Two highly touted juniors are among the area players to earn a spot on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Class 5A and 6A all-state teams.
Cleveland defensive lineman Henry McClendon is the only area player to be named to the 5A team, while fellow junior James Stovall, a receiver from Bradley Central, is one of three area 6A selections.
McClendon had 58.5 tackles, including 48 solo, 14 for loss and 3.5 sacks for the Blue Raiders. He is considered one of the state’s top college prospects in his class.
The 6-foot-2 Stovall caught 76 passes for 1,086 yards to help the Bears reach the second round for the first time in 10 years. Bradley Central teammate Tucker Bolton also is on the all-state team. The senior defensive lineman had 102 tackles and ranked among the area’s leaders with 31.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.
McMinn County senior Ken Starr (6-foot-3, 260) also is on the all-state defensive line after making 77 tackles and three sacks.
CLASS 5A
Coach of the year: Vance Belew (Columbia)
Offense
QB-Tanner Williams (Anderson County), Dylan Dye (Dyer County); RB-Jaylen Walton (Ridgeway), Travis Haymer (Beech), Tra’Darius Goff (Columbia); WR-Zane Roberts (Anderson County), C.J Board (West Creek), Rodriques Wright (Ridgeway); ATH-Eric Belew (Columbia), Dustin McPhetridge (Powell); OL-Kyler Kerbyson (Catholic), Isaac Mobley (Knoxville West), Brandon Miller (Tullahoma), Austin Smith (Powell), Shaquille Mason (Columbia), Joey Gaston (Catholic); K-George Bullock (West).
Defense
DL-Terrence Butler (Ridgeway), Henry McClendon (Cleveland), Joe Townsend (Hendersonville), Austin Benson (Powell), Brad Reid (West); LB-Bobby Wilson (Shelbyville), Preston Williams (West), Douglas McWhorter (Ridgeway), Corey Washington (Clinton), Aaron Bryant (Hillsboro), Whit Gray (Hendersonville), Reco Williams (Northeast); DB-Trent Garland (Lawrence County), Dhahraun Bivins (Jackson North Side), Terrious Triplett (Ridgeway), Ryan Francis (West); P-Spencer Roth (Catholic).
CLASS 6A
Coach of the year: George Quarles (Maryville)
Offense
QB-Patton Robinette (Maryville), Danny Potter (Brighton); RB-Devrin Young (Bearden), Jovon Robinson (Wooddale), I’Tavius Mathers (Blackman); FB-Adam Davenport (Riverdale); WR-James Stovall (Bradley Central), Desmund Horne (Maryville); OL-Lucas Patrick (Brentwood), Brandon Guy (Maryville), Ryan Mack (Wooddale), Cruz Blanke (Smyrna), Jose Valedon (Oak Ridge), Jay Guillermo (Maryville); ATH-Dillon Woodruff (Riverdale); Co-K-Zach Sharp (Maryville), Kyle Mitchell (Arlington)
Defense
DL-Tre Fletcher (Oakland), Terry Redden (Whitehaven), Tucker Bolton (Bradley Central), Ken Starr (McMinn County), Cody Robinson (Warren County); LB-Jess Patton (Blackman), Drew Williamson (Bearden), Deon Meadows (Smyrna), Geoff Card (Oak Ridge), Brooks Harper (Farragut); DB-Stian Romberg (Maryville), Jeremiah Bryson (Smyrna), Brandon Johns (Maryville), Buddy Mitchell (Oakland), Brandon Hathaway (Smyrna); P-Tucker Tubbs (Collierville).