Top 5 Mr. Football Candidates Going Into 2021
By Carter Mansfield
Some people may think it's too early to start discussing Mr. Football candidates for next season, but with the offseason being slow, I decided to release my first list of top candidates for Mr. Football in 2021. Here they are:
6A
- Jordan James, RB, Oakland Reason: James was an All-State running back last season, and really found his groove towards the end of the season, before winning state championship MVP.
- Destin Wade, QB, Summit Reason: Wade was a 5A Mr. Football finalist last season, and should be able to carry over that success in 6A.
- Isaiah Horton, WR/DB, Oakland Reason: Horton is a problem on both sides of the ball, and being elite both ways goes a long way towards Mr. Football.
- Carson Jones, QB, Maryville Reason: Jones was named all-state last season by the TNFCA, and will be heavily relied on by one of the state's best programs.
- Chris Parson, QB, Ravenwood Reason: Parson will most likely be the guy for a high-powered Ravenwood offense, in which he will thrive.
5A
- Jordyn Potts, QB, Powell Reason: Potts was a Mr. Football semifinalist last year, and should increase his production, along with having a better team in 2021.
- De’Sean Bishop, RB, Karns Reason: Bishop was a star for Karns in 2020, and was a consensus all-state pick as a sophomore.
- Ryan Damron, QB, Henry County Reason: Damron is a dynamic passer, who will put up big numbers for a team who will compete for a state title in Henry County.
- Shannon Blair, WR/DB, Knoxville West Reason: Blair is dynamic on both sides of the ball for West, and will be the key factor for a West team that will be state title contenders.
- Samson Johnson, RB, Nolensville Reason: Johnson was the workhorse for Nolensville last season, and his usage and production will only go up in 2021.
4A
- Bryson Rollins, QB, Elizabethton Reason: Rollins was a Mr. Football finalist last season, and has two state championships under his belt already. He is the easy favorite in 4A for 2021.
- Anthony Brown, WR/DB, Milan Reason: Brown was a Mr. Football finalist last year in 3A, as he led Milan to a state championship appearance.
- Shawn Gary, RB, South Doyle Reason: Gary had a monster season last year for the Cherokees, as he led them to a 5A semifinal appearance.
- Kaydin Pope, WR/DB, Hardin County Reason: Pope was one of the best receivers in the state last season, and is my pick to lead the state in receiving yards next year.
- Isiah McClaine, RB, Lexington Reason: McClaine was one of the state’s biggest breakout players, and carried Lexington all the way to the state semifinals last season.
3A
- Caden Buckles, QB, Alcoa Reason: Buckles was the state championship game MVP last season for Alcoa, and will get a full season at quarterback this year.
- Will Page, QB, Stewart County Reason: Page was an all-state quarterback last season, and will be one of the favorites for Mr. Football if he can improve his numbers at all.
- Keaton Harig, QB, Loudon Reason: Harig will most likely see his statistical production increase from an all-state caliber season in 2020 for a top 3A program.
- Jacob Dooley, QB, Waverly Reason: Dooley had over 2,000 total yards in 2020, and if Dooley can match or improve upon that production, he will definitely be a Mr. Football contender in 2021.
- D’Arco Perkins, DB/WR, Stratford Reason: Perkins has picked up several power five offers over the offseason, and will be a do-it-all athlete for Stratford in 2021.
2A
- Ty Simpson, QB, Westview Reason: Simpson is one of the top recruits in the state, and was a Mr. Football semifinalist in 3A last season.
- Luke Myers, QB, South Greene Reason: Myers was a Mr. Football finalist last season for a very good South Greene program.
- Taylor Groves, WR/DB, East Robertson Reason: Groves is committed to Michigan, and will be a do-it-all athlete for East Robertson in 2021.
- Cameron Miller, WR/DB, MAHS Reason: Miller is a four star recruit, and will play in multiple different roles for a MAHS team that will be very good in 2021.
- Logan Carroll, QB, Meigs County Reason: Carroll lead Meigs County to a state title game in 2020, and will see his usage go up even more in 2021.
1A
- Khalik Ganaway, RB, Peabody Reason: Ganaway won Mr. Football in 2A last season, so he is a clear favorite in 1A for the 2021 season.
- KJ Jackson, RB, Fayetteville Reason: Jackson ran for 1,000+ yards last season as a freshman, and really broke out in the state championship game for Fayetteville, winning MVP honors.
- Deandre Kelly, RB, South Pittsburg Reason: Kelly battled injuries last season, but has the potential to be a very solid replacement for Hunter Frame in 2021.
- Emmett Hegland, QB, Midway Reason: Hegland threw for over 2,500 yards in 2020, and will definitely be in the Mr. Football conversation if he improves on that production in 2021.
- Gio Davis, DL, South Pittsburg Reason: Davis has picked up several power five offers through the offseason, and will put up monster stats for a defensive lineman in 2021.
DII-AAA
- Dallan Hayden, RB, Chrisitan Brothers Reason: Hayden won Mr. Football in 2020, and will probably not see any kind of dip in production in 2021.
- Marcel Reed, QB, MBA Reason: Reed has been the starting quarterback for MBA since his freshman season, and will put up monster numbers in 2021.
- Kaden Martin, QB, Knoxville Catholic Reason: Martin should put big numbers for a Catholic team that will contend for a state title in 2021.
- Kenny Minchey, QB, JP2 Reason: Minchey broke out for JP2 last season, and will put up big numbers in his first full season in 2021.
- Walter Nolen, DL, SBA Reason: Nolen is a consensus five star prospect, and will be dominant on the defensive line for SBA in 2021.
DII-AA
- Alex Broome, RB, Lipscomb Academy Reason: Broome was a Mr. Football semifinalist last season, even after missing several games due to transfer rules.
- Langston Patterson, RB/LB, CPA Reason: Patterson was a Mr. Football finalist last season for CPA, and is a star on both sides of the ball.
- James Dunn, RB, CAK Reason: Dunn was a Mr. Football finalist last season, and will only see his offensive production go up in 2021.
- Cade Law, QB, CPA Reason: Law was the state championship game MVP for CPA last season, after leading the Lions to a state title.
- Luther Richesson, QB, Lipscomb Academy Reason: Richesson really got hot towards the end of the season for Lipscomb Academy in 2020, and will look to continue that success into 2021.
DII-A
- Nakelin McAfee, RB, TKA Reason: McAfee was a Mr. Football semifinalist in 2020, and will be the star of TKA’s offense once again in 2021.
- Steele Haynes, WR/LB, USJ Reason: Haynes had 92 tackles, along with 871 receiving yards in 2020, and will continue to be a force on both sides of the ball for USJ in 2021.
- Garrett Weekly, QB/DB, TKA Reason: Weekly filled in very well at quarterback for TKA last season, to go along with seven interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.
- Aden Hooper, QB, MTCS Reason: Hooper was named to the all-state team by the TNFCA last season, and should see his production increase in 2021.
- Kam Boyd, RB, JCS Reason: Boyd will see his production and usage skyrocket in 2021, as JCS will most likely run the ball more with the graduation of star quarterback, Aaron Smith
