2025 All-5Star Preps Underclassman Teams presented by Jeremy Cox/THRIVENT

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2025 All-5Star Preps
Underclassman Teams

HOW PLAYERS ARE SELECTED

Below you’ll find the 2025 All-5Star Preps UNDERCLASSMAN Football Teams, presented by Jeremy Cox of Thrivent Financial. Jeremy has been a long-time supporter of high school athletics and a trusted family friend. If you’re looking to take the next step towards a promising financial future, please contact Jeremy.

This is not a prospect list or recruiting rankings. These are some of the top Class of 2028 and 2029 players. 

The athletes are chosen from a pool of 70 total schools from the 5Star Preps coverage area.

And they are selected based on a variety of factors, including: overall talent/skill, 2025 season statistics, team success in 2025, nominees from their head coaches, and recommendations from area coaches.

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

FIRST TEAM

J.D.Gillum (Anderson County, freshman): Gillum — the 2025 Offensive Underclassman of the Year — delivered in his much-anticipated freshman season with the Mavericks, overcoming an injury early in the season and returning to lead AC to the 4A state quarterfinals. He passed for 1,776 yards and 19 touchdowns in nine games and helped AC win a Region 2-4A championship.

Kohbe Ward (Concord, freshman): The dual-threat Ward completed 108 of 180 passes for 1,848 yards and 19 touchdowns against just four interceptions while rushing 86 times for 553 yards and five touchdowns. Ward proved critical in getting CCS to the playoffs for the first time in program history.

Keith Jones (Gibbs, sophomore): The 6-foot, 200-pound Jones steered Gibbs to a 9-3 mark, completing 82 of 141 passes for 1,300 yards, 13 touchdowns and five INTs. He also rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown.

SECOND TEAM

Cooper Brayman (Grace, sophomore)
Josh Vineyard (Lakeway, sophomore)
Aiden Amonett (Rockwood, sophomore)

MORE TO KNOW: Bryce Blevins (Elizabethton, freshman), Lucas Clifford (Greenback, freshman), Seaton Moffett (CAK, sophomore), Aidan Thacker (Bearden, sophomore), Garrett King (Catholic, sophomore), Nymire Jackson (Austin-East), Kole Carter (Cumberland Gap, sophomore)

 

RUNNING BACKS

FIRST TEAM

Cameron George (Karns, sophomore): George helped the Karns Beavers stay competitive in a demanding region with 1,568 rushing yards and 10 rushign touchdowns in just 10 games.

Ajabeon Stinson (Grace, freshman): Stinson ran 204 times for 1,479 yards and 16 touchdowns, helping the Grace Rams make a run to the Division II-AA state quarterfinals.

Nathan Patterson (Sevier County, sophomore): Patterson was the workhorse tailback a team trying to repeat as 5A state champs. He ran 254 times in 15 games and amassed 1,262 yards and 13 TDs in his second season as RB1.

Ryheem Lee (West, sophomore): Splitting carries with Messiah Wrenn, Lee wound up with 150 rushing attempts and a team-high 925 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Maurice Smith (Concord, freshman): The Division II-A East Running Back of Year ran 147 times for 1,185 yards and 15 touchdowns while helping CCS reach the playoffs for the first time.

SECOND TEAM

Donovan Jackson (Jefferson County, sophomore)
Keaton Phipps (NVA, sophomore)
Ramilleeyon Crenshaw (South-Doyle, sophomore)
Meade Coston (Lakeway, sophomore)
Kruise Buntyn (Catholic, freshman)

MORE TO KNOW: Matthew Rogers (Catholic, sophomore), Gio Carter (Tellico Plains, sophomore), A.J. Vandever (Stone Memorial, sophomore), Nathan Jacobs (Farragut, freshman), Keyvon Booker (Austin-East, freshman), Logan Wright (Farragut, sophomore).

 

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

FIRST TEAM

Gabriel Gonzalez (Webb, freshman, 6-3, 305): The 6-3, 305-pound Gonzalez started all 10 games for the Spartans, allowing zero sacks and earning Rivals Freshman All-American honors.

Jake Rogers (Webb, sophomore): The 6-5, 305-pound Rogers used his massive wingspan to excel up front for the Spartans and even helped out on the defensive front.

Brayden Gonzalez (Webb, freshman, 6-3, 300): A 6-3, 300-pound center, Gonzalez allowed just sack in the 2025 season and early Rivals Freshman All-American honors.

Jamil Thompson (Webb, freshman): The 6-6, 325-pound Thompson started at right tackle on a youth-laden Spartans offensive front and has a frame that oozes college potential.

Hayden Wallace (Powell, sophomore): The 6-5, 295-pound Wallace started all 12 games for Powell, helping pave the way for an offense that averaged 38.5 points per game.

Caden Gang (Grace, sophomore): Gang helped comprise one of the better offensive line groups in town. The 6-4, 256-pounder has started for two years for the Rams and excelled big time in 2025.

SECOND TEAM

Lucas Bryant (Greenback, sophomore)
Brylan Strunk (Oneida, sophomore)
Dillon Hartman (Greeneville, sophomore)
Noah Partin (Halls, sophomore)
Colt Hayes (Stone Memorial, sophomore)
Wyatt Blaylock (Stone Memorial, sophomore)

MORE TO KNOW: Raylan Long (Greenback, sophomore), Xander Hanley (Greenback, sophomore), Jeffrey Mitchell (Fulton, freshman), Evan Louitt (Halls, sophomore), Gavin Dowd (Northview, freshman), Kaivon Latham (Sweetwater, sophomore)

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

FIRST TEAM

Braylen Gibbs (Catholic, sophomore): The Vanderbilt commit stands 6-3 and 180 pounds. He had 21 catches this past fall and three touchdowns, averaging 15 yards per reception. He also snagged an interception during his defensive back duties.

Gavin Robinson (William Blount, sophomore): The 5-11, 170-pound Robinson caught 45 passes for the Governors that yielded 660 yards and three touchdowns.

Rondell North (South-Doyle, sophomore): The 6-2 North helped South-Doyle challenge for a playoff appearance, hauling in 20 passes for 402 yards and six touchdowns.

Austyn Phillips (Clinton, sophomore): The sophomore slot receiver complement Bryson Maddox in the receiver corps with 44 catches for 595 yards and four touchdowns.

Don Don Underwood (Concord, freshman): The Division II-A Returner of the Year had 24 catches for 570 yards and nine touchdowns with a 31-yard kickoff return average on 19 attempts. He also had a 99-yard kickoff return TD.

SECOND TEAM

Marcos McCord (Austin-East, freshman)
Braden Bird (William Blount, sophomore)
Karson Seeber (Oliver Springs, sophomore)
Troy Ervin (Heritage, sophomore)
Diykeis Towns (Austin-East, sophomore)

MORE TO KNOW: Anderson Glover (Farragut, sophomore), Haynes Hawkins (Alcoa, sophomore), Eli Talley (Lakeway, freshman)

 

ATHLETES

FIRST TEAM

Kaiden Brewster (Meigs County, sophomore): Brewster has college-level defensive back skills and made eight pass breakups, 59 tackles and three interceptions to go along with his QB1 duties at Meigs, where he passed for 819 yards and eight touchdowns and ran for 1,326 yards and 14 scores.

Davonte Scruggs (Carter, sophomore): A multi-faceted weapon for Carter, Scruggs caught 43 passes for 476 yards and two touchdowns to go with 11 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. He also made 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and two interceptions.

Zach Banks (Sevier County, sophomore): On a star-studded team, Banks still found some spotlight with 35 catches for 401 yards and five touchdowns. He also added 88 yards rushing, 39 yards passing, 66 tackles, two INTs, eight pass breakups, 16 kickoff returns for 418 yards and a touchdown. And, he punted 14 times for a 34-yard average.

Gage McCarty (Cosby, sophomore): The Region 1-1A Defensive Back of the Year also passed for 605 yards with four touchdowns, rushed for 356 yards with seven touchdowns, had 135 receiving yards and 222 return yards while also making 47 tackles, a sack, four tackles for lsos, two interceptions and four forced fumbles.

Lucah Daugherty (Alcoa, sophomore): The Tornadoes’ reserve QB made himself useful in many ways during Alcoa’s run to the 4A title, rushing 16 times for 106 yards and a TD while passing for 192 yards and two TDs. But he also made three INT as a linebacker, breaking up two passes and making 22 tackles.

SECOND TEAM

Alexis Martinez (Sevier County, sophomore)
Isaac Kannah (CAK, freshman)
Jayden Garmon (Coalfield, freshman)
Michael Gibson (Rockwood, sophomore)
Griffin Cope (Greenback, freshman)

 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

FIRST TEAM

Kobe Bradley (Tellico Plains, sophomore): The 6-4, 295-pound Bradley is an explosive presence on the defensive front. And, in nine games this past fall, he made 49 tackles with 17 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Joshua Kay (Powell, sophomore): A defensive end, Kay earned 5Star Preps Defensive Underclassman of the Year and Region 2-5A Defensive Lineman of the Year with 12 sacks, 56 tackles, 42 QB pressures and an interception.

Keagan Covington (Morristown West, sophomore): The 6-5, 230-pound Covington went for 36 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack for the Trojans this past fall.

Jeremiah Caswell (West, sophomore): The 2025 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year in Region 2-5A, Caswell produced 80.5 tackles and 7.5 sacks as a sophomore.

Lyric Jackson (Concord, sophomore): The Division II-A East Defensive Lineman of the Year churned out 58 tackles, with 10 tackles for loss and a handful of sacks for the Lions in 2025.

SECOND TEAM

Will Pasley (Grace, sophomore)
Toby Nichols (Midway, sophomore)
Jeremiah Wilson (CAK, sophomore)
Tyson Ritter (Karns, freshman)
King Sandoval (Oak Ridge, sophomore)

MORE TO KNOW: Tate Shepard (Oneida, freshman) Jensen Smith (Sevier County, sophomore), Da’Ran Taylor (Webb, sophomore), Jackson Walters (Webb, sophomore), Damien Reeves (Northview, sophomore), Wesley Cambron (Oliver Springs, sophomore), Eli Carroll (Coalfield, sophomore), Cooper Basler (Coalfield, sophomore)

 

LINEBACKERS

FIRST TEAM

Marvin Wyrosdick (CAK, sophomore): Wyrosdick amassed an astounding 116 tackles to go with 11 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three sacks.

Easton Britton (Eagleton, sophomore): Britton helped ECCA make the Class 2A state semifinals with 112 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Jennaris Henry (Alcoa, sophomore): The 6-2, 210-pound Henry helped Alcoa win a 4A BlueCross Bowl state championship with 42 tackles, four tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, four QB pressuresand three pass breakups.

Jonathan Dietz (Rockwood, sophomore): Dietz can play both defensive line and linebacker, Dietz had a breakout season in 2025 with 46 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Jasper Hamilton (Tellico Plains, freshman): On offensive weapon at running back, too, Hamilton stood out more at linebacker in 2025, making a team-high 93 tackles with 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception.

Wade Watkins (NVA, sophomore): The 6-foot, 180-pound Watkins was the Region 1-4A Newcomer of the Year thanks to 64 tackles, eight tackles for loss, two interceptions (one returned for a TD) and two pass breakups.

SECOND TEAM

Skylan Johnson (Catholic, sophomore)
Ethan Shaver (Meigs County, sophomore)
Zach Kelch (Loudon, sophomore)
Moses Bowling (Greenback, sophomore)
Bo Cutshaw (Cosby, freshman)
Justice Lane (Midway, sophomore)
Colt Brooker (Farragut, sophomore)

MORE TO KNOW: Drew Austin (Lakeway, sophomore), Charlie Turbyville (Clinton, sophomore), Logan Cates (Northview, sophomore), Oakley Helton (Concord, sophomore), Lincoln Swann (Greenback, sophomore), Jackson Anderson (Coalfield, sophomore)

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

FIRST TEAM

Maddox Frazier (McMinn County, sophomore): The 6-2, 175-pound Frazier had 71 tackles for the Cherokees with four interceptions and five pass breakups.

Xavier Bowman (Catholic, sophomore): A college football prospect, Bowman had 13 pass breakups for the Irish this past fall with 45 tackles and one interception.

Brooks Johnston (Catholic, sophomore): A Power Four prospect, Johnston was one of the Irish’s most productive DBs in 2025, going for 52 tackles with seven pass breakups and three interceptions.

Dasani Moulden (Concord, freshman): The Division II-A East Defensive Back of the Year, Moulden made 52.5 tackles with four interceptions — returning one for a touchdown. He also had 734 yards receiving with six TDs on offense.

Aven Mitchell (Pigeon Forge, sophomore): Mitchell made more than 60 tackles as a sophomore this past fall and pulled in a whopping six interceptions for the Tigers’ secondary.

Zayden Williams (Oak Ridge, sophomore): The 6-3, 180-pound Williams, who recently picked up a Liberty offer, intercepted two passes and made 27 tackles to go with two forced fumbles and three tackles for loss.

SECOND TEAM

Markise Witt (Catholic, freshman)
Carson Loope (Greenback, sophomore)
Becks Allen (HVA, sophomore)
Cullen Heck (Webb, sophomore)
Ashten Easley (Jefferson County, sophomore)
T.J. McDowell (Stone Memorial, sophomore)

MORE TO KNOW: Rio Curry (CAK, freshman), Amare McKenzie (Catholic, sophomore), Diego DeCoursey (Sevier County, sophomore), Tyson Holley (Lakeway, sophomore), Sammy Steimer (Webb, freshman), DeAndre Brinson (West, freshman), Quenton Bowman (Karns, sophomore), Hayden Mitchell (Northview Academy, sophomore), Cale Stinnett (Greenback, freshman), Bryson Bonnough (Sweetwater, sophomore), Parker Lewis (Eagleton, sophomore)

 

SPECIALISTS

Amauren Kidd (Oneida, sophomore): Kidd made 24 of 26 PATs for Oneida and three field goals, possession range into the mid-40s already.

John Hladis (Midway, sophomore): Hladis proved to be consistent on his PATs, making more than 20. He also made three field goals for the Green Wave.

Hayden Shultz (Gatlinburg-Pittman, sophomore): Shultz boomed 14 punts for an average of 40.6 yards per punt.

Alex Powers (McMinn County, sophomore): Powers punted 21 times for the Kees in 2025, averaging 36.2 yards per punt and a long of 47.

SECOND TEAM

Owen McGaha (Central, sophomore)
Lucas Bryant (Greenback, sophomore)
Tristan Cunningham (Rockwood, sophomore)
Josh Wilson (Lakeway, freshman)
Braeson Gourley (Central, freshman)