Class 5A Pre-season Mr. Football Candidates

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The battle for top individual honors here in the 5A ranks will be tough as talent is strong with future college players competing against each other for the right to call themselves "Mr. Football".</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pre-season Leaders in the Clubhouse</strong> <strong>- Class 5A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='268184' first='Joshuah' last='Keith'] - Clinton&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- One of the best quarterback prospects from out of the East Tennessee region, Keith is headed for his final year wearing the orange and white at Clinton but this could be his best season yet with it possibly ending by winning Class 5A Mr. Football. The Dragons senior passer has been a steady performer at Clinton for multiple years now with the 2023 season looking like the best team collectively around him, so I'm expecting big numbers out of this Knoxville area gunslinger.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the Dragons go on to win their region title, Keith should definitely find himself in Nashville as a finalist for Mr. Football but the team aspirations are bigger as Clinton looks like a top team to contend for a state title this season. All those accolades and accomplishments don't happen unless Keith remains healthy and does his thing behind center, spinning the ball on a consistent basis with big numbers and leading his team to victories. I think all that will happen this year but at the end of the season, Keith will not only take his recruiting stock to another level but be in clear consideration to win Mr. Football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":930247,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/jkeith2.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-930247" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(QB/DB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='148838' first='Jordan' last='Bell'] - Munford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- If I had to pick a pre-season favorite for Mr. Football, it might be this West Tennessee talent! Bell is one of the best overall playmakers from our #TN2024 class, which makes him a prime candidate for Mr. Football this year and the leader for a Munford team that has their eyes on a Class 5A state title. Everything for the Cougars team begins and ends with Bell as he is the catalyst and game changer that teammates follow and the guy who can take over a game within a heartbeat. He is that electric with the ball in his hands and I feel he is in store for his best statistical season yet.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sporting great size and blazing speed, Bell is very difficult to handle for the opposition and with another year of development and maturity under his belt this off-season, I foresee the Cougars playmaker to be even more difficult to stop this year. What could also help put Bell over the top for Mr. Football is his play on defense as he is expected to take snaps over there and he could be quite dominating. The entire season must play out and things must go into his favor but right now, Bell is a clear cut top candidate to contend for Mr. Football by season's end.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='277792' first='Frank' last='Johnson IV'] - Knox. Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Laying under the radar when it comes to recruiting, Johnson is one of the top producing backs returning for the 2023 season, which in my mind makes him a strong candidate to contend for Mr. Football this year and boost his college stock. The Bobcats senior back is a force when he gets a head of steam behind him then tends to find the end zone on a consistent basis. Johnson is tough to bring down due to his balance, power and strength and by the looks of things from some off-season clips, he has gotten faster too! That extra speed should come in handy this season as this East Tennessee product strives to put his Bobcat team back on the map and contend for Class 5A top honors.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this Knoxville area running back to contend for Mr. Football, Johnson and his Bobcat team must win or at least win enough for their top offensive player to be in consideration. I think they will have a bounce back season that not only puts them in contention for a region title but a squad that could make a deep run in the playoffs. Johnson will be a major catalyst towards those efforts and if he puts up another monster year on the ground, his candidacy for Mr. Football will be quite high. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":934620,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/08/fjohnsoniv.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-934620" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='937072' first='Connor' last='Wheeler'] </strong>- <strong>Powell&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- This coming 2023 football season will be interesting for Powell as they have to replace several key starters and college guys who led the way over the past few years but one guy returning who has the experience and talent to be a difference maker is this senior running back. Wheeler is a dynamic runner with burst, quickness and speed that gives opposing defenses fits and he could be in store for his best season yet. That may happen by demand as Wheeler could be asked to carry a big load this Fall as the offense's top playmaker and if he performs at a high level, helping lead the Panthers to victories, this East Tennessee running back could be in contention for Mr. Football.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be a challenge for Wheeler to go after top individual honors due to stiff competition but he can get the job done. Besides being an excellent runner, this Powell running back is also a good receiver out of the backfield, so Wheeler might put up some big numbers this season. Where this senior offensive talent will need help is up front where Powell has some unknowns. If the O-line comes together and allows Wheeler to break free, watch out for a big year out of this guy and possibly a finalist for Class 5A Mr. Football.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='741423' first='De'Jauvis' last='Dozier'] </strong>- <strong>Oak Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Many people may be sleeping on this East Tennessee running back at the moment but Dozier has some of the best junior film at his position in the state and a talent that could be in-store for a breakout senior year that places him in the mix for Mr. Football. Oak Ridge has high hopes this season for a long postseason run and that's due to a strong roster for the Fall season and the emergence of Dozier in the backfield. This Knoxville area product is a playmaker from his running back that brings balance, burst and speed to the field that translates well to the next level. If Dozier puts forth the kind of year I'm expecting him to have, not only will the Wildcats runner be considered for Mr. Football but also watch his college stock soar.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The East Tennessee region is stacked with good running backs, especially in the Class 5A ranks, where Dozier will receive stiff competition for Mr. Football but I believe he has as good of a shot as anybody to find himself in Nashville by season's end. Dozier must stay healthy and receive good blocking up front to have a monster season but things line up right now for that to happen, so keep an eye on this Wildcats ball carrier this Fall as a sleeper Mr. Football candidate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":742630,"width":574,"height":566,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/ddozier.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-742630" width="574" height="566" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>(OL) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149171' first='Ronan' last='O'Connell'] - Page</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Every season, somewhere across all classifications, an offensive lineman tends to make their way onto the final list for Mr. Football and some win it, much like Alcoa's Lance Williams did recently and I think that is the case here for this Page trench monster. O'Connell is the top ranked O-lineman in the state, who plays a consistent brand of football in the trenches but is also a key contributor on defense, where the Patriots staff uses him to cause havoc from the interior. Not only will O'Connell receive plenty of snaps to create pancakes on offense but he will also produce tackles and sacks for the Patriots defense as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future Clemson Tiger, O'Connell is the rock that holds up the offensive line and one of the team's senior leaders that will be pushing his teammates towards earning a region title and competing for 5A state title. The Patriots are having to replace some key skill players on both sides of the ball as well as implement a new quarterback but they are stacked in the O-line and within their defensive front seven. If the skill players can come along and produce, O'Connell and his fellow trench monsters will do their job helping this senior O-lineman contend for Mr. Football honors.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>--------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>‘25 (LB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='219439' first='Eric' last='Hazzard'] - Page</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Headed into his junior season, Hazzard is already one of the top pass rushers in the this state and coming off a 12 sack sophomore year, this Patriots defender can only be expected to put up bigger numbers, which could make him a legitimate Mr. Football contender. Hazzard has been on the scene since his freshman year, where he was a starter and began to build his stock as a future D1 football player and now he is a veteran that is expected to take another step in his progression and product at a high level. After a long off-season of work, Hazzard is ready for his junior year and ready to show his increased pass rushing arsenal.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winning top individual honors for Class 5A usually goes to an offense player, so it's an uphill battle already for Hazzard but it's not unprecedented for defensive players to win Mr. Football. This is the kind of talent, who plays on a state championship caliber team that can become a finalist by the end of the regular season, as long as he produces at a high level. I believe he will as Hazzard has a strong work ethic along with an active motor that will be hard to stop, allowing this Mid-Tennessee defender to compete for Mr. Football honors.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other to Consider: </strong>(QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='688698' first='C.J.' last='Seals'] </strong>- Franklin Co., (RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='277796' first='Ethan' last='Cunningham']</strong> - Page, (QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='148876' first='Elisha' last='Nieves']</strong>, (RB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='149149' first='Taner' last='Lee'] </strong>- Centennial, (QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288620' first='Ty' last='Collins'] </strong>- Nolensville, (QB) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='600029' first='Mason' last='Baker'] </strong>- Hendersonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":465648,"width":559,"height":510,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/10/IMG_2281.jpg?w=926" alt="" class="wp-image-465648" width="559" height="510" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->