Pre-season Class 4A Team MVP’s (Part 1)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who are the projected top performers for each team within the 4A ranks headed into the 2024 season? Find out here w/ our pre-season look at our 4A Team MVP's. </h2>     4A-Region 1 Team MVP's   Cherokee: (WR/S) Gabe Carton   Elizabethton: (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='1371757' first='Jeriah' last='Griffin']    Grainger: (WR) Brizen Solomon    Greeneville: (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='390715' first='Drew' last='Armbrister']    Northview Academy: ‘26 (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id='1106235' first='Parker' last='Dowd']    Sullivan-East: (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id='466264' first='Brayden' last='Ringley']    Volunteer: (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='279496' first='Caden' last='LaFollette']    - The Chiefs will be looking for major production out of Carton this season as their top playmaker on both sides of the ball. His future in college would be at safety but his work at receiver is just as critical. Elizabethton looks to be in a small transition this year but one constant is Griffin. The Cyclones senior two-way product is possibly the team's top playmaker and someone that will be expected to produce in a major way. Coming off a solid junior season, Solomon will be looking to step up his game this Fall as the team's top wideout and someone that could be utilized strongly in the red zone.    One of the top tacklers in the East TN region, Armbrister returns for his senior season as a team leader and defensive standout that could be a major force behind the Green Devils run towards a 4A title. Others on the squad may bring the “wow” factor but Armbrister is as dependable as anybody on the team. Off-season indications point towards Dowd having a big year as the Cougars top back on offense as well as a key contributor within the secondary. Ringley had a breakthrough year in 2023, producing over 800 yards receiving but now must step into the #1 role on offense while continuing to produce on defense as well. A strong, physical runner, LaFollette is a deceptively fast ball carrier that could be in-store for his best season yet as a Falcon.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/calafollette.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1369265" style="width:317px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    4A-Region 2 Team MVP's   Anderson Co.: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='650014' first='Landen' last='Hensley']    Carter: ‘26 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1467544' first='Jody' last='Scruggs']    Fulton: (WR/DB) Derrick Smith    Gibbs: (Ath) Marquese Sharp    Seymour: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='214189' first='Madden' last='Guffey']    South Doyle: (WR/DB) Marquail Patterson    - Transferring over to Anderson Co. for his senior season, Hensley joins a winning program that has an outside shot at competing for the 4A title this year and if that is to happen, this 6'0 passer will be a major reason why. It was a very tough call to choose the Hornets team MVP but I see Scruggs as being very important to this year's team and his value as a playmaker on both sides of the ball will be critical towards the team's success. The athleticism and speed that Smith brings to the football field will be needed in a big way this Fall if the Falcons plan to compete for a top four spot within this region.    The Eagles were a sneaky good team last year and I expect that to be the same this Fall with Sharp being at the forefront of their efforts. Guffey will be a guy to watch this season as someone that could sneak his way into the conversation for Mr. Football. The Eagles junior quarterback is a sharp passer with nice poise in the pocket that should bring a calming presence to the backfield. The Cherokees have a few options for team MVP but I see Patterson as the most important player on this year's team. He is a natural athlete with playmaking abilities that can change the game quickly due to his speed.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/mpatterson.jpg?w=821" alt="" class="wp-image-1369270" style="width:246px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    4A-Region 3 Team MVP's    East Ridge: ‘26 (Ath) DeMarcus Scruggs    Hixson: (WR/S) Ronald Davis-Suttles    Loudon: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1263171' first='Bronson' last='Scrivner']    Red Bank: (RB/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1257456' first='Josiah' last='Featherstone']    Sequoyah: (LB) Kody Parker    Signal Mountain: (Ath) Garrett Wilson    Soddy Daisy: ‘26 (DE/TE) [player_tooltip player_id='1134345' first='Blaine' last='Yother']    - It's hard to pinpoint what to expect out of East Ridge and their players this year but Scruggs appears to be someone that can become a playmaker for them on both sides of the ball. Davis-Suttles has been a rising prospect under the Wildcats brand for a few years now but with his senior season upon him, much will be expected out of this two-way senior talent. Scrivner has been putting in a lot of work this off-season to push his game further and by all indications, the Redskins senior signal caller should be poised for a breakthrough year. Featherstone heads into his senior year as the team's top two-way talent and overall playmaker that will be expected to produce at a high level while providing leadership.    Sequoyah rolls into the 2024 season with a deeper roster than some may think but one guy they will need to shine bright this Fall is Parker. This 6'2 senior should be going both ways with his athleticism and size being displayed at running back and linebacker. The Hawks are having to replace some key starters from last year, so guys like Wilson will be expected to step up his game and become a potential go-to guy. Soddy Daisy has a few choices for team MVP but I think the importance of Yother at defensive end and his ability to get after the passer while also contributing on offense at tight end is important to the Trojans season.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/20240519_165833-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1284825" style="width:273px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    4A-Region 4 Team MVP's   Cumberland Co.: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='491549' first='Noah' last='Potter']    DeKalb Co.: (QB) Jordan Parker    Livingston Academy: ‘26 (WR/S) Rocco Carwile    Macon Co.: (QB/Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='1310950' first='Gabe' last='Borders']    Stone Memorial: (WR/S) Jayden Fa'alafua    Upperman: ‘26 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1254853' first='Bronzden' last='Chaffin']    White Co.: (QB/Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='1102967' first='Tripp' last='Pinion']    - Class 4A-Region 4 has a bevy of talented players throughout, which should make this a fun region to follow. Potter takes over as the starting quarterback as a junior for the Jets and has a great shot at establishing himself as a quarterback to watch for the #TN2026 class. Parker is an interesting talent that should handle the QB role this year but he's a good athlete too that could develop at other positions in college. Carwile is an ultra athletic guy that many around the state may not know too much about right now but the guy has college upside written all over him. Just a matter of developing properly and buying into playing football over other sports. The Tigers return a big chunk of their roster from last year, including Borders, who is their most important player that will handle the QB role but is a natural athlete that could play receiver or safety in college.    The Panthers are looking for new guys to step up this year and Fa'alafua looks like a prime contender to be “the guy” at receiver that could possibly put up big numbers. The next two guys mentioned are top candidates for Mr. Football this year and two of the better dual threat quarterbacks in the state. Chaffin is a budding star with tons of college upside that could be on the verge of a breakout season. Pinion is a natural athlete that has put up silly numbers the last two years and I don't expect anything different this Fall than another big year that could place him squarely in the mix for the classifications top individual honor.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/gborders.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1369277" style="width:449px;height:auto" /></figure>