Top Knoxville-area players thus far
As we pass the halfway point of the Tennessee high school football season, several players in the Knoxville area have enjoyed standout seasons.
Here is a list of some of the top names through five weeks who could be player of the year candidates when the season comes to a close.
Statistics were compiled from coaches’ submissions or found on MaxPreps. Vote for the best offensive player here and defensive player here.
Offense
Brandon Winton, Alcoa:
Shane Cherry, Austin-East:
Jayzon Thompson, Bearden:
Landen Hensley, Campbell County: Hensley has completed 85 of 131 passes for 1,001 yards with six touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also has 33 carries for 57 yards with three touchdowns.
Gavin Owens, Campbell County: Owens has 30 catches for 289 yards with two touchdowns. He also has 38 rushes for 261 yards with seven touchdowns. Spencer Russell, Carter: Russell has 479 receiving yards, 320 rushing yards, 120 return yards and six total touchdowns.
Jody Scruggs, Carter:
Frank Johnson IV, Central:
Josh Keith, Clinton: passing yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions and has completed 67.7% of his passes. He also has 34 carries for 202 yards with three touchdowns.
Luke Treece, Coalfield:
Tegan Avera, Gatlinburg-Pittman: Avera has 89 carries for 944 yards, an average of 10.6 yards per carry, with 11 touchdowns. He leads East Tennessee in rushing yards and is 24th in the nation in rushing yards, according to Maxpreps.
Carson Quillen, Greeneville: Quillen has 322 rushing yards with six touchdowns and eight catches for 232 yards with four touchdowns in three games. Boone Brockwell, Gibbs: Brockwell has 48 carries for 549 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns.
Amari Lethgo, Halls:
Braylon Harmon, Knoxville Catholic: Harmon has 23 receptions for 433 receiving yards with six touchdowns along with eight carries for 47 yards and a touchdown. He has 12 punt returns for 227 yards with two touchdowns.
Jayden Neal, Knoxville Catholic:
Nehemiah Cooney, Oakdale:
De’Jauvis Dozier, Oak Ridge:
Connor Wheeler, Powell:
Landon Quinney, Wartburg Central:
Marshaun Bowers, West: Bowers has 498 rushing yards, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, with eight rushing touchdowns and has nine catches for 117 yards with one touchdown. In three kickoff returns, he has averaged 5 yards with a touchdown.
Brett Cortez, William Blount: Cortez has 948 passing yards with 12 passing touchdowns and five interceptions and has completed 57.5% of his passes He also has 530 rushing yards on 74 carries and has eight rushing touchdowns.
Defense
James Niyonkuru, Austin East: Niyonkuru has 27 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback pressure.
Daniel Sackie, Central:
Maddox Mozingo, Christian Academy of Knoxville:
D’Mon Marable, Clinton:
Jack Alley, Farragut: Alley has 57 tackles, six tackles for loss, a pass breakup and two forced fumbles.
Brady Hughes, Gibbs: Hughes has 51 tackles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions and five tackles for loss. Jackson Coffey, Grace Christian Academy:
Amanuel Dickson, Greeneville:
Caleb Turner, Halls:
Bryson Gardner, Knoxville Catholic: Gardner has 36 total tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and fumble recovery Trey Wilhite, Lenoir City: Wilhite has 58 tackles, three interceptions, one fumble recovery returned for a 96-yard touchdown and two blocked kicks.
Cooper Cameron, Knoxville Webb:
Matthew Covert, Maryville:
Vashawn Nalls, Oak Ridge: Nalls has 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, two blocked kicks and one defensive touchdown.
Steven Soles, Powell: Soles, a Kentucky commit, has 45 tackles, two for loss, three sacks, 23 quarterback pressures, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two blocked kicks and one defensive touchdown.
Tyler Mann, Sevier County:
Ryan Scott, West: