#PRZTN Class 5A POTY (Positional Awards)

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Choosing our 5A player of the year along with our positional award winners was tough as this classification provided a lot of strong options but we got the job done! </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prep Redzone 5A Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142902"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67aa1c3e36f45"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Our 2024 Class 5A player of the year comes out of Sevier Co. where this sophomore quarterback had a coming out party that was capped off in Chattanooga with a state championship. Newman was near flawless throughout the season where he produced 3,488 yards passing along with 45 touchdowns and only one interception thrown on the year. Those numbers are exceptional and the fact that it was done by a sophomore that has two years remaining in high school is something special. Newman did everything needed from his quarterback position to put one of the better offensive units in the state on the field for the 2024 year while bringing the “Gold Ball” home to Sevier County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834613"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67aa1c3e36fa0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Golden Eagles jumped on the scene last Fall as one of the better teams from the 5A ranks and a lot of that was due to the emergence and play from Bailey. This Mid-TN power runner had a breakout junior campaign where he rushed 206 times for 1,860 yards and 23 touchdowns while averaging nine yards per carry. His presence in the Golden Eagles backfield was a game changer this year that led to a region title and a solid run into the 5A playoffs. Bailey returns in the Fall where he has a great shot at competing for Mr. Football and #PRZTN 5A player of the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1657165' first='Dom' last='Culp']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Knox. Halls ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67aa1c3e37053"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Making the call for our defensive most valuable player was very tough but we felt overall, Culp had such a big junior year that it was hard to not give him top honors. The Red Devils linebacker was active from the first game of the season till the very end where he produced 138 total tackles with 25 of them for loss and 7 sacks on the year. Culp was a constant presence in the oppositions backfield, doing good work both against the run and rushing the passer. This Knoxville area defender may not have the ideal college size but Culp is a “football player” that plays with high energy and competes hard till the final whistle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lineman MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["616543"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67aa1c3e3709f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The linchpin up front on the Smoky Bears offensive line put forth a dominating senior season where he was a key piece in his team's run after the 5A championship. Van Rensburg was outstanding throughout the entire 2024 campaign where he provided open holes in the run game while also keeping his quarterback clean on a consistent basis. This future MTSU Blue Raider handled left tackle on the line and did an excellent job, showing off his natural athletic abilities and ability to handle the pass rush. Van Rensburg will work inside at MTSU but his versatility to handle multiple positions up front could give him a shot to hit the field early in his college career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Todd Loveday - Sevier Co.&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The 2024 season will always be one to remember for Coach Loveday, his staff and the Sevier Co. football program as they finished the year undefeated and the 5A state champions. It was an outstanding coaching job by Loveday and his staff to keep their team focused and together as one throughout a tough schedule that was capped off in Chattanooga with an impressive win over Page. The Smoky Bears do lose a few key guys from the 2024 team but return a lot of strong talent for the ‘25 season that could end with back to back 5A state titles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1620890,"width":"356px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/tloveday-crop-601x394-1739202100.webp?w=600" alt="" class="wp-image-1620890" style="width:356px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Positional MVP's (Class 5A)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>QB MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='1102989' first='Amari' last='Lethgo'] - Knox. Halls: </strong>A two sport star for his high school, Lethgo continued to build his stock at quarterback through the 2024 season with a stellar junior year that saw him pass for 2,602 yards, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. The Red Devils passer was steady all year long that saw him end the year with a strong QB rating of 110.2.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='467261' first='Brett' last='Dobbs'] - Lincoln Co.: </strong>Dobbs was a pleasant surprise in the 5A ranks last year where he was a key catalyst on his Falcons team that earned 2nd place in their region and a spot in the playoffs. His presence was important in the team's success that saw Dobbs run for 1,705 yards and 21 touchdowns on 286 carries.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='284143' first='Bryson' last='Maddox'] - Clinton: </strong>His Dragons team didn't have the best 2024 season but Maddox certainly broke out with a highly productive junior season. This 6 '5 wideout produced 54 receptions for 1,063 yards and 14 touchdowns on the year along with averaging 19.6 yards per catch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OL MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='808035' first='A.J.' last='Johnson'] - Page: </strong>Johnson has been a linchpin on the Pats offensive line for several years with his senior season being his best. As far as I know, Johnson did not allow a single sack all year long while he also did excellent work opening holes in the run game. This is a talented big man that has his best football days ahead of him.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='219439' first='Eric' last='Hazzard'] - Page: </strong>The overall stats from Hazzard throughout his senior season might not be as large as year's past but his impact on the game definitely was. Every opposing team his faced made it a made to double or triple team him but Hazzard still managed to cause havoc in the backfield while also doing some of his best work versus the run.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='301403' first='Aidan' last='Wright'] - Centennial: </strong>The Cougars edge rusher was nearly unstoppable throughout the 2024 season where Wright produced 129 tackles with 21 of them for loss along with 14 sacks on the year. Wright was a beast off the edge where he used his bend, burst and chase down speed to cause issues all year long for the opposition's quarterbacks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB MVP: [player_tooltip player_id='1516009' first='Bo' last='Wright'] - Clinton: </strong>Wright was a tackling machine during his senior season and a consistent performer week in and week out. The Dragon's safety tied for the lead in tackles within the 5A ranks at 146 overall while also producing 12 of them for loss, 2.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles for his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1516017,"width":"270px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/bwright.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1516017" style="width:270px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->