McCallie head coach Ralph Potter watches practice drills Monday, July 27, 2015 at McCallie School.
TSWA All-State
Division II-AAOffenseQB: Jeremiah Oatsvall (Brentwood Acad.), Glenn Coleman (MBA). RB: Ty Chandler (MBA), Austin Lee (Christian Brothers). WR: Cam Johnson (Brentwood Acad.), Thomas Pickens (MUS), Benjamin Nixson (Pope John Paul II). OL: Ryan Johnson (Brentwood Acad.), Bryce Mathews (Brentwood Acad.), Phelps Gambill (MBA), Jay Roberts (McCallie), Cooper Reiniche (Baylor). ATH: Darius Morehead (Ensworth), Hunter Hill (Briarcrest Christian). K: Isaac Way (Brentwood Acad.).DefenseDL: Brandon Adams (Brentwood Acad.), Ben Hill (Christian Brothers), Jeremy Darvin (Father Ryan), Nicholas Nixon (Pope John Paul II). LB: Owen Martin (Christian Brothers), Tim Hart (MUS), David Gaw (MBA) Ryan Parker (Baylor). DB: Thomas Pickens (MUS), Rodney Owens (Ensworth), Evan Beddoe (Brentwood Acad.), Chris Hopkins (Brentwood Acad.), Ulysses Strawter (Baylor), JaVaughn Craig (McCallie). P: Anthony Hagey (Father Ryan).Division II-AOffenseQB: Clay Beathard (BGA), Ben Glass (St. George’s), RB: Chase Hayden (St. George’s), Marquavious Moore (Harding Acad.). WR: Marcus Cawthorne (BGA), Isaiah Gilmore (The King’s), Corey Jones (St. George’s), OL: Michael Flowers (Donelson Christian), Will Lawrence (Harding), Trey Smith (Univ. School of Jackson), Jacob Still (St. George’s), Ben Jackson (Franklin Road Acad.). ATH: Christian Saulsberry (Northpoint Christian), Sam Harvin (Franklin Road Acad.). K: Charles Campbell (Univ. School of Jackson).DefenseDL: Andrew Craig (Webb), Noah Pope (St. George’s), Tyree Bryant (Northpoint Christian), Joshua Eatherly (Friendship Christian). LB: Patrick Wells (BGA), Jake Lindow (St. George’s), Spence Jones (Franklin Road Acad.), Nathan Tatko (Northpoint Christian). DB: Shannon Fayne (Donelson Christian), Mitchell Bodiford (Univ. School of Jackson), Larry Wilhoite (Franklin Road Acad.), Alexander Berube (Knoxville Webb). ATH: Chandler Viscardis (The King’s), Tommy Jordan (Knoxville Webb). P: Wells Smith (Univ. School of Jackson).
Five Chattanooga high school football players were named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Division II all-state team for 2015.
Baylor linebacker Ryan Parker, offensive lineman Cooper Reiniche and defensive back Ulysses Strawter are joined by McCallie offensive lineman Jay Roberts and defensive back JaVaughn Craig.
All-state teams for other classifications will be released as the week continues, beginning with 1A and 2A on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Parker was the state Mr. Football lineman of the year in Division II-AA. A University of Notre Dame commitment, he had 120 total tackles, 32 for lost yardage and six sacks and blocked two kicks this season.
Strawter (5-10, 175) made 74.5 tackles from his free safety position, with two for loss, and intercepted three passes. Reiniche (6-0, 260) was an interior lineman for an offense that averaged 34 points per game.
“I’m very excited to have those guys represent our team,” Red Raiders coach Phil Massey said. “Even though it’s an individual honor, I feel like this award recognizes our whole team. It’s an honor. Those three were all great leaders, and I’m very proud of them.”
Roberts (6-4, 220) was a two-way starter on the Blue Tornado line, grading out as an 85-percent blocker on offense and making 25 tackles and three sacks on defense.
Craig began the season at quarterback, but a concussion, an ankle injury and the emergence of Robert Riddle at that position led to the athletic senior playing more on defense much of the season. The 6-2, 190-pounder responded with 26 tackles, four passes defended and two interceptions. He had 650 yards of total offense and scored eight touchdowns.
“Both those kids are really deserving,” McCallie coach Ralph Potter said. “Jay has been a stalwart for us since he became a defensive starter as a sophomore. This year he added offense and started both ways for us. He’s a tough kid and a very good player.
“I think it was good for JaVaughn to play more on the other side of the ball for us this year, because it showed college coaches what he can do there. He can play for any offense at the next level that utilizes an option-style, mobile quarterback, and defensively he’s got the build and ability to play for anybody in the secondary.”
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.