The first 12 members of The Knoxville News Sentinel All-PrepXtra first-team offense and first-team defense are nominees for the offensive or defensive player of the year. The winner will be announced at the Knoxville High School Sports Awards in the spring. More details about the program coming soon.
First team
Offense
Jordyn Potts
Powell, Jr.
Position: Quarterback
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 180
Why chosen: Potts led Powell to its first 5A state championship in school history and was named championship game MVP. He was 287-of-427 passing for 3,804 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also rushed for 407 yards and 10 touchdowns.
DeSean Bishop
Karns, Jr.
Position: Running back
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 191
Why chosen: Bishop was named Tennessee Titans Mr. Football for Class 5A. He rushed for 34 touchdowns and the second-most single season yards in state history with 3,179. He was just 178 yards short of breaking Jalen Hurd’s state record. Bishop also recorded two passing touchdowns, 248 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
Mason Gudger
Greeneville, Sr.
Position: Running back
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 180
Why chosen: Gudger was a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist in 4A. He rushed for 1,621 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also logged 265 receiving yards for four TDs.
Trace Corum
Farragut, Sr.
Position: Wide receiver
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 155
Why chosen: Corum caught 76 passes for 1,131 yards and 14 touchdowns, including a long reception of 80 yards. He was named to the All-Region 2-6A first team.
Markel Fortenberry
Maryville, Sr.
Position: Wide receiver
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 186
Why chosen: The Liberty signee caught 50 passes for 620 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was selected to the All-Region 2-6A first team.
Ayden Greene
Powell, Jr.
Position: Wide receiver
Ht: 6-0.5 Wt: 167
Why chosen: The three-star receiver caught 69 passes for 905 yards and 12 touchdowns. Greene has offers from four Power 5 programs.
Brady Cash
Central, Sr.
Position: Offensive line
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 270
Why chosen: Cash was named to the All-Region 2-5A team and allowed zero sacks all season. He anchored the Central offensive line that allowed just three sacks.
Cal Grubbs
Maryville, Jr.
Position: Offensive line
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 275
Why chosen: The three-star offensive tackle was selected to the All-Region 2-6A first team. He has two Power 5 offers.
Tyler Jeffries
Alcoa, Jr.
Position: Offensive line
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 310
Why chosen: The four-star offensive tackle was selected to the All-Region 2-3A team and helped Alcoa to its seventh straight state championship. He has seven Power 5 offers.
Zack Plunk
Halls, Sr.
Position: Offensive line
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 300
Why chosen: Plunk was named the Region 2-5A Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Lance Williams
Alcoa, Jr.
Position: Offensive line
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 306
Why chosen: The three-star lineman was named the Region 2-3A Lineman of the Year and helped Alcoa to a seventh straight state championship. He has seven Power 5 offers.
Keaton Harig
Loudon, Sr.
Position: Athlete
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 176
Why chosen: A Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist for Class 3A, Harig led Loudon in both rushing and passing. He was 234-374 for 3,394 yards 52 touchdowns and rushed for 1,079 yards and 14 touchdowns. Harig was the Region 3-3A MVP.
Rest of first team
Bacon Lauderback
Alcoa, So.
Position: Kicker
Ht: 5-0 Wt: 145
Why chosen: Lauderback made 6-of-6 field goals and 69-of-72 extra points for 87 total kicking points.
FOOTBALL CLASS: Tennessee football class 2022: What to expect from every player on National Signing Day
STATE CHAMPIONS: Powell community celebrates high school football state championship with parade, ceremony
Defense
Isaiah McGaha
Central, Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 245
Why chosen: McGaha was named the Region 2-5A Defensive Player of the Year. He recorded 72 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Walter Nolen III
Powell, Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 325
Why chosen: The Texas A&M signee logged 93 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 17 sacks
and four forced fumbles. He also scored six rushing touchdowns. Nolen was a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist for Class 5A and helped Powell to its first state championship in school history.
Seth Vaughn
Fulton, Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 290
Why chosen: The Tennessee Tech signee was named the Region 2-4A Defensive Player of the Year. He recorded 54 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
Michael Williams
Alcoa, Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 275
Why chosen: Williams was named the Region 2-3A Defensive Player of the Year and helped Alcoa to a seventh straight state championship. He recorded 23.5 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Caden Earle
Halls, Jr.
Position: Linebacker
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 185
Why chosen: Earle was named the Region 2-5A Linebacker of the Year, recording 124 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and six sacks.
Noah Giger
West, Sr.
Position: Linebacker
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 220
Why chosen: Giger recorded 38 tackles, four sacks, and 10.5 tackles for loss. He was selected to the All-Region 2-5A team.
Eli Jones
Knoxville Catholic, Sr.
Position: Linebacker
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 220
Why chosen: Jones was named the Division II-AAA All-Region team. He recorded 132 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Major Newman
Alcoa, Sr.
Position: Defensive back
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 190
Why chosen: Newman was named to the All-Region 2-3A first team. He helped lead the Alcoa defense to a seventh consecutive state championship, logging 10 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in the BlueCross Bowl.
DJ Burks
Maryville, Sr.
Position: Defensive back
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 185
Why chosen: The Appalachian State signee was named to the All-Region 2-6A first team. He logged 53 tackles and two interceptions.
Carson Whitehead
Powell, Sr.
Position: Defensive back
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 160
Why chosen: Whitehead helped lead Powell to the 5A state championship, recording 85 tackles, 24 pass break ups, and four interceptions — two of which he returned for touchdowns.
Ja’Qurrius Wrenn
West, Jr.
Position: Defensive back
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 155
Why chosen: Wrenn was named the Region 5-2A Defensive Back of the Year. He recorded 38 tackles and six interceptions.
Noah Vaughn
Maryville, Jr.
Position: Return specialist
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 185
Why chosen: Vaughn was named the Region 2-6A Special Teams Player of the Year. He returned eight kickoffs for 355 yards. He also recorded 1,550 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns at running back.
Rest of first team
Josh Turbyville
Knoxville Catholic, Sr.
Position: Punter
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 195
Why chosen: Turbyville was a finalist for Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Kicker of the Year. He averaged 40.5 yards per punt and logged his longest punt of 78 yards. He had seven punts inside the 20-yard line.
Second team
Offense
QB: Caden Buckles, Alcoa, Sr.
RB: JD Dunn, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Sr.
RB: Shawn Gary, South-Doyle, Sr.
WR: Jakobi Gillespie, Greeneville, Sr.
WR: Adarius Redmond, Powell, Jr.
WR: Tommy Winton, Knoxville Catholic, Sr.
OL: Trevor Abdella, Maryville, Sr.
OL: Max Hull, South-Doyle, Jr.
OL: Terry Grove, Greeneville, Sr.
OL: Cameron Stokes, Fulton, Sr.
OL: Corey Walker, Farragut, Sr.
K: Corbin Price, Maryville, Jr.
ATH: Brayden Latham, West, Jr.
Defense
DL: Mike Bethea, Maryville, Sr.
DL: Malachi Harrison, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Sr.
DL: Steven Soles, Powell, So.
DL: Keenan Vaughn, Fulton, Sr.
LB: Jacob Berven, Oak Ridge, Sr.
LB: Isaac Bohleber, West, Sr.
LB: Cannon Lusby, Powell, Sr.
DB: Zeke Connaster, The King’s Academy, Jr.
DB: Noah Dyer, Pigeon Forge, Sr.
DB: Jamichael Ham, South-Doyle, Sr.
DB: Corbin Overbay, Sevier County, Sr.
P: Otto Niendorff, Webb, Sr.
RETURNER: Will Siaway, Central, Sr.
Third team
Offense
QB: Carson Jones, Maryville, Sr.
RB: Nakelin McAfee, The King’s Academy, Sr.
RB: Gavin Noe, Anderson County, Jr.
WR: Kaden Dockins, Loudon, Sr.
WR: Kaleb Harper, Carter, Jr.
WR: Micah Simpson, Morristown East, Sr.
OL: Max Hodge, Alcoa, Sr.
OL: Warren Nolen, Powell, Fr.
OL: Timmy Robbins, Karns, Sr.
OL: Sully Sexton, Anderson County, Sr.
OL: Ryan Wright, Northview Academy, Sr.
K: Cooper Graham, Greeneville, Jr.
ATH: Marcellus Jackson, Fulton, Jr.
Defense
DL: Chase Adams, Central, Jr.
DL: Zac Brady, Campbell County, Sr.
DL: Kam Smith, Bearden, Sr.
DL: Aiden Wilson, McMinn County, Jr.
LB: Joey Bonifacio, Webb, Jr.
LB: Amanuel Dickson, Greeneville, So.
LB: Chi McNeil Harrison, Christian Academy of Knoxville, Sr.
DB: Zaylan Frias, Morristown West, So.
DB: Walker Lockhart, Karns, So.
DB: Dom Moran, Rockwood, Sr.
DB: Michael Payne, Greenback, So.
P: Reese Keeney, Farragut, Jr.
RETURNER: Gianni Magdos, Powell, Jr.
Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.
