PRZTN Class 6A POTY/Positional Awards

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">This classification might have been the toughest to hand out awards as the 6A ranks provided us a lot good players that provided strong performances throughout the 2025 season. We did get things figured out, led by a returning Mid-TN quarterback that took home our player of the year honors. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378901"],"_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-698ba01d325a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ever since Adams stepped onto the field as a freshman, he has done nothing but produce at a high level; however, he pushed things further last Fall with a stellar junior campaign. The Bears signal caller torched opposing defenses by throwing for 3,418 yards and 35 touchdowns with only one pick while also rushing for another 855 yards and 13 scores on the ground. Adams had a 71 percent completion percentage as well, displaying outstanding accuracy and timing. His leadership was on point too as Adams led his Bears team to a 10-2 record and a spot in the playoffs. Taking home our 6A player of the year honors was well earned by Adams and a season that certainly boosted his recruiting stock.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A Offensive POTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["480742"],"_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-698ba01d32622"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Winning football games and producing at a high level is something Perkins did consistently throughout his high school career as was the case during his senior year. The Jaguars and future Austin Peay quarterback had a sensational final campaign at Southwind where Perkins generated 2,876 yards through the air and 42 touchdowns along with rushing for 1,361 yards and another 27 scores. Finding the end zone is something Perkins has a nose for as he produced 69 touchdowns in total by his arm and legs alone. It was a great final high school showing for Perkins that also displayed his potential in college with Austin Peay, where I think he can learn and find his way on the field early with the Governors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A Defensive POTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1373099"],"_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-698ba01d32678"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Raptors made it all the way to the 6A title game last season with Anderson and their defense being a major reason why. This outgoing senior linebacker had his best season yet at Ravenwood where Anderson produced 174 total tackles with 35 of them for loss along with 8 forced fumbles, 8 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 2 forced safeties, 1 defensive touchdown and 6.5 sacks on the year. The Raptors defender was a tackling machine that opposing offenses could not block or find an answer for. Anderson has yet to sign but that may change soon with him possibly landing on the FCS level, where the Raptors linebacker can continue building his stock and potentially move to the D1 playing stage one day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Line Unit of the Year&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southwind Jaguars&nbsp; </strong>(Notable Players: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159814' first='Antonio' last='Keefer']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378854' first='Chris' last='Campbell']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='904973' first='Zachais' last='Ratliff']</strong>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- This was honestly a tough call as we could have gone with several choices, including Collierville, Green Hill, Maryville or Oakland but in the end, I felt like the work up front from the Jags front five was too hard to look past. When you have one individual player go for over 4,000 yards of total offense along with scoring 69 touchdowns, something good had to be working in the trenches. From the start of the season till the very end, the Jags offensive line played like a cohesive unit that consistently opened holes in the run game while holding up well in pass protection. It helps that Southwind has three bonafide college guys in the trenches with Keefer, Campbell and Ratliff that brought athleticism and power up front and all return for the 2027 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A Coach of the Year&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ricky Rodriguez - Ravenwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- We had multiple strong choices for our coach of the year but I felt Coach Rodriguez earned this honor after taking his Raptors team to the 6A title game in his first year on the job. Now he did have a strong roster to work with, yes but the team had holes as well but Coach Rod and his staff did a great job of fitting in pieces that worked to provide a well balanced football team. He was able to get the team on the right path that helped them gel and excel in a variety of ways that led to the title game appearance as well as earning a region championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2124647,"width":"261px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/rrod.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2124647" style="width:261px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A Positional Awards</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(QB POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='1723184' first='Will' last='Jones'] - Maryville ‘27: </strong>The 2026 season was a coming out party for this East Tennessee signal caller that generated 2,505 yards through the air and 33 touchdowns while also rushing for 405 yards and another 8 scores on the ground. The numbers were strong but so was the leadership from Jones that helped lead his Rebels team to a playoff spot and another region title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(RB POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='1669050' first='Lawrence' last='Autry'] - Collierville: </strong>Playing his lone season at Collierville last Fall, Autry made the most of it by running for 1,296 yards and 26 touchdowns while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. The Dragons and future West Virginia running back brought steady play in the backfield and a threat in the red zone that helped the Dragons earn a region title while making the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(WR POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='966033' first='Brandon' last='Goliday'] - Antioch: </strong>This outgoing senior and future Arkansas St. Red Wolf receiver had one of the best individual seasons to date catching the ball as Goliday produced 1,666 yards on 77 receptions while scoring 18 touchdowns. He also averaged 21.6 yards per catch while generating 138 yards per game. Goliday was a sure bet last Fall that took full advantage of the season, improved and worked himself into a D1 signee.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(OL POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='1104292' first='Cooper' last='Sherrod'] - Collierville: </strong>Consistency is the key word here when choosing our offensive lineman of the year and I felt like Sherrod provided that throughout the entire 2025 season. The Dragons senior big man was the leader up front that played physical football along with technique sound game play that helped pave the way for a 1,000 yard rusher while also displaying pass protection that kept his quarterback mainly clean throughout the year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2124648,"width":"200px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.6481012658227848","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/csherrod.jpg?w=663" alt="" class="wp-image-2124648" style="aspect-ratio:0.6481012658227848;width:200px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DL POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='1661898' first='Traivon' last='Jackson'] - Oakland: </strong>Jackson came out of nowhere last Fall to not only produce his best season yet at Oakland but also lead the 6A ranks in sacks. The Patriots senior D-lineman generated 97 total tackles with 23 of them for loss along with 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 14 sacks on the year. His work up front was a major factor behind one of the best defenses in the state and another state title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(LB POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='906615' first='Shelvy' last='Clark'] - Bartlett ‘27: </strong>The 2025 season was a breakout show for this rising senior linebacker that produced 139 total tackles with 18 for loss along with 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 4 passes defended and 8 sacks on the year. Clark was a heat seeking missile that consistently found the ball and usually finished with controlled violence. His performance last year has Power Four and D1 programs in pursuit, so expect to hear more and more about this Memphis area product moving forward.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DB POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='1368155' first='Will' last='Butler'] - Green Hill ‘27: </strong>We had several strong choices for this award but I felt like the overall game play from Butler last Fall earned his spot here. Wherever the ball was, Butler found it as he generated 76 total tackles with 19 of them for loss along with 2 forced fumbles and one returned for a touchdown. He also produced 4 passes defended and 5 interceptions on the year while also scoring three touchdowns on offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(ATH POTY) [player_tooltip player_id='856867' first='Craig' last='Tutt'] - Oakland: </strong>Over the past three years, Tutt has been one of the better two-way performers in the state and that continued last Fall where he was the Pats top ball carrier on offense and key tackler on defense. His work on offense was key in the Pats title run where he produced 1,168 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns while also posting 43 tackles on defense with 5 of them for loss and 9 passes defended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2076922,"width":"333px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/10/Photo-Oct-25-2025-12-29-00-AM-crop-1011x664-1765144403.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2076922" style="width:333px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Oakland ATH [player_tooltip player_id='856867' first='Craig' last='Tutt']. Taken by Conner Smith, Prep Redzone.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->