with the Cardinals to me having the edge. Senior back [player_tooltip player_id='815323' first='Pierce' last='Meacham'] has a chance to run for over a 1,000 yards while [player_tooltip player_id='605418' first='Taylon' last='Carpenter'] is a college level playmaker on both sides of the ball.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/bryboone.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1300869" style="width:340px;height:auto" /></figure>