The 25th anniversary edition of Murphy Fair's prep football preview magazine for Tennessee is available.
The book includes information pages on every team in the TSSAA and lists a preseason all-state team and top 10 schools in each class, as voted on by coaches statewide.
Seventeen Chattanooga-area players earned preseason all-state recognition for their respective classifications, including three from Signal Mountain on the 4A team. Quarterback Reese Phillips, a Kentucky commitment, is joined by Eagles teammates Elijah Turnage and Harrison Moon. Turnage is a two-time all-state defensive lineman and Moon is a sophomore tight end who has had a productive summer at several college camps, including finishing among the top five at his position at Oklahoma and Arkansas.
Also on the 4A all-state list are East Hamilton running back Logan Jackson and Hurricanes offensive lineman David Hughley.
Bradley Central offensive tackle Austin Sanders, a University of Tennessee commitment, is joined by Rhea County lineman Jacob Revis on the 6A all-state team, and Boyd-Buchanan placed defensive back John Hale and two-way lineman Malik Brewer on the 2A team.
In 3A, Sequatchie County defensive lineman Austin Lamb and defensive back Jake Pickett are joined by Tyner offensive lineman David Powell and Bledsoe County two-way lineman Jesse Sandell. Baylor linebacker Colton Jumper is the only local player on the Division II list, while South Pittsburg defensive back Demetric "Little Man" Johnson is joined by Lookout Valley running back Jamal Jones and Grace Academy linebacker Austin Powell on the 1A team.
South Pittsburg is the preseason No. 1-ranked team in 1A according to the coaches' poll. The Pirates have played for the state title five times in the last six years. Boyd-Buchanan received the most first-place votes in 2A but ranked third overall behind defending champ Friendship Christian and perennial contender Trousdale County.
Signal Mountain is ranked fourth in 4A, behind top-ranked Greeneville, Giles County and Maplewood. Baylor, which has played in state finals each of the last two seasons, is ranked fifth in D-II.
Stephen has covered local sports in the tri-state area for more than 20 years, starting at the News-Free Press as a 19-year-old reporter. He has been with the Times Free Press since its inception and has been an assistant sports editor since 2005. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP’s newsroom, winning numerous state, regional and national writing awards. He was named one of the top 10 sports writers in the nation ...
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