Four Chattanooga area players named to 5A, 6A all-state teams

Bradley Central quarterback Cole Copeland
Bradley Central quarterback Cole Copeland

TSWA All-State Football 2015

Class 6AOffenseQB: Cole Copeland (Bradley Central), Dylan Hopkins, Maryville, RB: Taeler Dowdy (Blackman), Vic Johnson (Cookeville), WR: Kelby Brock (Maryville), Dillon Mitchell (White Station), Ikenna Okeke (Smyrna), OL: Devin Salter (Whitehaven), Kalani Smith (Mt. Juliet), Hudson Smith (Oakland), Matthew Leifheit (Blackman), Lakin McCall (Maryville), ATH: Chris Rowland (Ravenwood), Gabe Angel (Cookeville), K: Crews Holt (Ravenwood).DefenseDL: Ty Nix (Oakland), Jordan Moore (Ravenwood), Korey Tillman (Blackman), Matt Young (Maryville), LB: Jackson Cauthen (Oakland), Bryson Tolley (Science Hill), T.D. Blackmon (Maryville), John Thompson (Ravenwood), DB: Isaac Aguero (Hardin Valley), Blake Taylor (Blackman), Ian Cleveland (Smyrna), Rodney Saulsberry (Whitehaven), ATH: JaCoby Stevens (Oakland), Andrew Lutgens (Ravenwood), P: Jacob Smith (Siegel).Class 5AOffenseQB: Deuce Wallace (Sevier County), Andrew Bunch (Independence), RB: Tanner Thomas (Farragut), DeAndre Delaney (Morristown West), WR: Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge), Nate Johnson (Independence), Devante Matthews (Sevier County), OL: Nate Wilkinson (Centennial), Jonathan Timmons (Southwind), Pete Dorsten (Independence), Jordan Seal (Morristown East), Eli Katina (Centennial), ATH: Tyler Thackerson (Clinton), Jerry Craine (Wooddale), K: Carter Phillipy (Farragut).DefenseDL: Gunner Osbron (Henry County), Cole Strange (Farragut), Chris Beavers (Independence), Malcom Swann (Hillsboro), LB: J.D. Griffin (Sevier County), Jeremiah Jackson (Ooltewah), Zack Camp (Brighton), Tyler Pendleton (Rhea County), DB: Justin Kirkendall (Farragut), Rashun Freeman (Ooltewah), Calvin Smith (Morristown West), Cole Huner (Independence), ATH: Maleik Gray (LaVergne), Tyrel Dodson (Centennial), P: Brandon Nickle (Oak Ridge).

Three seniors and a junior are the local representatives on the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's Class 5A and 6A all-state football teams for 2015.

The seniors - Ooltewah defensive back Rashun Freeman, Owls linebacker Jeremiah Jackson and Rhea County linebacker Tyler Pendleton - are on the 5A team. Bradley Central junior quarterback Cole Copeland was named to the 6A list.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Copeland was a Mr. Football semifinalist who completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,489 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran for another 864 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"The biggest thing for us was by being in the Super 32 league, he was seen in a lot of different cities," said Bears coach Damon Floyd, who added that Copeland is being heavily recruited by East Carolina, Mississippi State and Temple as well as several Football Championship Subdivision programs. "And then he played well everywhere we went.

"He was asked to do a lot for us, not just throwing and running, but making check calls at the line when he recognized coverages. He has a very bright future."

Pendleton averaged 16 tackles per game and another 10 for loss while helping Rhea County reach the state semifinals again.

Freeman, who starred on both sides of the ball as well as special teams, had 52 tackles, caused and recovered two fumbles and broke up nine passes on defense. He also ran for 17 touchdowns and averaged 18.1 yards per punt return.

Teammate Jackson, a 6-foot, 236-pounder, was the Owls' leading tackler with 107.5 total tackles and another 12 for loss. He also had five fumble recoveries and scored two defensive touchdowns on one of the area's stingiest defenses, accumulating more than 450 career tackles. Freeman and Jackson both started the past three seasons.

"It's tough to explain what they've meant for our program all three years that I've been there," Owls coach Mac Bryan said. "Besides being so explosive and fast, Rashun has been in charge of the back end of our defense, making the calls in our secondary the last couple of years. And Jeremiah has been an all-district player all four years and a two-time player of the year in our district.

"It really is impressive when you think about just the amount of plays they've made for us."

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.

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