By JESSE SMITHEY
The unmistakable voice of Tennessee Titans play-by-play man Mike Keith announced finalists for the TSSAA and Tennessee Titans 2020 Mr. Football Awards on Tuesday afternoon.
And eight players from the 5Star Preps coverage area heard their names called.
Those included: Will Meadows (Meigs County), Luke Myers (South Greene), Grey Carroll (Alcoa), Parker Hughes (Elizabethton), Bryson Rollins (Elizabethton), Kalib Fortner (Central), Jalen Hunt (McMinn County) and J.D. Dunn (CAK).
A committee of statewide sports writers selected winners based on performance in the 2020 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.
This is the 36th year for the Mr. Football Awards. Past winners from the area include players like Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (Knoxville Catholic, 2006), Houston Texans wide receiver Randall Cobb (Alcoa, 2007) and Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge, 2015-16).
Winners receive a Mr. Football trophy and runners-up receive a finalist plaque. This year’s award ceremony will be held the week after the BlueCross Bowl state championships in Cookeville. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Here’s a look at the statewide finalists.
2020 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football FINALISTS
DIVISION I, CLASS 1A
Hunter Frame, South Pittsburg
Kyler Parker, Moore County
Jared Stone, South Pittsburg
DIVISION I, CLASS 2A
Khalik Ganaway, Peabody
Will Meadows, Meigs County
Luke Myers, South Greene
DIVISION I, CLASS 3A
Anthony Brown, Milan
Grey Carroll, Alcoa
Martino Owens, Pearl Cohn
DIVISION I, CLASS 4A
Troy Parker Hughes, Elizabethton
Rivers Hunt, Hardin County
Bryson Rollins, Elizabethton
DIVISION I, CLASS 5A
Kalib Fortner, Knoxville Central
Prince Kollie, David Crockett
Destin Wade, Summit
DIVISION I, CLASS 6A
Jake Briningstool, Ravenwood
Jalen Hunt, McMinn County
C.J. Taylor, Warren County
DIVISION II, CLASS A
Jon Lewis, DCA
Aaron Smith, Jackson Christian
Griffin Swinea, Davidson Academy
DIVISION II, CLASS AA
J.D. Dunn, CAK
Langston Patterson, CPA
Dietrick Pennington, ECS
DIVISION II, CLASS AAA
B.J. Harris, McCallie
Dallan Hayden, CBHS
D.C. Tabscott, Father Ryan
KICKER OF THE YEAR
Teagen Lenderink, Brentwood Academy
Trey Turk, Oakland
Connor Wood, Lexington