Rafael Gaglianone, Jajuan Lankford, Blake ZemanTennessee Titans Mr. Football FinalistsClass ABackKyle Akin (Trinity Christian)Chris Hale (Eagleville)Jajuan Lankford (South Pittsburg)LinemanTyler Bush (Huntingdon)Zach Stewart (Coalfield)Blake Zeman (Marion County)Class AABackXavier Hawkins (Fulton)Daryl Rollins-Davis (Fulton)Ke’Shawn Vaughn (Pearl-Cohn)LinemanPaul Adams (Christ Presbyterian)Akeem Cooperwood (Fulton)Braylon Young (Alcoa)Class AAABackDenzel Hardin (Siegel)Josh Malone (Station Camp)Shawn Prevo (Maryville)LinemanDylan Jackson (Maryville)Jack Jones (Oakland)Charles Mosley (Brighton)Division II-ABackCole Heotis (Evangelical Christian)Todd Kelly Jr. (Knoxville Webb)A.J. Long (Friendship Christian)LinemanJo Irby (Franklin Road Academy)Brant Mitchell (Knoxville Webb)Carter Parkey (Battle Ground Acad.)Division II-AABackD’Andre Ferby (Ensworth)Devin Perry (Memphis Univ. School)C.J. Sanders (Brentwood Academy)LinemanDerek Barnett (Brentwood Academy)Alex Bars (Montgomery Bell Acad.)Michael Sawyers (EnsworthKicker of the YearRafael Gaglianone (BaylorAaron Medley (Marshall County)Gary Wunderlich (Memphis Univ. School)
Three Chattanooga-area players have been named finalists for their respective classifications’ Tennessee Titans Mr. Football awards. Three finalists for both back of the year and lineman of the year in the state are given by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association in the three public school classes as well as two private school divisions, along with an overall kicker of the year.
Baylor’s Rafael Gaglianone is a kicker finalist for the second straight season, and joining him are South Pittsburg running back Jajuan Lankford, a finalist for Class A back of the year for the second time in three years, and Marion County linebacker Blake Zeman, a finalist for Class A lineman of the year.
The awards, given by the TSSAA and the Tennessee Titans, will be presented during a banquet at the Murfreesboro Embassy Suites on Dec. 2.
Gaglianone has made 8 of 12 field-goal attempts this season, with the longest 57 yards. One of his misses came from 63 yards, which would have been a state record but drifted wide left. He has put 42 of his 44 kickoffs through the end zone for touchbacks.