Class 3A Pre-season Mr. Football Candidates

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Competing for the top individual honor on the 3A level this year should be fun to watch as many will look towards Westview and their players as top options but there are several others that have a great shot at competing for Mr. Football. We go in-depth here with who we see as the best players set to compete for the top award and which players we feel are the top guys to follow this coming season.  </h2>   Top Tier ……    The main catalyst for the Tigers team is this dual threat quarterback that is coming off a breakout sophomore season that saw Brewster rush for 1,341 yards and 14 touchdowns while throwing for 809 yards and another 9 scores. I'm expecting another highly productive season from Brewster that should definitely put him in the mix for Mr. Football. Opposing defenses have a hard time dealing with this East Tennessee product due to his athleticism and speed as well as his ability to create the big play. The Tigers will definitely run this guy a ton but they might let Brewster throw the ball a little more this season to showcase his overall game. As long as Brewster stays healthy, he could end up leading all in-state quarterbacks in rushing this Fall while producing another double digit touchdown season.    - - -    Simpson sits at the top of the list for 3A Mr. Football this year as long as everything goes according to plan. Ranked as the top quarterback prospect from the TN2028 recruiting class, Simpson has done nothing but produce and win ball games since taking over reins in the backfield and I expect him to put up more silly numbers this coming season. Simpson will have a different cast to throw at this Fall, so it may take a few games early to get adjusted but by the end of season, the Chargers quarterback should have nearly 3,000 yards passing and a ton of touchdown passes. I could see Simpson running the ball a little more this year as well but most of his work will be done from the pocket. Westview is the team to beat on the 3A level this year, so it only feels right to have Simpson at the top of board to bring home the classifications top individual honor.    - - -    The Chargers are having to replace multiple big time pass catchers from last year's 3A title team, so I think this West Tennessee ball carrier will become an offensive focal point early for Westview while his teammates get acclimated. I could see the Chargers leaning on Barnes early to establish the run game then continue to use him heavily throughout the year. He is an excellent pass catcher as well that might see a few more balls thrown his way this Fall as well. I'm interested to see how much importance the Westview staff puts on Barnes this year and leans on him to become the main offensive producer behind their quarterback. If the Prep Redzone Tennessee 2nd ranked running back has a big year, competing for Mr. Football is highly possible.     - - -    The Rockets could have a special 2026 season but only if Mitchell is allowed to go off for another big season while others around him contribute and do their job. Last year was a breakout campaign for Mitchell where he ran for almost 3,000 yards while producing 36 touchdowns. Those numbers alone would say Mitchell was the clear cut Mr. Football winner but the people that made the selection ended up going with someone else. I think that will put a chip on Mitchell's shoulder and force him to dominate yet again this Fall. Now I don't think it will be easy as opposing teams will put their full attention on stopping the Rockets ball carrier but I still expect Mitchell to go off. This Mid-Tennessee product definitely sits at the top of the list for Mr. Football contenders this year and I wouldn't be surprised if he comes home with the award.    - - -    As I glanced through all the Mr. Football options for the 3A ranks this year, it was hard not to put Brown in our “top tier” list as the future Kentucky Wildcat should be a featured player in the Fall that contributes on both sides of the ball. Brown is headed to college for defensive back, which I think he will be a lock down cover guy that produces but I can see him becoming the team's top pass catcher as well and with Simpson at the helm, the Chargers two-way talent might catch a lot of balls. As the team implements new receivers this Fall, Brown could be leaned on early and throughout the season as the most dependable receiver. If he produces big on both sides of the ball, I could see Brown being named a semi-finalist for Mr. Football with a great shot at making it to Nashville for the top three ceremony.     - - - - - - - - -   Middle Tier ……   (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='2089183' first='Xavier' last='Randolph'] - Giles Co.    - All indications point towards Giles Co. having a big 2026 season and if they do, Randolph will be at the forefront of those efforts. This senior signal caller is coming off an efficient junior season where he threw for 2,255 yards and 17 touchdowns with a 68% completion percentage. He will have some solid pass catchers to throw at this year, so I'm expecting another productive season from Randolph where he actually should increase his numbers, especially if he runs the ball a little more often. This guy is a calm dude in the pocket that doesn't get rushed. He sees the field well and delivers the ball on time. Giles Co. should have a good team this year with a shot at making it to Chattanooga. If the Bobcats are successful, I would not be surprised to see Randolph in the mix for Mr. Football with an outside shot at winning.    - - -   (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='2089174' first='Tyson' last='Sutton'] - Gatlinburg-Pittman   - The Highlanders reached the 3A title game last year with Sutton being a major reason why and he returns this Fall with that experience behind him and goals of being more productive while getting his team back into the mix for titles. There will be a lot put onto the shoulders of Sutton this season with the Highlanders replacing several key players from last year's offense. This senior signal caller might be asked to spin the ball a little more often, especially with a stud wideout returning in [player_tooltip player_id='2148269' first='Jackson' last='Savarese']. The run game will need to be formed and provide balance to the Highlanders but until that happens, Sutton will be leaned on to lead and produce both with his arm and his legs. I'm interested to see how this season plays out for Sutton because if he produces big while his Highlanders team wins, becoming a Mr. Football semi-finalist and beyond can happen.    - - -    ‘28 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1580784' first='Deon' last='Barnes'] - Whites Creek   - Inside this section, Barnes is my top darkhorse candidate for Mr. Football but that all depends on his game play and how his Cobras team performs this season. All signs point towards Whites Creek having a banner year but that only happens if Barnes puts together a strong junior campaign, which I'm thinking he does. Over the off-season months, this Nashville area signal caller has progressed very well, showing improvement in arm power and zip while enhancing his athleticism. Barnes will have a deep and talented receiving corps to throw to as well, so I could see a potential 3,000 yard passing season from the Cobras quarterback. The competition for Mr. Football will be tough but I would not be surprised to see Barnes play well enough to become a finalist for the top 3A award.    - - -    ‘28 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1038480' first='Dee' last='McNealy'] - Tyner Academy   - McNealy is a tough candidate to gauge as his Rams team is balanced on offense, depending on several players but I'm pinpointing a bigger role this year for this junior ball carrier that may prove to be the most dependable offensive weapon by the end of the season. McNealy is a compact, strong ball carrier with quick feet and lateral movements that can put defenders on skates. He is a solid option to pick up 1st downs while also providing the occasional big play that finishes in the end zone. I am also expecting Tyner Academy to have a very successful 2026 campaign, so with his team winning, as long as McNealy stays healthy and produces at a high level, I could see him making it to Nashville as a Mr. Football finalist and darkhorse winner.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/dmcnealy.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-2222203" style="width:215px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Sleeper Candidates ……   (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='317160' first='Xavier' last='Murray'] - WH-Heritage: A multi-year starter that has won a lot of ball games, Murray is a sleeper prospect for Mr. Football this Fall that could work his way into becoming a finalist with a monster senior season. The Patriots are implementing some new starters this year but Murray should have enough weapons on offense to produce a big year. If this Mid-Tennessee signal caller performs well, produces a lot of offensive yards and his team wins, making it to Chattanooga is a possibility.    (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='2219604' first='Bryson' last='Harrison'] - Fairview: Coming off a 1,000 yard plus season with 12 rushing touchdowns, expectations are there for Harrison to increase his production this Fall and help guide his Yellow Jackets team towards another region title. Harrison should be the focal point of his offense and if he produces at a high level with Fairview winning, getting into the Mr. Football mix is possible. He could become a darkhorse candidate to make it to Nashville as well that people must keep eyes on.    ‘28 (S/WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1565851' first='Antonio' last='Edwards'] - Tyner Academy: Edwards is a darkhorse candidate for us due to his playmaking abilities and usage on both sides of the ball. This junior safety, who will have plenty of snaps at receiver as well, should be one of the Rams top playmakers this season that could see the ball in his hands a ton as a new quarterback looks to find his go-to guy. This is a big season for Edwards as well as he looks to push his stock to higher levels and if he does, Mr. Football could be in the conversation.    ‘28 (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='1032139' first='Drake' last='Hickman'] - Westview: Hickman is the lone lineman and pure defensive prospect in this article that has a slim chance at contending for Mr. Football but he must produce a monster junior campaign. This West Tennessee product could be considered the best D-line prospect coming out of the 3A ranks that shows flashes of dominance. I can see Hickman competing for the top individual honor due to his ability to get after the passer while being very stout versus the run.    - - -    Five Others to Track: (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1142033' first='Sam' last='Bradley'] - Cascade, (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1668515' first='Carter' last='Pettigrew'] - Giles Co., ‘28 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1575276' first='Reginald' last='Banks'] - Melrose, (WR/S) [player_tooltip player_id='1103458' first='Tavarco' last='Jackson'] - Melrose, (DB/WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1909567' first='Mar'Shaun' last='Fletcher'] - WH-Heritage   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/bharrison.jpg?w=387" alt="" class="wp-image-2254545" style="width:250px;height:auto" /></figure>