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2021 ALL-UNDERCLASSMAN FOOTBALL TEAM

This team is comprised of freshmen and sophomores who proved to be standout players for their football teams during the 2021 season. THIS IS NOT A RECRUITING LIST. The team is selected by our talent assessments (in-game and Hudl review), 2021 statistics and coach recommendations.

Underclassman Offensive POY: Jayden Neal, Catholic, QB

Underclassman Defensive POY: Steven Soles, Powell, DE

 

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Jayden Neal – Catholic, freshman
Threw for 1,618 yards and 11 TDs in the state’s toughest classification; 2021 5SP Offensive Underclassman of the Year honors.

Joshuah Keith – Clinton, sophomore
Keith passed for 1,746 yards and nine TDs with three rushing scores.

Brady Hammonds – Gatlinburg-Pittman, sophomore
Threw for 1,576 yards and 18 touchdowns this past fall.

Izaiah Hall – Jefferson County, sophomore
Before injury ended his season prematurely, he completed 62 percent of his passes for 1273 yards and 15 touchdowns — with just two interceptions.

ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION: Caden Rector (Oneida, sophomore), Brett Cortez (Lenoir City, sophomore), Drew Parrott (Bearden, freshman), Elijah Williams-Smith (TKA, sophomore).

 

RUNNING BACKS

Frank Johnson IV – Central, sophomore
The 200-pound back rumbled 142 times for 901 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Omarion Mills – Jefferson County, sophomore
Logged 166 carries for 1,098 yards and 12 touchdowns.

T.J. Meredith – Oneida, sophomore
Sparked a postseason run with 113 carries, 763 yards and five TDs. Also made 45 tackles on defense.

Tray Jefferson – Jellico, sophomore
Ran 166 times for 1,064 yards and 14 TDs with 19 catches, 170 yards and a TD; also had three INTs on defense.

Aidan Howard – Pigeon Forge, sophomore
Howard was big in the Tigers’ quarterfinal run with 151 carries, 851 yards and seven touchdowns.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Brandon Heyward – Oak Ridge, sophomore
A D1 prospect, Heyward hauled in 50 catches for 687 yards and seven touchdowns.

Sam Tummins – Bearden, sophomore
The 6-2 Tummins caught 28 passes for 441 yards and a TD with 45 tackles and three INTs on defense.

Landis Davila – Farragut, sophomore
A D1 baseball prospect, Davila proved big in football season with 29 catches for 409 yards and 5 TDs.

Brandon Winton – Webb, sophomore
Now at IMG Academy, Winton still had a solid 2021 at Webb with 42 catches for 580 yards and seven scores.

ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION: Almani Rembert (Central, sophomore), Syxx Hoard (West, sophomore), Jackson Collins (Loudon, sophomore)

ATHLETES

Markeis Barrett – Webb, sophomore
Already a multisport standout at Webb, Barrett had 54 catches in 2021 for 593 yards and six TDs. He also came through with 20 tackles, two interceptions and three pass breakups on defense.

Braylon Harmon – Catholic, sophomore
A Division I prospect, Harmon recorded 30 catches this past fall for 382 yards and two TDs while also making 22 tackles in the defensive secondary and a few pass breakups.

Carlos Orr – Gatlinburg-Pittman, sophomore
Despite injury, the 6-3 Orr snagged 12 passes for 368 yards and five TDs; he also made 54 tackles with two interceptions and three tackles for loss.

Elijah Cannon – Alcoa, sophomore
Cannon led Alcoa in rushing with 457 yards and 14 TDs but also proved valuable in the pass game with nine catches, 231 yards and 2 TDs; On defense, he made two sacks with four QB pressures.

Whittman Whaley – Gatlinburg-Pittman, sophomore
The 6-2 Whaley had 16 catches for 359 yards and five TDs but also recorded 39 tackles with nine TFLs, three sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries.

 

TIGHT END

Eli Owens – Alcoa, freshman
A massive help in run blocking and pass protection, the 6-3, 220-pound Owens got loose for 12 catches, 249 yards and four TDs.

Ben Reed – Farragut, sophomore
The 6-2, 200-pound Reed proved valuable in the Farragut pass game catch 18 passes for 202 yards and two scores.

 

OFFENSIVE LINE

Austin Delp – CAK, sophomore
The 6-3, 340-pound Delp has been a mainstay on the CAK offensive line for a couple seasons now and shined in strong running campaigns for star tailback J.D. Dunn in 2020 and 2021.

Jesse Massengill – Powell, sophomore
Massengill may not have the prototypical college offensive lineman size just yet. But don’t sleep on the 5-10, 275-pounder, who helped Powell win a Class 5A state title.

Warren Nolen – Powell, freshman
The younger brother of 5-star talent Walter Nolen stands 6-3 and 290 pounds. He also started all 15 games for the Panthers in their march to the 5A state title.

Coleman Edwards – Grainger, sophomore
A physical down blocker, the 6-3, 250-pound Edwards started eight games for the Grizzlies and excelled at getting into the second level of defenders.

Judd Taylor – Carter, freshman
The 6-3, 250-pound freshman started all 11 games for the Green Hornets as a right tackle, helping facilitate one of the area’s most explosive offenses.

Eli Burchfield – Alcoa, sophomore
Alcoa simply churns out standout offensive linemen year in and year out, and Burchfield is next in line. The 2021 starter is 6-3 and 260 pounds and helped Alcoa win Class 3A again this past fall.

 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

Steven Soles – Powell, sophomore
The 2021 5Star Preps Defensive Underclassman of the Year made 74 tackles with 17 tacks, 13 tackles for loss, 49 QB pressures, three forced fumbles and two blocked kicks during Powell’s 5A championship season.

C.J. Smith – Knoxville West, sophomore
Smith played a significant part up front for West’s defense and pitched in 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks

Antori Hamilton – Catholic, sophomore
The 5-10, 260-pound Hamilton won’t be a sleeper in this area much longer after his 2021 season: 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Max Baker – Morristown East, sophomore
The 6-2, 260-pound defensive end gave the Hurricanes 46 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Zac Chrisman – Greeneville, sophomore
The 6-1, 240-pounder made 64 tackles this past fall with 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, 24 QB pressures and a defensive TD.

Ari Klasky – Webb, sophomore
Highly active on the Webb defensive front, Klasky notched 81 tackles with six sacks for the Spartans during the 2021 season.

ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION: Matt Pride (Oliver Springs, sophomore), Eli Nelson (Anderson County, sophomore), Destin Adams (Jefferson County, sophomore)

 

LINEBACKERS

Amanuel Dickson – Greeneville, sophomore
Dickson wreaked havoc on offenses with 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and three INTs.

Ryan Scott – West, sophomore 
One of the area’s more slept-on linebackers, Scott racked up 99.5 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss for the 5A Rebels.

Cooper Cameron – Webb, sophomore
A 6-2, 200-pound sophomore, Cameron logged 126 tackles with six tackles for loss, three sacks and an INT return for a TD.

Jack Alley – Farragut, sophomore
Alley is 6-3 and a menace on defense: 118 tackles, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an INT return for a TD.

Kain Ladd – Kingston, sophomore
Ladd had a breakout season for Kingston in 2021, posting 97 tackles with nine TFLs and three interceptions.

Nick Moog – Anderson County, sophomore
Not only did Moog run for 405 yards on offense, but he also piled up 97 tackles with nine TFLs and five sacks.

Mason Ball – Elizabethton, sophomore
A massive 6-4 and 235 pounds, Ball helped lead an Elizabethton team back to the 4A title game with 65 tackles and five TFLs.

Brayden Cornett – Alcoa, sophomore
The 5-11, 190-pound Cornett made a name for himself in Alcoa’s vaunted defense, making 62 tackles with four tackles for loss, two sacks and a defensive touchdown.

Landon Feggins – McMinn County, sophomore
Feggins has all the makings to be a star in East Tennessee. In 2021, he had 117 tackles with three pass deflections, four tackles for loss and an interception.

Dallas Williamson – Jefferson County, sophomore
While also handling some running-back duties, Williams was an all-region pick with more than 40 tackles, two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.

ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION: Alex Norton (Rockwood, sophomore), Evan Thurman (Rockwood, freshman), Coalton Henry (Coalfield, sophomore), Samuel Proffitt (Jellico, freshman), Quincy Pannell (Catholic, sophomore), Wyatt West (Gibbs, sophomore)

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Walker Lockhart – Karns, sophomore
Lockhart stood out at receiver and also at defensive back, where he had 59 tackles and four interceptions.

Brody Blankenship – Carter, sophomore
A great all-purpose athlete and sure-handed receiver, Blankenship also excels on defense (65 tackles, two INTs)

Trey Wilhite – Lenoir City, sophomore
Wilhite compiled a solid 2021 with 93 tackles, a sack and seven pass breakups.

Zaylan Frias – Morristown West, sophomore
Frias may didn’t amass massive tackle numbers but he did in interceptions with five.

Shavar Young – Webb, eighth grade
An elite 2026 talent, Young played up on varsity as an eighth-grader and made seven pass breakups and two interceptions.

Marshaun Bowers – TKA, sophomore
Already having played three seasons of varsity, Bower’s third featured 61 tackles, 11 pass breakups and an interception to go with 42 catches, 622 yards and eight scores.

Connor Wheeler – Powell, freshman
Helping Powell win a 5A championship, Wheeler made 47 tackles with three interceptions, three fumble recoveries and 12 pass breakups.

ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION: Brennan Duggan (Alcoa, sophomore), Wyatt McClure (Sweetwater, freshman), Landon Limburg (Oneida, sophomore), Kai Thompson (Seymour, sophomore), Wyatt Howard (Pigeon Forge, freshman), D’Mon Mariable (South-Doyle, sophomore), Trystan Duke (Karns, sophomore), Malakhi Isom (Morristown West, sophomore), Michael Payne (Greenback sophomore).

 

SPECIALISTS

Bacon Lauderback – Alcoa, sophomore
Lauderback made 69 PATs and six field goals during Alcoa’s 3A championship season.

Dylan Stooksbury – Powell, freshman
Stooksbury connected on 69 of 72 PATs during Powell’s 5A championship run, also making six field goals.

Spencer Sullins – McMinn County, sophomore
Sullins booted through 27 of 28 PATs, while also going 7-for-9 on field goals. He averaged 36.3 yards on 33 punts.

Quinton Stone – CAK, sophomore 
Stone average 36 yards per punt on 34 attempts for the Warriors.

ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION: Bennett Cain (Seymour, sophomore), Lucas Hollifield (Grace Christian, sophomore), Luke Treece (Coalfield, freshman), Hayden Maclaine (Rockwood, sophomore), Josh Campanali (TKA, sophomore), Jesus Guzman (Sweetwater, sophomore)