Four Area Kids Named Finalists For Mr. Football Awards

Nashville, Tennessee, November 16, 2015 – The Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards will be presented to the top 16 backs and linemen in eight classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association on Monday, November 30, 2015, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.  For the fourteenth consecutive year, the top kicker in the state will be recognized with a Mr. Football Award, regardless of classification. 

Four semifinalists for each category and each classification were announced on November 5.  There are six classifications in Division I and two in Division II.  With “Back of the Year” and “Lineman of the Year” for each classification, as well as the “Kicker of the Year” award, that makes for a total of 17 award categories.  Two finalists for each category were announced by Mike Keith on the Titans website at www.titansonline.com today at 1:00 p.m. CST / 2:00 p.m. EST.  The two finalists for each award that were announced today will be the ones invited to attend the awards luncheon at Nissan Stadium, where the winner of each award will be announced.

A committee of statewide sports writers selected winners based on performance in the 2015 regular season.  Academics and character were also taken into consideration.  High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.  

"We are very appreciative of the Tennessee Titans for their continued support of these awards,” stated Bernard Childress, Executive Director of the TSSAA.  “Having the awards presented at Nissan Stadium will provide a very special atmosphere for these outstanding student-athletes.”

This is the 31st year that the Mr. Football Awards have been presented to Tennessee’s best high school football players.  A Mr. Football trophy will be presented to the winners of each category.  A Mr. Football plaque will be presented to the runner-up in each category.  The other semi-finalists will each receive a certificate.

More than 400 people, including the 34 finalists, their families, coaches, school administrators and members of the media from all parts of the state, are expected to attend the 2015 luncheon.

Mike Keith, play-by-play voice of the Tennessee Titans, will emcee the awards presentation. A live videostream of the awards will be provided at www.titansonline.com.

2015 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Finalists

CLASS 1A LINEMAN

Daniel Bituli, Nashville Christian

Jamison Blackwell, Union City

CLASS 2A LINEMAN

Jake Harden, Boyd Buchanan

Boone Sweeney, Forrest

CLASS 3A LINEMAN

Jonathan Decker, Alcoa

Matthew McClurg, Alcoa

CLASS 4A LINEMAN

Emmit Gooden, Haywood

Cade Mays, Knoxville Catholic

CLASS 5A LINEMAN

Tyrel Dodson, Centennial

Jeremiah Jackson, Ooltewah

CLASS 6A LINEMAN

T.D. Blackmon, Maryville

Delvin Salter, Whitehaven

DII-A LINEMAN

Trey Smith, USJ

Jacob Still, St. George’s

DII-AA LINEMAN

Bryce Mathews, Brentwood Academy

Ryan Parker, Baylor

CLASS 1A BACK

Preston Rice, Wayne County

Dresser Winn, Dresden

CLASS 2A BACK

Andrew Goldsmith, Trinity Christian

Cordarrian Richardson, Trezevant

CLASS 3A BACK

Traneil Moore, East Ridge

Zack Weatherly, CPA

CLASS 4A BACK

Ashton Posey, Marshall County

Amari Rodgers, Knoxville Catholic

CLASS 5A BACK

Tee Higgins, Oak Ridge

Nate Johnson, Independence

CLASS 6A BACK

Dillon Mitchell, White Station

Jacoby Stevens, Oakland

DII-A BACK

Clay Beathard, BGA

Chase Hayden, St. George’s

DII-AA BACK

Ty Chandler, MBA

Austin Lee, Christian Brothers

KICKER OF THE YEAR

Crews Holt, Ravenwood

Jacob Smith, Siegel