The Tennessean 2015 All-Midstate Football Team
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Andrew Bunch
ANDREW BUNCH
Independence, Senior
Quarterback
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 190
Why chosen: Class 5A BlueCross Bowl offensive MVP threw for 3,405 yards and 41 TDs in just 11 games, helping lead the Eagles to a perfect 15-0 record and their first state title in program history.
MBA’s Ty Chandler
TY CHANDLER
MBA, Junior
Running back
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 188
Why chosen: DII-AA Mr. Football Back of the Year carried the ball a Midstate-leading 347 times for 2,585 yards and 34 TDs, helping guide the Big Red back to the BlueCross Bowl for a second straight season.
Kenwood’s Antwuan Branch
ANTWUAN BRANCH
Kenwood, Junior
Running back
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 205
Why chosen: Region 6-4A MVP eclipsed the 200-yard mark six times on the season, including a 384-yard, five-TD effort, and finished the year with 2,595 yards and 27 scores.
Independence’s Nate Johnson.
NATE JOHNSON
Independence, Senior
Wide receiver
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 175
Why chosen: Region 5-5A MVP and Michigan commitment hauled in 87 receptions for 1,713 yards and 27 TDs, helping lead the Eagles to a perfect 15-0 record and their first state title in program history.
Pearl-Cohn’s Rontavius Groves.
RONTAVIUS GROVES
Pearl-Cohn, Senior
Wide receiver
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 175
Why chosen: Region 5-4A offensive MVP and North Carolina commitment made 57 catches for 1,067 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Class 4A semifinalist Firebirds.
Cookeville’s Gabe Angel.
GABE ANGEL
Cookeville, Senior
Tight end
Ht: 6-3 Wt. 212
Why chosen: Versatile Ole Miss commitment made an impact both through the air and on the ground for the Cavaliers, racking up 379 yards receiving, 355 yards rushing and 11 total TDs.
Brentwood Academy’s Ryan Johnson.
RYAN JOHNSON
Brentwood Academy, Senior
Offensive line
Ht: 6-6 Wt. 285
Why chosen: Four-star Tennessee commitment helped lead the way for an offense that averaged a DII-AA-leading 437.1 yards and 44.3 points per game en route to the school’s first state title since 2006.
Brentwood Academy’s Bryce Mathews.
BRYCE MATHEWS
Brentwood Academy, Senior
Offensive line
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 285
Why chosen: Four-star Ole Miss commitment helped lead the way for an offense that averaged a DII-AA leading 437.1 yards and 44.3 points per game en route to the school’s first state title since 2006.
Oakland’s Hudson Smith
HUDSON SMITH
Oakland, Senior
Offensive line
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 285
Why chosen: Region 2-6A co-offensive lineman of the year helped pave the way for Oakland’s powerful Wing-T offense, and the two-way standout also aided a stellar defense for the Class 6A semifinalist Patriots.
MBA’s Joseph Scowden.
JOSEPH SCOWDEN
MBA, Senior
Offensive line
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 290
Why chosen: Columbia commitment anchored the charge up front for the running back Ty Chandler and the DII-AA runner-up Big Red, who averaged 268.3 yards rushing per contest.
Centennial’s Eli Katina
ELI KATINA
Centennial, Junior
Offensive line
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 291
Why chosen: Region 7-5A offensive lineman of the year was instrumental in Centennial’s success on the ground, opening up holes for the Class 5A semifinalist Cougars’ 2,366 yards and 33 rushing scores.
Ravenwood’s Crews Holt.
CREWS HOLT
Ravenwood, Senior
Kicker
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 150
Why chosen: Mr. Football Kicker of the Year connected on 17 of 23 field attempts, including a school-record 55-yarder in the Raptors’ semifinal win over Whitehaven, while also hitting 65 of 66 extra-point attempts.
Brentwood Academy’s Jeremiah Oatsvall.
JEREMIAH OATSVALL
Brentwood Academy, Junior
Athlete
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 190
Why chosen: DII-AA BlueCross Bowl Offensive MVP threw for 1,965 yards, ran for 1,164 yards and accounted for 30 total TDs in 2015, leading the Eagles to a 12-1 record and the program’s first state title since 2006.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Independence’s Chris Beavers.
CHRIS BEAVERS
Independence, Senior
Defensive line
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 195
Why chosen: Region 5-5A defensive lineman of the year tallied 83 tackles, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries for the state champion Eagles.
Brentwood Academy’s Brandon Adams.
BRANDON ADAMS
Brentwood Academy, Senior
Defensive line
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 322
Why chosen: Three-star Vanderbilt commitment recorded 82 stops (14.5 for negative yardage), four sacks and a forced fumble for the DII-AA champion Eagles.
Oakland’s Ty Nix.
TY NIX
Oakland, Senior
Defensive line
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 270
Why chosen: MTSU commitment and Region 2-6A defensive MVP registered 70 tackles (21.5 for negative yardage), five sacks and an interception for the semifinalist Patriots.
Father Ryan’s Jeremy Darvin
JEREMY DARVIN
Father Ryan, Senior
Defensive line
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 285
Why chosen: Three-star Western Kentucky commitment posted 54 tackles (seven for negative yardage), four sacks, four forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries for the Irish.
Nashville Christian’s Daniel Bituli
DANIEL BITULI
Nashville Christian, Senior
Linebacker
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 235
Why chosen: Class 1A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year and Tennessee commitment tallied a team-leading 89 tackles (13 for negative yardage) and 10.5 sacks, leading the Eagles to a 14-1 record and their first state title in program history.
Centennial’s Tyrel Dodson
TYREL DODSON
Centennial, Senior
Linebacker
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 235
Why chosen: Class 5A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year and Texas A&M commitment recorded a team-leading 111 tackles (32 for negative yardage), eight sacks and a pair of interceptions for the semifinalist Cougars.
CPA’s Chip Omer.
CHIP OMER
CPA, Senior
Linebacker
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 200
Why chosen: Region 5-3A most versatile winner registered 80 tackles (11 for negative yardage), two sacks, a pair of interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries while also piling up 1,326 yards rushing and 14 TDs for the runner-up Lions.
Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens.
JACOBY STEVENS
Oakland, Junior
Defensive back
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 200
Why chosen: Region 2-6A co-MVP concluded his junior season with 84 tackles (21.5 for negative yardage), 1.5 sacks, six interceptions, six pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Smyrna’s Ikenne Okeke.
IKENNE OKEKE
Smyrna, Senior
Defensive back
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 200
Why chosen: Region 2-6A co-MVP registered 74 tackles and a pair of interceptions for the quarterfinalist Bulldogs, and the Texas A&M commitment also added 849 yards receiving and a pair of scores.
Ravenwood’s Andrew Lutgens.
ANDREW LUTGENS
Ravenwood, Senior
Defensive back
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 185
Why chosen: All-Region 3-6A selection recorded 62 tackles (11 for negative yardage) and a team-leading four interceptions for the Class 6A champion Raptors despite missing the first two games with a back injury.
Hillsboro’s Malique Fleming.
MALIQUE FLEMING
Hillsboro, Senior
Defensive back
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 190
Why chosen: Region 6-5A defensive MVP tallied a team-leading 78 tackles, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, nine pass breakups and an interception for the quarterfinalist Burros.
Brentwood’s Tucker Day.
TUCKER DAY
Brentwood, Junior
Punter
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 190
Why chosen: Region 7-5A punter of the year averaged 40.94 yards per kick, downing 12 of his 35 attempts inside the 20.
Ravenwood’s Chris Rowland.
CHRIS ROWLAND
Ravenwood, Senior
Returner
Ht: 5-9 Wt: 170
Why chosen: Region 3-6A MVP averaged 44 yards per kick return and 16.9 yards per punt return, scoring six of his team-leading 26 total TDs via returns.
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Ashton Posey, Marshall County, Sr.
RB: Taeler Dowdy, Blackman, Sr.
RB: Vic Johnson, Cookeville, Sr.
WR: Camron Johnson, Brentwood Academy, So.
WR: Taylor Thompson, Columbia Academy, Sr.
TE: O.J. Davis, Shelbyville, Sr.
OL: Pete Dorsten, Independence, Sr.
OL: Caden Williams, Franklin, Jr.
OL: Blake Mitchell, Ensworth, Sr.
OL: Tamim Aldarawcheh, Overton, Sr.
OL: Brian Garvey, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
K: Logan Trimmer, White House, Sr.
ATH: Jordan Tucker, Giles County, Sr.
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Malcolm Swann, Hillsboro, Sr.
DL: Jordan Moore, Ravenwood, Sr.
DL: Michael Flowers, DCA, Sr.
DL: Rakavian Poydras, Clarksville, Sr.
LB: Hunter Dupree, Independence, Jr.
LB: John Thompson, Ravenwood, Sr.
LB: Maleik Gray, La Vergne, Sr.
DB: Kylan Stribling, Independence, Sr.
DB: Terrell Carter, Hendersonville, Jr.
DB: Blake Taylor, Blackman, Sr.
DB: Ian Cleveland, Smyrna, Sr.
P: Jacob Smith, Siegel, Jr.
RET: Mareio McGraw, Nashville Christian, Sr.
THIRD-TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Jimmy Ferrell, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.
RB: Dylan Linder, Livingston Academy, Sr.
RB: Darius Morehead, Ensworth, Sr.
WR: Marcus Cawthorne, BGA, Sr.
WR: Jay Howard, Marshall County, Jr.
TE: Jaylen Jackson, Nashville Christian, Sr.
OL: Boone Sweeney, Forrest, Sr.
OL: Chris Cato-Ellis, Springfield, Sr.
OL: Kalani Smith, Mt. Juliet, Sr.
OL: Jaelin Fisher, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.
OL: Sam Jackson, Lipscomb, Sr.
K: Isaac Way, Brentwood Academy, Sr.
ATH: Zack Weatherly, CPA, Sr.
THIRD-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Gunner Osbron, Henry County, Sr.
DL: Brant Lawless, Nashville Christian, So.
DL: Roy Hunter, Hillsboro, Sr.
DL: Rutger Reitmaier, Lipscomb, Jr.
LB: Jacob Phillips, East Nashville Jr.
LB: Antwon Malone, Pearl-Cohn, Jr.
LB: Jackson Cauthen, Oakland, Jr.
DB: DeVarius Cortner, East Nashville, Sr.
DB: Spence Jones, FRA, Sr.
DB: Price Perdue, CPA, Sr.
DB: Corey Simmons, Stratford, Sr.
P: Grayson Linde, Ravenwood, Sr.
RET: Jimmyrious Parker, Pearl-Cohn, So.