While a loaded Tyner senior class helped carry the Rams to their second TSSAA state championship in program history, a breakout season had by Jaeden Isbell went a long way to fueling one of the state’s most elite defenses.
Tyner’s defense accumulated a school record seven shutouts, which included a 33-0 Class 2A state semifinal victory in which York Institute was held to minus-4 yards on 22 first-half plays.
Isbell was a sophomore sensation for the stingy Rams defense and even came up big on the second play of the BlueCross Bowl state championship as he blindsided the Riverside quarterback for a sack. The versatile defensive end — who is now 6-foot-2, 215 pounds heading into his junior year — finished the season with 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 60 total tackles after starting all 15 games.
“You see a lot of defensive ends who don’t have a lot to their skill set or are just physical,” Tyner first-year head coach Christian Mainor said. “Jaeden is very athletic, twitchy and can bend. He can get to the passer at a higher rate than most guys. He is also a really good run defender as well. He is very defensively sound. He is the next big thing.”
After operating very similar to Josh Heupel’s offense at Tennessee last season, thanks in large part to Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award winning quarterback Josh Jackson and his unbelievable big play group of receivers, Tyner will remain in the shotgun but will have a completely different look offensively.