#PRZTN Pre-season Power Polls/Rankings

Top 20 Big School Rankings

(D2-AAA, D2-AA, 6A, 5A & 4A)

1. Baylor Red Raiders (D2-AAA)

- Sporting a loaded roster full of college players, Baylor is geared for another title run this Fall with a potentially the best offense in the state, led by star seniors Joakim Dodson Joakim Dodson 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Baylor | 2025 State TN and Shekai Mills-Knight Shekai Mills-Knight 6'1" | 210 lbs | RB Baylor | 2025 State TN .

2. McCallie Blue Tornado (D2-AAA)

- Competing with their fellow Chattanooga rival, McCallie has reloaded for the 2024 season and will be right there competing for the D2-Class AAA title alongside the Red Raiders.

3. Lipscomb Academy Mustangs (D2-AAA)

- The Mustangs are working under a new coaching staff but still have loads of star power. The offense should be quite physical with Chauncey Gooden Chauncey Gooden 6'4" | 315 lbs | OL Lipscomb Academy | 2025 State TN blocking up front and Andrew Patterson, Jr Andrew Patterson, Jr 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Lipscomb Acad. | 2025 State TN and Micah Burton Micah Burton 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB Lipscomb Academy | 2025 TN carrying the ball out of the backfield.

4. Houston Mustangs (6A)

5. Oakland Patriots (6A)

- The Pats will yet again be in the mix for titles this year but competition will be tough. Running the ball is still the formula with Oakland and they are loaded in the backfield with seniors Daune Morris Daune Morris 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Oakland | 2025 State TN and Tamari Hill Tamari Hill 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB/WR Oakland | 2025 State TN .

6. Bartlett Panthers (6A)

7. Brentwood Academy Eagles (D2-AAA)

- It should be a bounce back year for the Eagles and a get send-off for star QB George MacIntyre George MacIntyre 6'5" | 190 lbs | QB Brentwood Academy | 2025 State TN . The O-line remains a question mark but the overall roster talent is there to contend in the D2-Class AAA ranks.

8. Ravenwood Raptors (6A)

9. Germantown Red Devils (6A)

- The loss of Morrow stings but Germantown should still be quite formidable due to their line of scrimmage on both offense and defense. They also have some athletic dudes that can be game changers in Yasir Muhammad Yasir Muhammad 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Germantown | 2025 State TN and Tre’von McGory Tre’von McGory 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR/DB Germantown | 2026 State TN .

10. Southwind Jaguars (5A)

- Can the Jaguars come away as your 5A champs this season? It's very possible as they return most of the roster from last year's semi final team, including Mr. Football QB Kelvin Perkins Kelvin Perkins 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Southwind | 2026 State TN and a top level defense.

11. Ensworth Tigers (D2-AAA)

- Defense will run the show this year for Ensworth. They could have the top “D” in the D2-Class AAA ranks, especially with studs in the front seven like UT commit Ethan Utley Ethan Utley 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Ensworth | 2025 State TN and TCU commit Sam Haley Sam Haley 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB Ensworth | 2025 State TN .

12. Pearl Cohn Firebirds (4A)

13. MBA Big Red (D2-AAA)

- Riding with one of the best QB's in the state in Hugh Price Hugh Price 6'5" | 200 lbs | QB MBA | 2026 State TN , the Big Red have a chance to do some serious damage this year. Their defense is where I have questions but offensively, MBA should be quite good.

14. Page Patriots (5A)

- The recent addition of QB Mitchell Grandjean boosts the championship stock for Page. They already have a top tier defense, led by seniors Eric Hazzard Eric Hazzard 6'3" | 255 lbs | EDGE/DL Page | 2025 State TN and Brenden Anes Brenden Anes 6'3" | 225 lbs | LB Page | 2025 State TN , so if the offense can come together, the Pats may finally come home with the 5A title.

15. CPA Lions (D2-AA)

- The leader in the clubhouse to take home the D2-Class AA title are these Lions but they are still looking to implement new starters, so there are a lot of things to learn about CPA throughout the season.

16. Beech Buccaneers (5A)

- Headed into the 2024 season, Beech is loaded with talent, meaning they have a great opportunity to compete for the 5A title this year. Kaden Powell Kaden Powell 6'4" | 240 lbs | ATH Beech | 2026 TN is the leader on offense while Gunnar Clary Gunnar Clary 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Beech | 2025 State TN is a baller on defense that can make tackles sideline to sideline.

17. Riverdale Warriors (6A)

- Off-season additions of Ke'Derean Fletcher, Malik Hicks Malik Hicks 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB/WR Riverdale | 2025 State TN and others give the Warriors a better shot at competing with Oakland for the region title this year. Watch out for Dominic Taylor Dominic Taylor 6'1" | 190 lbs | RB/DB Riverdale | 2025 State TN as a potential Mr. Football winner.

18. MUS Owls (D2-AAA)

- There may be several areas on this club with question marks but when you have a Top 10 O-lineman in Michael Ray, Jr Michael Ray, Jr 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL MUS | 2025 State TN and top three ranked QB in Brady Hughes Brady Hughes 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB MUS | 2025 State TN , you have a shot to be a formidable team.

19. Haywood Tomcats (4A)

20. BGA Wildcats (D2-AA)

- It's a new era at BGA with a new staff on hand and several new additions. The new members make the Wildcats deeper and a team to watch this year. Keep an eye on returning vets Arnett Hayes, Jr Arnett Hayes, Jr 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR BGA | 2025 State TN and Locke Kennedy Locke Kennedy 6'3" | 195 lbs | DB/ATH BGA | 2025 State TN .

Just Outside: Greeneville, Powell, Sevier Co., Knox. Webb, Brentwood

- - - - - - - - - -

Small School Pre-season Top 15

(D2-Class A, 3A, 2A & 1 A)

1. Alcoa Tornadoes (3A)

- Our first top ranked team in our small school rankings is the most consistent program in the state that is eyeing another region and state title.

2. Nash. Christian Eagles (D2-Class A)

3. East Robertson Indians (2A)

- Sporting a top tier back in Isaiah Groves Isaiah Groves 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB East Robertson | 2025 State TN , the Indians are poised to get back to Chattanooga and bring home that elusive “Gold Ball.”

4. South Pittsburg Pirates (1A)

- Coming off another state title, the Pirates are looking to repeat and they have talent to do so. It will be a new cast of characters this year getting the job done, led by guys like JaMychal Buckner JaMychal Buckner 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB/DB South Pittsburg | 2026 State TN ;

5. Dyersburg Trojans (3A)

- The Trojans lost one game last year when it came in the semifinals of the playoffs. A lot of that team returns to chase after the title, including #PRZTN top 10 ranked prospect Kalen Edwards Kalen Edwards 6'4" | 315 lbs | DL Dyersburg | 2025 State TN .

6. East Nashville Eagles (3A)

- Can the Eagles finally knock off Alcoa this year and bring home that 3A state title? They have another shot at doing so but must find a way past the Tornadoes.

7. Columbia Academy Bulldogs (D2-Class A)

8. Marion Co. Warriors (2A)

9. Sheffield Knights (3A)

- Playing with one of the best players in the state with Radarious Jackson Radarious Jackson 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR Sheffield | 2025 State TN , the Knights are West TN contenders for a state title this season as long as everybody remains focused and healthy.

10. Jackson Christian Eagles (D2-Class A)

- Senior standouts Austin Kelly and Jaylen Mosley Jaylen Mosley 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH/WR Jackson Christian | 2025 State TN return for their senior season poised to continue their dynamic connection and help lead their Eagles team to a potential D2-Class A title appearance.

11. Sequatchie Co. Indians (3A)

- Can the 2024 season be special for this Indians program? It's possible with a strong senior class on hand, led by Sam Evitts Sam Evitts 6'4" | 205 lbs | QB Sequatchie County | 2025 State TN , Jackson Tate Jackson Tate 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH/WR Sequatchie County | 2025 State TN and a veteran offensive line with four starters returning.

12. Trinity Chrst. Academy Lions (D2-Class A)

- The Lions could have one of the more explosive, high scoring offenses in the greater West TN region. They sport two offensive studs in Brayden Waller Brayden Waller 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR TCA | 2025 State TN and LeKhy Thompkins LeKhy Thompkins 6'2" | 225 lbs | RB Bradenton IMG Academy | 2026 State FL that can produce a lot of yards.

13. McKenzie Rebels (1A)

14. Mt. Pleasant Tigers (2A)

- This could be a special season for the Tigers that could end in Chattanooga with a shot at the state title. Everybody must remain healthy and top guys like Jakyri McClure Jakyri McClure 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Mt. Pleasant | 2025 State TN , Jayden McClure Jayden McClure 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Mt. Pleasant | 2026 State TN , Jalen Smith Jalen Smith 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Mt. Pleasant | 2026 TN and others must play a consistent brand of football.

15. Covington Chargers (3A)

- Leaning on star back Skylan Smith Skylan Smith 5'8" | 185 lbs | RB Covington | 2025 State TN , the Chargers are yet again in the mix for a region title and more this year. Their region will be tough but Covington is one of the top teams and a squad that can make a deep playoff run.