Class 4A Pre-season Mr. Football Candidates

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Competition will be strong for the top individual award this season on the 4A level with two semifinalists returning from last year and several other high level prospects in consideration. Here we breakdown the top players we think will be fighting for Mr. Football this year and which players sit in the driver seat headed into the 2026 season. </h2>     Top Tier ……    Manu came up short as a finalist last year for Mr. Football but with his return this Fall, the Tornadoes signal caller has to be at the top of the list to take home the state's top individual honor. Ranked as a top fifteen quarterback by Prep Redzone Tennessee, Manu could be poised for a monster senior season, especially with a loaded offensive roster surrounding him. Even though running the ball will be key, I could see the Tornadoes staff throwing the ball much more this season due to the arm talent of Manu and his deep receiving corps. I could see Manu produce over 3,000 yards passing while remaining efficient while providing the occasional threat to tuck it and run. The Tornadoes quarterback heads into the 2026 season as the leader for this honor and an almost definite finalist for Mr. Football.     - - -    Another quarterback we have at the top of list for 4A Mr. Football is this Nashville area senior that had a strong junior campaign but could be poised for an even bigger final season with the Firebirds. Currently committed to Toledo, Funk is a strong armed gunslinger that can put the ball anywhere he wants to while also providing the ability to run the ball when needed. Funk will have tons of talent around him this Fall to help put up some staggering numbers while helping achieve a lot of victories. As long as this Mid-Tennessee product stays healthy while all goes according to plan, I would expect to hear Funk named a semifinalist with a strong chance at making it to the final three and winning this top achievement.     - - -    This Mid-Tennessee product is my top underdog to reach Mr. Football status by season's end. Woodson should have been a semifinalist last year, so that chip on his shoulder may be there to produce a big senior season and compete for this top award in 2026. I do think more will be put onto the shoulders of Woodson this Fall as the staff implements new starters. I could see Woodson running the ball a little more as the team's top ball carrier while continuing to enhance his passing. It will be interesting to see how Woodson performs this year and what the Yellow Jackets offense looks like with new starters stepping into bigger roles. If everything goes smoothly, I could certainly see Woodson sitting at the top of the board for Mr. Football.     - - -    If the Mavericks are to compete for a region title while chasing down the 4A state championship, Gillum will need to have a big year. I expect that to happen as Gillum is one of the more cerebral passers we have in the state that will have a solid receiving corps to work with this Fall. He should have a solid O-line up front providing him the time to spin it as well. Watching how this East Tennessee quarterback has progressed over the past few years tells me Gillum could be in-store for a monster sophomore season that sees him put up some silly numbers while guiding his Mavs team to a lot of victories. As long as Gillum stays healthy, I fully expect him to be named a semifinalist by the end of the regular season.     - - -    Cobbins earned his way into the semifinalist group last year for Mr. Football, so it's good business to name him onto our pre-season list for top honors but I'm curious to see if the state's top junior prospect has the same kind of season as his sophomore campaign. I fully expect this Mid-Tennessee product to take a progression with his game this Fall but opposing teams will most certainly focus on slowing him down. Defensively, I do foresee Cobbins being dominant while producing break up passes and interceptions but it's his work on offense that could push him over the top and into the final three. If his quarterback above has a big year passing, Cobbins will be at the center of those efforts.     - - - - - - - - -   Middle Tier ……   (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1590252' first='Austin' last='Jones'] - Red Bank   - I am bullish on the kind of season Jones may have this year and him leading his Lions team on a deep run into the playoffs. This 6'2 athletic quarterback has big potential but has yet to have a monster high school season. That could change this Fall where Jones produces through the air while also being dangerous with his legs. The Lions senior will have help around him in the skill department but much is to be learned about the Red Bank offensive line. If the big men up front come together to form a strong unit, I could see Jones having a breakout year that gets him squarely in the mix for the classification's top individual honor.    - - -    (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1668510' first='D.K.' last='Woods'] - Crockett Co.   - Woods is a tough guy to talk about here because I think he is a worthy candidate to be named a semifinalist but I don't know if his Cavs team will win enough for this West Tennessee ball carrier to earn Mr. Football. Woods is the leading returning rusher from last year, so he has to be talked about for the state's top award. Each season, the Cavs ball carrier has gotten better while producing bigger numbers. I could see that happening again this Fall but his team's success will have a lot to do with his inclusion for this honor. The competition around him for Mr. Football will be strong as well but I still like his chances to potentially be named a semifinalist.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/03/dkwoods.webp?w=458" alt="" class="wp-image-2143060" style="width:181px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Jackson Sun</figcaption></figure>   - - -    (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='2111997' first='Tyshaun' last='Jeter'] - South Gibson   - Jeter had a breakout junior year, especially during the playoffs where he put his Hornets team on his back and led them to the semifinals and one game away from competing for a state title. I think a lot will be put onto the shoulders again this Fall with Jeter as the team's top offensive threat and key performer in the red zone. The opposition will certainly key on Jeter this year but his power running style and desire to gain positive yards should still help him produce a strong senior year that very well may put him into the mix for Mr. Football consideration.    - - - - -    (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='2149062' first='Xavier' last='Bentley'] - Macon Co.    - Knowing that Macon Co. loves to run the football, I have to expect Bentley to gain a lot of yards this year and if he produces like I think he can, contending for Mr. Football is very possible. The Tigers are well equipped this season to compete for their region while also being a team to watch for the 4A state championship. If Macon Co. is to contend for a state title, Bentley will be a major reason why. I like the balance, power and speed this senior back brings to the field and his ability to produce big games throughout the season. Bentley was very close to being in our “top tier” list for Mr. Football, so I definitely would not be surprised to see him named a semifinalist by the end of the year.    - - -    ‘28 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1885826' first='Tot' last='Gardner'] - Marshall Co.    - I think this Mid-Tennessee product is your breakout candidate for the 2026 season that might contend for top rushing honors while getting into the mix for Mr. Football. Gardner is an athletic, elusive ball carrier that can hit the home run any time the ball touches his hands. He is also a threat catching the ball out of the backfield. The Tigers should be well balanced this year, especially with the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='1532507' first='Gavin' last='Shrader'] at quarterback but I expect them to use Gardner a lot and make him their offensive center piece. I like the potential this guy brings to the field as a future college guy but also someone to watch this Fall as a definite Mr. Football candidate.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/tgardner.jpg?w=350" alt="" class="wp-image-2231102" style="width:207px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - - - - -   Sleeper Candidates ……   (RB/S) [player_tooltip player_id='1674227' first='Lance' last='Donaldson'] - Pearl Cohn: The Firebirds have a loaded roster, especially on offense this Fall where I do think that Donaldson will be the lead guy at running back but his touches may be shared with others. His production on both sides of the ball will dictate a lot on if he will be in the Mr. Football consideration or not. I do like his chances but I must see how Pearl Cohn disperses their touches this Fall and how many of those are given to Donaldson.    (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='817933' first='Jamir' last='Dean'] - Alcoa: Currently committed to Georgia, Dean is a sleeper for Mr. Football this year that could produce big numbers as the Tornadoes top offensive weapon. I fully expect Manu to lean on Dean as his top target but what has this future SEC prospect down here is the fact Alcoa will have a lot of offensive targets to work with this season. I do think it's a long shot for Dean to become a semifinalist but it also wouldn't surprise me either if he is eventually named.    (TE/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1679806' first='Colton' last='Johnson'] - Upperman: This is a tough one to judge. The Bees may not be as strong this year as season's past but Johnson is someone that could shine individually due to his importance on both sides of the ball. I could see this future Ole Miss Rebel producing some big numbers this year as the top weapon on offense and a high volume tackler on defense. If the Bees win enough this Fall, I could see Johnson getting named as a semifinalist.    (DE/Edge) [player_tooltip player_id='1847720' first='Mikhai' last='Moshay'] - Pearl Cohn: There is always a defender that gets into the mix for Mr. Football and Moshay is my top option for the 2026 season. There is a lot of potential within this Nashville area prospect that could lead the 4A ranks in sacks this season but only if he is ready to take that next step in his progression. Opposing teams will look to slow this guy down but if Moshay embraces his potential, we could be looking at a breakout year for the Firebirds senior.    - - -    Five Others to Track: ‘28 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1178594' first='Keith' last='Jones Jr.'] - Gibbs, ‘28 (Edge) [player_tooltip player_id='1027628' first='Jennaris' last='Henry'] - Alcoa, (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='1651553' first='Layquan' last='Armour'] - Fayette-Ware, (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id='1654041' first='Marcus' last='Jones'] - Red Bank, ‘29 (QB/S) [player_tooltip player_id='1549656' first='Redding' last='Wilson'] - Lexington   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/ldonaldson.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2214287" style="width:230px;height:auto" /></figure>