#PRZTN: Week One Players of the Week
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The first week of high school football here in Tennessee is completed and boy did we have some big time individual performances but who were the best? Below, Prep RedZone Tennessee provides you their top performers of the week from…
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Continue ReadingThe first week of high school football here in Tennessee is completed and boy did we have some big time individual performances but who were the best?
Below, Prep RedZone Tennessee provides you their top performers of the week from each major region as well as each classification spread throughout the state.
East Tennessee
(Ath) Marcellus Jackson Marcellus Jackson 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR Fulton | 2023 State TN – Fulton
* 9-19 passing for 203 yds & 1 TD; 15 carr. for 132 yds & 4 TD’s (3 tcks, 2 PD on Def.) *
– Jackson is one of the top overall playmakers in this state for the ‘23 class and last Friday, the Falcons senior athlete put forth a big effort, producing in almost every way possible. Jackson plays quarterback for his team but will be a receiver on the next level, however passing for 203 yards shows you how good at the game of football he truly is. Look for more games like from Jackson this season, putting him at the top of the list for Mr. Football in the Class 4A ranks.
Middle Tennessee
(QB) Brendan Jones Brendan Jones 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Centennial | 2023 TN – Centennial
* 15-23 passing for 322 yds & 3 TD’s …QB Rating: 148
– Last Friday in the Cougars road win against Overton, Jones had his best high school performance to date and looked vastly improved from last year. The 6’1 calm and cool passer displayed a nice feel for the pocket as well as accuracy. Jones was pinpoint with his passes versus the Bobcats and looked poised handling pressure. This was a big performance and win for Jones and his Centennial team.
West Tennessee
(S) Mark Joseph Mark Joseph 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Sheffield | 2023 State TN – Sheffield
* 9 carr. for 119 yds & 1 TD; 7-9 passing for 95 yds & 3 TD’s; Also 2 INT’s *
– The Knights could be in store for a big season and a major factor for that statement is because of Joseph. The 6’2 senior safety, who plays both ways for his team, contributed in every way possible last Friday in the Knights 33-6 win over Bluff City. Holding multiple FCS offers, look for Joseph to continue expanding his recruiting stock this year as one of the top prospects from the greater Memphis region.
Class 1A
‘24 (RB) Dawson White Dawson White 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Moore Co. | 2024 TN – Moore Co.
* 15-19 passing for 221 yds & 2 TD’s; 20 carr. for 113 yds & 2 TD’s *
– The Raiders started their season with a “W” and a big reason for that victory came by way of White, who did just about everything for his team, producing at a major level.
Others Considered: (QB) Brandon Easterly Brandon Easterly 6'4" | 205 lbs | ATH Whitwell | 2025 TN – Adamsville, (QB) Jackson Cassidy Jackson Cassidy 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB McKenzie | 2023 State TN – McKenzie, ‘25 (RB) Jayden Milton – West Carroll
Class 2A
(RB) Mason Bowman Mason Bowman 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Monterey | 2023 State TN – Monterey
* 22 carr. for 308 yds & 4 TD’s; 3 rec. for 40 yds *
– Bowman is one of the more underrated running backs we have in this state and his monster performance last Friday keeps proving just that!
Others Considered: ‘24 (RB) Jacob Arnold Jacob Arnold 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Union City | 2024 TN – Union City, (WR) Dyer Barnes Dyer Barnes 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Lewis County | 2023 State TN – Lewis Co., (RB) A.J. Finley – Adamsville, (Ath) Jaden Petty – Harpeth
Class 3A
‘24 (Ath) X’Zorian Randolph – Giles Co.
* 24 carr. for 217 yds & 4 TD’s; 2 tcks on Def. *
– The Bobcats needed this big game from Randolph in their 35-20 over Lincoln County and the junior athlete looks to be a featured guy this year for one of the top teams in the Class 4A ranks.
Others Considered: (LB) Jacorien Love – Sheffield, (Ath) Nehemiah Edwards – Unicoi Co.
Class 4A
(RB) Demari Braden Demari Braden 5'8" | 185 lbs | RB Marshall County | 2023 TN – Marshall Co.
* 20 carr. for 155 yds & 2 TD’s *
– The Tigers have a balanced offense this season, led by this senior in Braden, who put his team on his back last Friday and led them to a 41-20 victory over Columbia Central.
Others Considered: (LB) Ian Conner – Montgomery Central, ‘24 (LB) Grace’son Beach Grace’son Beach 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Pearl Cohn | 2024 TN – Pearl Cohn
Class 5A
(S) Cuaron Price Cuaron Price 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Bolivar Central | 2023 State TN – Bolivar Central
* 5 rec. for 133 yds & 2 TD’s; 9 tcks on Def., 2 TFL *
– Bolivar would have liked to win their first game but they did receive an outstanding performance from Price, who was the team’s main playmaker on both sides of the ball.
Others Considered: (RB) DeSean Bishop DeSean Bishop 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Karns | 2023 State TN – Karns, (RB) Braxton Sharp Braxton Sharp 5'9" | 160 lbs | ATH Brighton | 2023 TN – Munford, (Ath) Malaki Dowell Malaki Dowell 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB White Co. | 2023 State TN – White Co.
Class 6A
(Ath) J.P. Courtney J.P. Courtney 6'1" | 175 lbs | ATH Beech | 2023 State TN – Beech
* 22 carr. for 176 yds & 1 TD; 7 tcks, 4 solo, 2 PD & 1 Int on Def. *
– In a hard fought, close loss to Farragut last Friday, Courtney performed over his head producing in a variety of ways and showing why is an underrated talent that should see his recruiting stock pick up soon.
Others Considered: (RB) Elijah Gibbs Elijah Gibbs 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Farragut | 2023 TN – Farragut, (TE) Ben Marshall Ben Marshall 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Blackman | 2023 State TN – Blackman, (LB) Jerrell Franklin Jerrell Franklin 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Oakland | 2023 State TN – Oakland, (Ath) Kani Johnson – Centennial
D2-Class A
‘25 (WR) Brayden Waller – TCA
* 14 rec. for 179 yds & 3 TD’s *
– Trinity Christian wasn’t able to win their first game but they did have multiple big time player performances, including one from Waller who could be a breakout guy to watch going forward.
‘25 (QB/Ath) Kade Butler – TCA, ‘24 (WR) Brock Montgomery Brock Montgomery 6'3" | 205 lbs | WR Riverdale | 2024 State TN – FCS, (LB/RB) Konner Mains – Fayette Acad.
D2-Class AA
(WR) Pierce Browning Pierce Browning 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR GCA | 2023 TN – GCA
* 7 rec. for 136 yds & 1 TD *
– While the Rams lost in their season opener, Browning was outstanding, showing off his #1 receiver abilities and showed why he is one of the most under the radar talents from the East Tennessee region.
Others Considered: (QB) Weston Edmondson Weston Edmondson 6'5" | 205 lbs | QB GCA | 2025 State TN – GCA, (LB) Jackson Eller – GCA
D2-Class AAA
(WR) Shamar Porter Shamar Porter 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Ensworth | 2023 State TN – Ensworth
* 6 rec. for 163 yds & 2 TD’s *
– Currently committed to Kentucky and ranked as the 2nd best receiver prospect in the ‘23 class, Porter had a monster game in his season debut and the Tigers 44-0 win over ECS.
Others Considered: (QB) Levi Moore Levi Moore 5'10" | 185 lbs | QB Ensworth | 2023 State TN – Ensworth, (RB) Jon Moore – MBA, ‘24 (Ath) Quincy Pannell Quincy Pannell 6'1" | ATH Knox. Catholic | 2024 TN – Knox. Catholic