MT. JULIET Tyler Thompson rolled out to his right and found Jett Frost near the sideline for a first down early Thursday morning at Mt. Juliet Christian Academy’s 7-on-7 tournament.

A simple play, perhaps, but even in a 7-on-7 competition, the Station Camp High senior quarterback knew that it was the next step to being back in the saddle as the Bison’s starting signal-caller.

Thompson returns for his senior season after missing last year’s final four games with a knee injury. Without Thompson, the Bison were 1-3 in the final stretch, finishing 4-6 overall and missing the Class 5A playoffs.

“I’m really excited to get back,” Thompson said. “It killed me to miss the end of last season, so it’s good to be back.”

It was the second consecutive season that Station Camp finished the season with a backup quarterback under center. Ironically, Thompson filled in for starter Kyle Anderton for the final two games of the 2014 season. Junior Cole Spears drew the majority of work in Thompson’s absence last year.

“We’ve got to keep (Thompson) healthy,” Station Camp head coach Shaun Hollinsworth said. “We have to stay healthy as a team. That hasn’t happened the last two years, and when you’re in high school, it’s tough to overcome that.”

Thompson will have a pair of big targets on the outside, as Frost – a 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior – and 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior Devin Thompson are expected to contribute at wide receiver, along with 5-foot-10, 165-pound senior Marcus DeVault.

“They’re out there making plays,” Tyler Thompson said. “They’re making me look good.”

Having improved overall team health and better chemistry will be key to allowing the Bison offense to achieve more balance.

“I feel like we’ll be able to throw the ball with some efficiency,” Hollinsworth said. “Provided that our line can give us time, we’ve got guys that can catch the ball and make plays. We’ve just got to put it all together.”

The Bison went 4-0 in the 7-on-7 competition, defeating Fort Campbell (Ky.), Lipscomb Academy, Mt. Juliet Christian Academy and Clarksville Academy before storms forced the rest of the tournament to be cancelled.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

Station Camp High senior Tyler Thompson returns at quarterback for the Bison after missing the final four games of last season with a knee injury.

TSSAA logo

When Shelbyville High announced it had hired football coach Justin  Palmer last week, the school violated the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association rule on the dead period, which was from June 26-July 10.

The TSSAA notified Shelbyville of the violation, which was verified in a YouTube video, and asked the school to submit an extra week of dead period for the football team in 2017 as a penalty for the violation. The school  submitted June 18-24 to observe the dead period next year, in addition to the two weeks all schools will be observing.

TSSAA bylaws state that no coaching, observing or contact can occur between coaches and players (in any sport) during the dead period.

Palmer was an assistant at Shelbyville for four years prior to taking the head coaching job at Creek Wood last season.

“If you see the video, you can see how excited the kids were and how excited I was and (athletic director) Coach (Dee) McCullough and (principal) Coach (Whit) Taylor and the whole administration,” said Palmer, who added that it hadn’t occurred to him about the violation until being notified by the TSSAA.

“When you get that excited, oversights happen. We’re ready to move on and put it behind us. We’re going to take our punishment for the next dead period and move on.”

Justin Palmer Introduced as New Coach

When Jason Hardy resigned in late June, the opening gave Palmer an opportunity to reunite with former players. Those players were surprised and excited, seen bombarding Palmer after he entered the locker room after being announced by McCullough as the new coach.

“When players were texting me asking if I was going to take the job, I played it off (for a surprise),” Palmer said. “They had no idea I was going to take it. When that door opened and I entered the locker room, it was a great reaction.”

In a letter sent from TSSAA, signed by Executive Director Bernard Childress to Shelbyville principal Whit Taylor on Wednesday, the organization “…accepts the administration’s action to require the football program at Shelbyville Central High School to observe an additional week of the Dead Period from June 18, 2017 to June 24, 2017.” The issue was also deemed closed by the organization.

Shelbyville went 7-4 last season, falling to Hendersonville in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

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MT. JULIET Gallatin High’s football team is one of the busier squads in the first week of football practice.

Gallatin High senior wide receiver Matthew Knight makes a catch in the end zone against Fort Campbell (Ky.) during Thursday’s 7-on-7 passing tournament at Mt. Juliet Christian Academy.

In the initial four days following the end of the two-week Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) dead period, the Green Wave have traveled for two 7-on-7 competitions, and are slated to host their own event on Saturday.

“Coming off the dead period, you want to get together,” Gallatin head coach Mark Williams said. “The good thing about this is it gives us an opportunity to compete as a group.”

Despite being more of a run-oriented team, Gallatin still aims to get valuable work in prior to full-pad practices, which are slated to begin July 25.

“Even though it’s 7-on-7 and it doesn’t really matter, it gives us an opportunity to get better in our passing game,” Williams said. “It lets us get better at some of the little things that we do.”

At Mt. Juliet Christian Academy’s 7-on-7 tournament on Thursday, Gallatin went 3-1 in its first four games before thunderstorms moved into the area and put a premature end to the day’s schedule.

The Green Wave had a quick turnaround from Wednesday’s trip to Smyrna, where Gallatin went 4-1-1 in a six-game session.

“We left Smyrna about 9:00 (Wednesday) night,” Williams said. “We got home around 10, and it was an early start (at Mt. Juliet Christian) today.”

Gallatin is searching for more balance in an offense sure to feature plenty of carries from senior tailback Jordan Mason. In order to achieve that, whoever emerges from the quarterback battle – senior Wyatt Hayes or junior Collin Minor – will have to help take some pressure off of Mason. Outside targets – such as seniors Dezmond Chambers and Matthew Knight, among others – will be called upon to assist in keeping defenses honest.

“That’s one of our big things coming all the way from spring this year,” Williams said. “We want to build depth and give ourselves an opportunity to give some guys rest, so they can be healthier and more active. It’s an opportunity for us to be able to play four quarters at full speed.”

Saturday’s 7-on-7 brings six other teams to Gallatin – Blackman, Macon County, Mt. Juliet, Smyrna, White County and York Institute.

Instead of thinking of it as a ‘passing tournament,’ Williams is instead choosing to look at as what it needs to be – practice.

“It’s a different animal,” Williams said. “We kind of temper ourselves when we come here, and we understand that it’s just a work day and it’s something that we do to better ourselves.”

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

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East Nashville’s Jacob Phillips, one of the top linebacker prospects in the nation, has decided when he’ll make his college commitment.

East Nashville linebacker Jacob Phillips

“I’m planning on taking my (official visits) the first five weeks of the season, and I’m pretty sure I’ll commit on Oct. 8, the Saturday after I get done taking them,” Phillips said following Wednesday’s Tennessee Titans 7-on-7 Passing Tournament.

Phillips, a four-star prospect and the No. 12-rated inside linebacker nationally according to 247Sports, released a list of his top seven college choices last month — California, Miami (Fla.), Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon and Texas A&M — but the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder said that things have changed.

“I put out a top seven a while ago, but some things have changed since then,” said Phillips, who began his prep career at Beech before transferring to East Nashville prior to last season. “Some schools have moved up, but I’m not really ready to say anything right now.”

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Phillips, who recorded 122 tackles and a pair of sacks for the Eagles a season ago, earned Most Valuable linebacker honors at last month’s Rivals Five-Star Challenge in Atlanta, and he was also recently named one of 50 finalists for the 2016 Butkus Award, which has been presented annually to the country’s top high school linebacker since 2008.

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Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

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Blackman coach David Watson talks to a player during the Riverdale 7-on-7 tournament last week.

MURFREESBORO — One week of 7-on-7 passing tournaments will be enough for some Tennessee high school football programs due to one less week than normal between the dead period and the start of fall practice.

The TSSAA mandates that all football teams hold at least three practices in shells — shoulder pads and helmets — this week to get athletes acclimated to the heat in preparation for the first day in full pads on July 25.

“I wish we had two weeks (of 7-on-7) because the kids like 7-on-7 and we do too,” Blackman coach David Watson said. “It’s fun to compete. Just having one week to do it makes it harder. Some will do 7-on-7 during the heat acclimation week. (This week) will be a practice run for what we will do in full gear.”

The way the calendar fell this year, teams had two weeks between the end of the dead period and the start of fall practice. Typically, there are three weeks.

Watson said his practice goal is to go Monday through Wednesday in shells to fulfill the TSSAA rule. He said the Blaze could do more days if the coaching staff believes more time is needed.

Practicing in shells is common during the high school season as coaches try to limit the amount of full contact.

“It allows us to practice a little bit differently,” Siegel coach Greg Wyant said. “We do shells quite a bit. We’re probably just one day in full pads during the season.

“It’s probably bigger this year because we are shorted a week because of how the schedule falls. Kids go on dead period and get in the air conditioning for two weeks. They watch the cable TV and play Nintendo and they aren’t acclimated. We get them acclimated pretty well, then they go into hibernation again.”

Riverdale first-year coach Will Kriesky said he used to prefer to have his teams play in as many 7-on-7 tournaments as possible when he was a defensive backs coach for the Warriors. However, his stance has changed.

“I want to focus on us, because we need to get better as a team,” he said. “(This) week is going to be important to do all of that practice time.”

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

Blackman sophomore Adonis Otey has left the school according to his father. Otey has multiple SEC offers.

MURFREESBORO — Adonis Otey, who has garnered college football offers from multiple SEC schools, has left Blackman High according to his father.

Seneca Otey wrote on social media that his son, a 6-foot-1, 168-pound sophomore, is leaving Rutherford County. He did not say what high school his son was going to attend this fall.

Adonis Otey has football offers from Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

He was projected as a starter at safety for the Blaze this season. He would have also been a backup quarterback and a receiver for Blackman.

Adonis Otey, who played primarily on the Blaze freshman football team in 2015, made four tackles in limited action for the varsity team.

Blackman coach David Watson wrote in a text message to The Daily News Journal that Adonis Otey hasn’t been with the team since after the dead period and is not currently on the team roster.

Blackman finished 10-3 in 2015, falling to Maryville in the Class 6A state quarterfinals.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

In addition to playing defensive back, Jashon Watkins will also serve as the Eagles’ quarterback.

Two years ago, East Nashville’s defense was nothing short of spectacular, and, at times, it was downright scary, surrendering just 11 points per contest while posting eight shutouts.

East Nashville coach Brian Waite celebrates his team’s 2014 victory over Pearl-Cohn.

Last season, the Eagles’ defense — along with the team as a whole — took a step back, but fifth-year coach Brian Waite and his players are convinced that this year’s unit can return to its 2014 form.

“That season it was all about giving your absolute best — working hard, great effort, great communication and just coming together as team, and those eight shutouts were just a byproduct of that,” Waite said. “We have the potential to play like that this season.”

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“I feel like we can do even better,” said 6-foot, 285-pound senior defensive tackle Dondre Ezell, who holds scholarship offers from Tennessee Tech and Jackson State. “We’ve got a lot of talent.”

Led by star inside linebacker and last year’s Region 5-3A Defensive MVP Jacob Phillips (122 tackles), East Nashville, which is coming off a discouraging 3-8 campaign, welcomes back four of its top five tacklers from a season ago. They include Ezell (54 tackles, 5 sacks) and fellow all-region selections Dewon Moody (77 tackles) and Jayron Leatherwood (69 tackles, 3 sacks).

Jacob Phillips is the No. 12-ranked inside linebacker in the nation according to 247Sports.

And that’s just the front seven.

Senior safety DeMarquez Trotter is also back in the secondary, where he’ll be playing alongside junior Brian Thompson, junior Mt. Juliet transfer Gabriel Magalei and Jashon Watkins, who, as only a sophomore, already has scholarship offers from Kentucky and Tennessee.

“If there’s a weakness, I haven’t found it yet,” said Trotter, who has been offered by Indiana State. “If we stick together and do what we’re taught — to execute with maximum effort — we can be where we were two years ago.”

There’s little doubt that East Nashville’s defense is loaded with top talent. However, one could make the argument that last year’s unit was similarly stacked.

East Nashville’s DeMarquez Trotter

There was obviously something missing, though, as the team surrendered more than double the amount of points it did in 2014.

“We weren’t communicating well as a team,” Ezell said. “Two years ago we talked a lot and always stayed together as a team. We didn’t do that a lot last year.”

“That’s one thing you’ll see with this year — the camaraderie with this group,” Waite said. “They like each other and they’re a lot closer, and that was one of the things that was missing last year because we had a big gap. We had a lot of seniors and a lot of young guys, and I think that gap has closed.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

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Davidson Academy coach Jonathan Quinn

Davidson Academy’s Obinna Eze

Davidson Academy’s Obinna Eze and Ani Izuchukwu have come a long way since last summer, and not just in a geographical sense.

Davidsion Academy football players and Nigeria natives Ani Izuchukwu (left) and Obinna Eze (right) are two of the most sought-after football recruits in Middle Tennessee.

In addition to making the nearly 6,000-mile trip from Nigeria to Nashville, the exchange students have become to two of the more coveted college football prospects in Middle Tennessee.

And they’ve managed to do so without playing a single down at the varsity level.

“That’s pretty unheard of,” GoVols247 recruiting analyst Ryan Callahan said of the Davidson Academy duo.

“It’s not a huge mystery once you see them on the field why they’ve taken off the way they have. It is a sport where you’re basing things on potential and you’re projecting down the road a few years.”

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A mere five months after first picking up the sport Eze, a 6-foot-8, 280-pound senior lineman, picked up his first FBS offer from Kentucky.

Nearly the entire Southeastern Conference — Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt — and Duke, Louisville, Memphis and Michigan quickly followed suit.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Eze, a four-star prospect and the No. 27-ranked offensive tackle in the class of 2017 according to 247Sports. “You just wake up in the morning, put in work and hope you get better. I did get better.”

Izuchukwu’s offer list doesn’t quite measure up to Eze’s, but it still includes Alabama, LSU, Memphis, Mississippi State and Tennessee. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end and tight end is just a sophomore.

Davidson Academy senior Obinna Eze is the No. 8-ranked prospect in Tennessee according to 247Sports.

And while both possess the size, strength and speed to excel at the next level, one of their perceived weaknesses —  lack of experience — might actually be one of their biggest strengths in the eyes of college coaches.

“I think in Obinna’s case that’s definitely part of the appeal,” Callahan said. “You can kind of build him up from scratch and not really have to worry about breaking any bad habits that he might have developed over the years. That’s definitely been encouraging to some of the coaches who have worked with him at satellite camps.

“He’s a guy you can mold from the ground up.”

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Catching on

For a foreign exchange student to be eligible for varsity sports in Tennessee, the student must be placed with a host family by an international program that is accepted by the Council on Standards for International Education Travel  and be recognized by the U.S. State Department.

The student also must attend a school that offers a CSIET-approved foreign exchange program, which, in Middle Tennessee includes Davidson Academy and 18 other private schools.

Upon their arrival in the United States, Eze and Izuchukwu, whose athletic backgrounds consisted entirely of soccer and basketball, knew next to nothing about American football.

“They probably couldn’t name a single position of the field,” said Buck Fitzgerald,  founder of the Nashville-based National Playmakers Academy, where both athletes regularly train.

Ani Izuchukwu greets a young fan during Monday’s practice at Davidson Academy.

And while Davidson Academy coach Jonathan Quinn probably could have found a spot for them on Friday nights last fall, both were required to play junior varsity to comply with Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association bylaws, which state “students possessing an F-1 visa (like Eze and Izuchukwu) are ineligible at the varsity level until they have lived with a guardian for 12 months.”

It turned out to be a necessary step, too.

“The JV game allows guys to play in a way that they can be taught,” said Quinn, a former MTSU and NFL quarterback. “A coach can be out there on the field to help them through it. You’re not facing the scrutiny of Friday night lights and all that, and, especially for guys that have never played before, it allows them to just learn the game.”

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When Izuchukwu thinks back to last season, he can’t help but crack a smile.

“Sometimes when I’m at home I sit and watch my JV highlights,” said Izuchukwu, who recently underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder but it still expected to make his varsity debut at some point this season.

“I just smile and laugh because I did not know what I was doing. I was winning against my man every time, but I was confused. I didn’t know where to go or when to make a tackle. I just used what little knowledge I had to read the game.”

Despite a rather rudimentary understanding of the sport, the highlight reel is littered with sacks, forced fumbles and quarterback hurries.

Their learning curve on offense, however, was considerably steeper.

“There’s a little more technique involved,” Quinn said. “Defenses are shifting around and you’re having to make multiple reads, so it took a little longer on offense.”

“Sometimes I thought, ‘This is how football is? This is too much,’” Izuchukwu said. “I just want to learn the game. That’s the only thing stopping me.”

Living up to the hype

Eze recently returned from Nike’s The Opening, an elite combine in Beaverton, Ore., that is open to the top 166 prep players nationwide.

Still, he’s yet to prove himself against varsity competition.

“I think there probably is (pressure), especially for O with this being his senior year,” Quinn said. “The things we’re talking to him about is to just concentrate on each rep. You don’t have to bury them for it to be a good block, you just have to get in their way. If your guys don’t make the tackle then you blocked him.”

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Eze said any pressure he was feeling disappeared during his time in Oregon.

“I’m way past that,” he said. “I went there and made sure for myself that I know I can play at the top level. Going there and competing with those guys lets you know, ‘You know what, I’m as good as them. I may not have the same experience as them, but I’m the same quality player.'”

Obinna Eze

Obinna Eze 

Davidson Academy, Senior
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 280
Position: OT/DT

Quotable: “Probably two or three weeks after I got to America, (Buck Fitzgerald) asked me to try football and said it might be better for me than basketball. I trusted him on that, and it turns out it worked out pretty good for me.”

OBINNA EZE 270lbs LEFT TACKLE

Ani Izuchukwu

Ani Izuchukwu

Davidson Academy, Sophomore
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 230
Positions: DE/TE

Quotable: “I grew up in the ghetto, in the project. Making it here, every day I keep thanking God. I don’t know what I could have become if I was back home. Being here, chasing my dream, I’m so grateful.”

ANI IZUCHUKWU 6’5ft 220lbs DE NO 7

Reach  Michael Murphy  at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter  @Murph_TNsports . 

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Here’s a look at the 2016 Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association all-state baseball teams:

Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams

Class A

IF Alex Brewer (Forrest); IF/P Even Russell (Scotts Hill); IF Seth Price (Watertown); OF/P Scott Lentz (Columbia Academy); IF Bryce Giles (Summertown); OF Justin Shaw (Knoxville Grace); IF Kyle Davidson (Community); IF/P Bobby Parliament (Gordonsville); IF/P Luke Murphy (East Robertson); UTIL/P Ryan Weathers (Loretto); IF Jacob Laws (Loretto); OF Xavier Fuller (Middle College); OF Brandon Kelley (Eagleville); P/IF Junior Kimmel; RHP Ryan Yelensky (Forrest); RHP Ryan Yelensky (Forrest); RHP Carter Holt (Jackson Christian); RHP Kendrick Malone (Peabody); IF/P Graham Duke (Cornersville); RHP/IF Miles Humphrey (Jackson Christian).

Class AA

OF Lane Harris (CPA); C Cooper Mays (Hickman County); IF Wes Duffield (Central Magnet); IF Bill Hamilton (Montgomery Central); OF/P Peyton Wiggington (Page); C Philip Clarke (CPA); DH/P Brycen Thomas (Spring Hill); IF Cody Hartness (Greenville); IF Sam Williams (Ripley); IF Curtis Wall (Covington); RHP Tanner Barkley (Chuckey Doak); RHP Lincoln Bowman (Greenville); RHP Spencer Strider (CAK); Gage Gillian (Spring Hill); UTIL Bailey Baker (Sycamore); P Noah Sims (Sycamore); RHP David Bates (CPA); OF Tuner Whaley (Pigeon Forge); OF Jordan Jackson (Central Magnet); OF Mason Holder (Milan); Zack King (Spring Hill); Chauncey Scott (Stratford).

Class AAA

OF/P Will Heflin (Morristown West); P/IF Zach Linginfelter (Sevier County); SS Duncan Pence (Farragut); UTIL/P Ryder Green (Hardin Valley); OF Cody Hutcherson (Cookeville); OF Trey Carter (Soddy-Daisy); P Jacob Key (Siegel); OF Wil Dalton (Summit); IF Ladarius Williams (Brighton); C Hunter Goodman (Arlington); RHP Devante Matthews (Sevier County); RHP Dylan Pacifico (Farragut); RHP Brandon Thompson (Bradley Central); RHP/IF Austin Steel (Stewarts Creek); RHP Aaron Brown (Mt. Juliet); RHP Chris Mcelvain (Summit); RHP Hayden Edwards (Arlington); IF Bryson Ford (Bearden); C Deric Graham (Tennessee).

Division II

P Weston Bizzle (Christian Brothers); Ben Brooks (Pope John Paul II); Mason Hickman (Pope John Paul II); OF Logan Carey (USJ); OF/P Connor Shamblin (Briarcrest); OF/P Corey Mitson (Tipton-Rosemark); OF Hayden Leatherwood (Christian Brothers); LHP Carson McKoon (McCallie); LHP Ryan Rolison (USJ); LHP Jared Shemper (Chrsitian Brothers); RHP Nathan Ruble (Harding Academy); LHP Hugh Fisher (Briarcrest); IF Alex Harris (Davidson Academy); IF J.L. Bland (Christian Brothers); OF Corbin Brooksbank (McCallie); OF Stokes Needham (McCallie); OF Jake Criswell (Harding Academy); LHP Steven Ton (McCallie); LHP Brock Myers (Davidson Academy); C Quinn Smith (McCallie); C Rudy Maxwell (Ensworth).

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Volleyball

Jennifer Maher has been hired as the head volleyball coach at Franklin’s Grace Christian Academy.

The eighth-year school is entering its second season as a Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) member school.

“I love working with and mentoring students of all ages, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to coach at this wonderful school,” Maher said in a press release.

Maher is a former three-sport standout at Brentwood High School, having helped the Lady Bruins to Class AAA state championships in 2004, 2006 and 2007. She was named to the Class AAA All-State Tournament Team as a senior.

Maher scored more than 1,000 points as a four-year starter for the Brentwood High girls basketball program, and she was the top pitcher for the Lady Bruin softball program as a senior.

Maher is currently a first-grade teacher at Franklin’s Pearre Creek Elementary, entering her fifth year at the school.

Grace Christian competes in District 11-A, ending its season with a three-game loss to Santa Fe in the quarterfinals of the district tournament last season. Hampshire won the 2015 District 11-A Tournament, defeating Columbia Academy in the championship match.

HARTSVILLE Although a run-oriented offensive team such as Beech High’s football squad might not get be able to answer all of its questions during 7-on-7 work, the Buccaneers are getting some valuable feedback on the defensive side of the ball.

Beech High junior Ty Dean rips the ball away from Macon County freshman Isaac Belton for an interception during Trousdale County’s 7-on-7 workouts on Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday’s workouts at Trousdale County pitted Beech against the host Yellow Jackets, along with Cannon County, Macon County, Portland and Region 6-5A foe Station Camp.

The Buccaneers were slated to use two teams in the afternoon session, but only junior quarterback Nelson Smith was available, so Beech opted to use only one team.

Green Wave football awakens from dead period

Buccaneer head coach Anthony Crabtree said he was pleased with Smith’s development.

“He’s doing a great job,” Crabtree said of Smith. “One thing that’ll help his confidence is if we can catch the ball more consistently. But he’s playing really well right now.”

However, the Buccaneers’ focus rested with their secondary. Junior defensive back Ty Dean is a potential starter, and intercepting two passes against Macon County did not hurt his chances.

Beech High junior quarterback Nelson Smith throws a deep pass during Trousdale County’s 7-on-7 workouts on Tuesday afternoon.

“He’s a solid player,” Crabtree said of Dean. “He’s one of our better (defensive backs) and one of our better receivers.”

Others such as juniors Jahmal Robinson, Garrett Butler and senior Chris Peach have opportunities to step into starting roles this season.

“We’ve got some guys who are stepping up every day with a chance to fill a spot,” Crabtree said. “That’s what I tried to talk to them a little bit about, after it was over.”

Station Camp’s Tyler Thompson eager to get back under center

Beech hosts McGavock and White House Heritage for 7-on-7 workouts on Thursday evening. The Buccaneers open practice in full pads on Monday morning and travel to Brentwood for their first scrimmage next Friday. Beech hosts Wilson Central to open the regular season on Aug. 19.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

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Adonis Otey, who recently left Blackman High School, has enrolled at Franklin Road Academy

Franklin Road Academy

Franklin Road Academy lost quite a few skill players from last year’s 11-1 squad, which reached the Division II-A quarterfinals.

The Panthers, however, managed to pick up a pretty good one this preseason in sophomore Adonis Otey, who recently transferred to FRA from Blackman High School in Murfreesboro.

“He’s only been here for a few days,” FRA coach Bill Whittemore said. “But he is a high-level talented player, and more importantly, what I’m excited about, is his character. He’s a yes and no sir kid, and he’s worked hard the days that he’s been here. Everything is new to him and he’s got a lot to catch up on, but he’ll be fine.”

Otey, who primarily played for the Blackman’s freshman team in 2015, has already received scholarship offers from Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, and Whittemore said that the 6-foot-1, 168-pounder will play a significant role for the Panthers this fall.

“He’ll factor in for sure,” said Whittemore, who has posted a 29-18 record in four seasons at FRA. “The biggest thing is that it gives us another skill player to shuffle around. We spread it around, get a lot of people the ball and try to keep the defense guessing. This allows us to have another threat to put on the field this year.”

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“We run kind of a wing-bone offense and so he can be at wing or receiver, and he’s done a little quarterback,” Whittemore added. “The biggest thing we want is for him to play free and not have to think, so we have to catch him up with what we’re doing as much as possible.”

Otey will also play cornerback on defense, according to Whittemore.

FRA, which is coming off its most successful season since 1991, opens the year at Fayetteville on Aug. 19.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.

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HARTSVILLE Portland High’s football team saw a lot of familiar faces on Tuesday afternoon.

Portland High senior Emmanuel Johnson leaps to catch a pass against Macon County during Trousdale County’s 7-on-7 workouts on Tuesday afternoon.

The Panthers took part in Trousdale County’s 7-on-7 workouts with five other teams – including one they’ll see on their regular season schedule.

Portland faced Cannon County, Trousdale County, former District 9-AAA foes Beech and Station Camp, and current Region 5-4A rival Macon County during the afternoon session.

Senior Austin Hardy made his presence known against Station Camp, intercepting a pass on the first Bison series, while classmate Emmanuel Johnson pulled in a couple of tough passes on the offensive side against Macon County.

Station Camp’s Tyler Thompson eager to get back under center

“When we played well, we were catching the ball at first contact,” Portland head coach Greg Cavanah said. “We were looking it in.”

Portland returns eight starters on the defensive side from last year’s squad, so it would stand to reason that improvement is in the cards. But Cavanah said there were some hiccups in coverage at times on Tuesday.

“We had a lot of busted coverages,” Cavanah said. “We hadn’t done that the last two days we’ve done passing league.”

Portland High senior Logan Jernigan hauls in a pass during Trousdale County’s 7-on-7 workouts on Tuesday afternoon.

Junior Brandon Meador and freshman Blake Curtis took turns at quarterback, and Cavanah noted that both had some good passes – and those that left something to be desired.

“We’re still throwing the ball low sometimes, throwing it high sometimes and throwing it behind (receivers) sometimes,” Cavanah said. “So, we’ve got to get that situated.”

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Portland does not have an early practice session when full-pad practices begin on Monday, instead opting to workout in the late afternoon.

The Panthers travel to Hillsboro for their first scrimmage on July 29, and open the regular season at Franklin-Simpson (Ky.) on Aug. 19.

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

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Richie Wessman

As Ravenwood prepares to defend its Class 6A state title when it opens the 2016 football season against Siegel on Aug. 18, it’ll do so under the watch of a coach who’s played alongside two Heisman trophy winners and spent time learning from a few Super Bowl-winning coaches.

First-year coach Richie Wessman was hired in March to replace Will Hester, who left for Nolensville High School in December, less two weeks after leading the Raptors to their second football title in school history with a 26-17 upset win over Maryville in the state championship game.

Wessman will have quite the challenge in his first year taking over a program that graduated a majority of it’s team and nearly all of its starters, but he’s working hard to instill his new system.

“This year, we don’t have as much talent,” senior offensive tackle Patrick Leitten said. “Obviously, we lost a lot of guys, over 40 seniors, so I think this year Coach Wessman is really focusing on getting everybody on the same page with the schemes, technique, form, everything like that.

Although Hester will be a tough act to follow, Wessman comes prepared with the resume and experience to help the Raptors stay at the top of their game.

Extensive experience

The 35-year-old coach is still young on paper, but he has spent time with several of the top college football programs in the country, made a stop in the NFL and even did a stint coaching overseas.

“I started at USC, then went to Ole Miss, then Clemson,” Wessman said. “Then, I spent several years with the Titans and then went up to a D-II school up in Minnesota (University of Minnesota Crookston), then spent some time coaching for a team in England.”

Along those stops, he’s worked with some of the best football minds in the game.

“I’ve been blessed to be around a lot of fantastic football coaches and to be able to learn from them scheming, coaching philosophies, motivation, leadership, all that stuff,” Wessman said. “Pete Caroll, Noel Mazzone, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Norm Chow, Dabo Swinney, Tommy Bowden, Jeff Fischer, Mike Heimerdinger, the list goes on and on.”

Among his references to get the Ravenwood coaching job were Caroll and Tony Dungy.

Now, he’s passing what he learned from those top coaches down to his own players.

“Something big we’re taking from Pete Caroll and USC is expecting more than what you think you can do and really competing,” Wessman said.

Top class led to coaching

Wessman knows a thing or two about competing.

Before he was a coach, Wessman played quarterback for USC from 2000-01, but was buried in a stellar class of passers that featured Heisman-winner and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, Tennessee Titans backup quarterback Matt Cassel and another Heisman-winner in Matt Leinart.

He said that that group of quarterback’s depth and talent is one of the reasons he’s a coach today.

“They were pretty doggone good and that’s kind of why I’m in coaching right now,” Wessman said. “They got me out of playing pretty quick. That class was pretty good and there was another guy (Billy Hart) who played baseball for the Astros.”

He’s hoping that he can take everything he learned from those players and coaches along the way and bring that to the defending state champs.

“He’s teaching the quarterbacks to read the defenses really well and kind of understand what happens when certain players go certain places,” Leitten said. “Every time I look over at the quarterbacks they’re doing some new drill. I think by the time the season rolls around, especially the midseason, they’ll be way ahead.”

And while it’s only his first year on the job, Wessman has set high expectations for himself as the 2016 campaign approaches.

“I want to win every game, but right now it’s win this moment, win what we’re doing right here and right now,” he said. “If we carry that through, good things will happen.”

Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.

Brentwood Academy won the Division II-AA state title last season.

Brentwood Academy won last year’s Division II-AA state championship in a thrilling 56-55 double-overtime shootout over Montgomery Bell Academy behind a stacked offensive line and some big playmakers.

While a majority of the Eagles’ big play guys will be back for the 2016 season, the defending state champions will look to some fresh faces to step up and protect them.

Of the five players expected to anchor the Eagles offensive line this year, only one is a returning starter.

Brentwood Academy lost two offensive lineman to the Tennessee in Ryan Johnson and Brian Garvey, one to Ole Miss in Bryce Mathews and one more to Georgia Tech in Brandon Adams.

“Luckily we’re in a good place,” Eagles coach Cody White said. “We‘ve got a good senior group. They haven’t played a lot, most of them, but they take a lot of pride in what they do and they’ve got some ability.”

New-look line

That ability may catch some opponents by surprise this year, as opposing teams likely won’t have any film to prepare for the offensive line.

Senior Elijah Teat, the line’s only returning starter, will see fellow seniors Will Norvet, Brett Hart and Isiah Gentry get their first chances to start alongside the line’s lone junior, Jordan McCoy.

Replacing a Division-I level players is never an easy task, but it’s one that this year’s group feels prepared to tackle.

“It’s definitely a different year and it’s a different type of line,” Norvet said. “I think we are all going to be able to hold our own and improve.”

With all but one of this year’s offensive lineman low on experience after waiting their turn to start last season, improvement is just what White expects to see from his new group of big men.

“I think we could be really athletic,” White said. “It’s one of those deals where you can see potential, but potential doesn’t mean a whole lot unless those guys do what they can do. That’s going to be the interesting part to see how they grow.”

Still driven despite success

Despite playing with a target on their backs this year as the defending champs, this group of lineman aren’t feeling the pressure to repeat, but rather the drive to prove doubters wrong.

“I wouldn’t say it’s pressure,” Hart said. “We sort of heard the talk about how are we going to come back with the loss of all the lineman and can we repeat again, so it’s more about proving people wrong to show we can do it.”

“They are big shoes to fill, but they kind of showed us how it’s done and that was beneficial to see how we can improve and how we can continue on,” Norvet added. “It kind of showed us where we’re supposed to be.”

Filling the shoes of the players that came before them may seem like a daunting task, but for some of the lineman like Hart, the opportunity to anchor the offensive line has been something he’s been working toward since he was 10, including a three-year stint as water boy.

“I’ve been waiting a long time,” Hart said.

The long wait for the new set of lineman is almost over, and soon they will have the chance to protect one of the most dangerous offensive attacks in the state.

Deep offense

While Brentwood Academy lost nearly its entire offensive line to graduation, the Eagles are still returning a majority of their big playmakers.

The Tennessean’s Athlete of the Year, senior quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, will be back to lead the offensive attack, and he will be joined by junior receiver Cam Johnson and junior wide receiver and tight end Gavin Schoenwald.

Oatsvall threw for 1,965 yards, ran for 1,164 more and accounted for 30 total touchdowns last season while Johnson racked up 956 receiving yards and hauled in eight touchdown receptions.

Schoenwald only caught two touchdown passes last season, but threw eight touchdowns last year on just 44 passes as Oatsvall’s backup.

He will again be the second-string quarterback this year, but that’s only because of who is in front of him.

Just like this year’s group of offensive lineman, his turn will come soon.

“We’ve got a guy who probably start at every other school in the state as our backup quarterback right now,” White said. He’s really multifaceted. We’re one play away from using him and I feel like we could win the whole deal with him.”

Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.

The schedule for the 48th annual Metro Football Jamboree has been announced.

Stratford’s Josh Trueheart and Pearl-Cohn’s Antowon Malone compete in last year’s Metro Football Jamboree

All 13 MNPS football programs, along with Mt. Juliet Christian Academy, will participate in the three-day event, which gets underway Thursday, Aug. 11 at McGavock High School.

Each matchup will consist of two quarters.

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Thursday, Aug. 11 at McGavock 

Hunters Lane vs. Whites Creek, 7 p.m.

McGavock vs. Maplewood, 8 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 12 at Overton 

Hillwood vs. Mt. Juliet Christian, 6 p.m.

Glencliff vs. Antioch, 7 p.m.

Overton vs. Cane Ridge, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 13 at Stratford 

Pearl-Cohn vs. East Nashville, 7 p.m.

Stratford vs. Hillsboro, 8 p.m.

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Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Dwone Hicks brought considerable success to Middle Tennessee State as a player.

He’s hoping to enjoy similar results in the area as a football coach. Hicks was recently hired as an assistant coach at Wilson Central.

Wilson Central assistant football coach Dwone Hicks (at right) looks on as the Wildcats recently competed at Riverdale’s 7-on-7 passing tournament, on Thursday July 14, 2016.

“I’ve moved around all my life,” the 35-year-old said. “My dad was in the military. This has always felt like home. This being so close to the university, I had an opportunity to land my family … land that plane. I could still go to the university, go to games. It was a simple move for me. It was a no-brainer.”

The former Alabama Class 6A Player of the Year rushed for more than 3,600 yards from 1999-2002 at MTSU and was named the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2001. The program’s third all-time leading rusher owns school records for career rushing touchdowns (53), single-season touchdowns (20 in 2001), single-game touchdowns (6 against Louisiana Tech in 2000) and single-game rushing yardage (311, also against Louisiana Tech), and he was a 2013 inductee into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame.

Dwone Hicks (33) set numerous school rushing records during his career at Middle Tennessee State University.

Hicks was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003 by the Tennessee Titans and played in three games, making two tackles.

He’s most recently served in a variety of assistant coaching roles at three Georgia high schools — Dublin, Bleckley County and Duluth.

“I had been trying to get back to Tennessee for the last I don’t know how many years,” Hicks said.

Dennis Stallings, a former Oilers/Titans linebacker who is on the coaching staff at Wilson Central, told Hicks there was a spot for him there.

“He tried to get me a couple of years ago,” Hicks said. “I contacted him (recently) and said, ‘I’m ready to move back.’ I liked he atmosphere. Coach (Brad) Dedman seemed like a good guy, so I said, ‘We’re moving.’”

Hicks, a special education teacher, will coach the Wildcats running backs and will help with the strength and conditioning program.

“We’re excited to have him and what he’s going to bring to the table,” Dedman said. “It’s going to be huge for us. He’s played at the highest level. He knows what it takes to get there. Our guys are going to listen to him because of that.”

Hicks joined the program on July 11.

“I’m definitely enjoying it,” Hicks said. “I like the atmosphere. Everything is nice and organized. The best thing is that we have some good kids to be able to coach. They say, ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’ and take coaching very well. That’s always key to have in your program.”

Dwone Hicks

Hicks points out that he’s highly-communicative but in a constructive fashion rather than a critical means.

Senior running back Tyler Bowes could benefit from Hicks’ expertise more than any other Wildcat, especially with the team’s transition to a spread offense that will feature mostly one-back sets.

“I think we have a good stable of backs who have a bit of experience,” Hicks said. “We’re looking for a lot out of each of our backs.

“When we need a big play, Tyler is going to be one of the guys we expect to make that play.”

Bowes is a three-year starter with offers from Austin Peay and Morehead State. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder rushed for more than 1,300 yards last season, helping the Wildcats reach the Class 6A quarterfinals.

Wilson Central has eight returning starters on offense, including senior quarterback Blake Meadors and senior wide receivers Devon High (a Navy commitment), Colton Dowell and Spencer Welch.

Reach Craig Harris at 615-259-8238 and on Twitter @CHTennessean. 

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As of Friday, four weeks remain – just 28 days – until kickoff of the opening week of the prep football season.

Beech players run onto the field prior to last season’s game against Rossview. Beech travels to Rossview in the second week of the season.

However, it isn’t too early to look at the schedule and pick out the contests to see throughout the season.

Of course, the list could certainly change based on what happens early in the season, and the final Friday of the regular season figures to once again be wide-open.

Here is a week-by-week look at the top games across Sumner County:

Week 1: White House at White House Heritage, Aug. 19

After missing the postseason for the first time since 1991, White House will look to get the new season started in the right direction against its cross-town rival. White House won last year’s meeting by a 28-7 margin.

Others considered: Gallatin at Mt. Juliet, Clarksville at Station Camp

Week 2: Beech at Rossview, Aug. 26

This was the highest-scoring game involving a Sumner County team last season, as Rossview escaped Shackle Island Stadium with a 48-46 victory. Beech will be eager to show a reloaded lineup against a Hawks squad that ended up missing the playoffs despite a 6-4 finish last season.

Others considered: Siegel at Hendersonville, Gallatin at Springfield

Beech putting defensive pieces together

Week 3: Hendersonville at Cane Ridge; White House at Portland, Sept. 2

Hendersonville won last year’s meeting 42-25 at home, but has to travel to Nashville to face what should be an improved Cane Ridge squad.

Portland’s playoff berth last season was largely due to its 28-17 victory at White House. The Blue Devils hold a slim 24-23 lead in the all-time series that dates back to 1945.

Others considered: Hillsboro at Station Camp

Hendersonville junior Anthony Hughes and the Commandos travel to Cane Ridge for an early-season Region 6-5A showdown.

Week 4: Hendersonville at Beech, Sept. 9

Hendersonville has won the last three meetings between the in-city rivals and six out of the last seven, including last season’s 30-16 triumph that helped lift the Commandos to a second-place finish in Region 6-5A.

Beech hosts the game for the first time since 2013, and the Buccaneers have won five of the last six meetings in the series at Shackle Island Stadium.

Others considered: Pope John Paul II at Father Ryan

Week 5: Hillsboro at Hendersonville; Cane Ridge at Beech, Sept. 16

Hendersonville likely remembers last season’s 49-21 loss at Hillsboro that took place in front of a local television audience. Beech escaped Cane Ridge with a 31-28 victory, one week before the Ravens began their second-half surge.

Others considered: White House at Springfield

Station Camp and Gallatin meet on Sept. 23 in a rematch of last year’s contest, which the Bison won 27-19.

Week 6: Gallatin at Station Camp, Sept. 23

Last year’s 27-19 loss was the first of five consecutive defeats for the Green Wave as they tumbled out of the playoff picture by season’s end. The Bison, after starting 0-4, kept their slim postseason hopes alive with the victory. It’s for city bragging rights, and will likely be to keep postseason chances above water as the second half of the regular season begins.

Others considered: Pope John Paul II at Nashville Christian, Springfield at Beech, East Nashville at Hendersonville

Station Camp’s Tyler Thompson eager to get back under center

Week 7: Macon County at White House, Sept. 30

With so few region games in Region 5-4A, teams only likely need two wins within the region to finish in the top four and receive a playoff berth. Whoever wins between Macon County and White House (who won last year’s meeting 30-15) will be halfway there.

Others considered: Beech at Gallatin, Station Camp at Hendersonville

Week 8: Hendersonville at Gallatin; Beech at Station Camp, Oct. 7

Week 8 is a light week with only three games, but a strong week as close rivals square off in two Region 6-5A battles. Both were lopsided last year, with nearly identical scores (Hendersonville won 42-14, while Beech defeated Station Camp 41-14), but the losers of last year’s games figure to be improved and intend to put up stiffer challenges this time around. All four teams should still be playing for either the region title or for a postseason bid at this point.

Week 9: Portland at Maplewood, Oct. 14

The other light week on the schedule features only three games, with none in Sumner County, as five schools are out for fall break. Portland suffered a 28-14 loss to Maplewood at home last season, and has to travel to Nashville for this pivotal Region 5-4A game. The loser only has one more chance for a region victory after this game, while the winner could either lock up a playoff spot or give themselves control of their own destiny.

Portland working out kinks in passing league

Week 10: Station Camp at Cane Ridge, Oct. 21

The Bison were still alive for a playoff spot prior to hosting the Ravens last season, but Cane Ridge squashed any remaining postseason hopes by rolling to a 54-7 victory. Station Camp won’t have any margin for error in the penultimate contest of the regular season, especially if Cane Ridge is within sight of the region title.

Others considered: Westmoreland at Cascade, Gallatin at Hillsboro

Week 11: Watertown at Westmoreland; Portland at Macon County; Maplewood at White House; Beech at Hillsboro, Oct. 28

All four of these games carried massive playoff implications last season, and will likely do so again this time around.

Westmoreland could have finished second in Region 4-2A with a victory at Watertown last season, but the Purple Tigers turned the Eagles away by handing them a 42-7 loss.

The Panthers scored a touchdown in the dying seconds to pull away for a 32-19 victory and keep Macon County out of the playoffs. The Tigers get to host this year, and likely won’t forget last year’s finish.

White House’s offense sputtered in a 14-6 loss at Maplewood that officially ended the Blue Devils’ 23-year streak of playoff appearances.

Beech had a late lead at home until Hillsboro rallied to win the regular-season finale and claim the Region 6-5A title last year.

Others considered: Cane Ridge at Gallatin

Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

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Softball

Lebanon softball coach Chris Spurlock resigned on Thursday.

Spurlock spent one season at the helm of the program. He will be entering the private sector.

“Leaving Lebanon High School was a terribly tough decision and not something I was looking to do,” Spurlock said. “I had to make the decision that was best for my family.”

The Devilettes placed fourth in District 9-AAA during the regular season this spring. Lebanon improved on its 2015 record of 12-16 by compiling a 25-18-1 mark in 2016, suffering a 9-8, extra-inning loss to Beech to also place fourth in the District 9-AAA Tournament.

Lebanon lost five seniors to graduation – Sarah Aubuchon, Hannah Simmons, Brooke McClendon, Shelby Jones and Kayla Beal.

The Devilette program hasn’t advanced to the regional tournament since 2007. Two teams from each district move on to the regional level.

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Lebanon will have its sixth softball coach over a seven-year span, though Monica Braswell, who was hired in 2013, left for another teaching position before ever coaching a game for the Devilette program.

Reach Craig Harris at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @CHTennessean. 

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When coach Mike Woodward made his return to Antioch a little more than three months ago, he wasn’t exactly eager to talk about last year — and for good reason.

Antioch coach Mike Woodward looks on during practice.

His players, however, can’t help but think back to their dreadful 2015 campaign, in which they were outscored 396-76 en route to the program’s first winless season since 1971.

“I know last year is still in the back of their minds,” said Woodward, who is back at Antioch after three years away — two spent as coach at Brentwood (2013-14) and one as an assistant at Overton (2014).

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That’s not necessarily a bad thing.

“It drives me,” Antioch senior outside linebacker Blake Wiggins said. “I’ve never had a season like that before. It just makes me want to be better and strive to work harder every day.”

Antioch senior Noah Scales

“It’s frustrating, but at the same time there’s satisfaction,” added senior quarterback and middle linebacker Noah Scales. “I see where we were last year and how frustrating it was as a team, but I can also see how far we’ve come to where we are now.”

Scales isn’t the only one who has noticed the transformation.

“We just went to a 7-on-7 and I had some opposing coaches come up to me and say they can see a difference already,” said Woodward, whose team participated at last week’s  passing tournament at Riverdale.

Woodward, who led the Bears to a 38-39 record and five playoff appearances during his first stint there (2006-12), knows the program still isn’t where it needs to be, but he has been pleasantly surprised in since his arrival in April.

“Beyond expectations,” he said. “The kids have really bought in to what we’re trying to do, they’ve been working hard. I think the kids are working toward our goals this year, and they’ve bought into the importance of courage, commitment and character and the idea of just trying to outwork everybody we play.

“From what I’ve heard as far as the numbers of kids who were coming to work out in January, February and March, our numbers are way up. We’re getting more guys to come out, and so we’re getting to where we want to be.”

His approach has been pretty simple, too.

Antioch senior Blake Wiggins

“I believe a lot of the teambuilding comes from pushing the guys hard,” Woodward said. “That’s going to bring guys together because now they have a respect for each other. They know the guy next to them is also getting up and coming out here at seven o’clock every morning and running (110-yard sprints) and hitting the weights hard. You build respect that way.”

According to Wiggins, a 2015 All-Region 3-6A selection, it’s working.

“We trying to build a new program, and mostly we’re trying to build team unity because that’s something we didn’t have last year,” he said. “Last year we were all individuals, and this year I think we’re coming together as a team and more of a family. We have a better bond.”

Antioch, aiming for its first winning season since 2012, opens the year at rival Cane Ridge on Aug. 19.

“It feels great to be back,” Woodward said. “In some ways it feels like I was just here, and in others ways it seems like it has been light years. But I’m excited to be back and having a lot of fun working with the guys.”

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2017 Middle Tennessee prep football commitments

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.

Antioch coach Mike Woodward

Woodward’s yearly record

2006     Antioch             7-5
2007     Antioch             7-5
2008     Antioch             5-6
2009     Antioch             3-7
2010     Antioch             4-6
2011     Antioch             6-5
2012     Antioch             6-5
2013     Brentwood        3-7
2014     Brentwood        2-8

Overall record: 43-54