2024 All-5Star Preps Football Teams, presented by Jeremy Cox/Thrivent Financial

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THE OFFENSE

HOW PLAYERS ARE SELECTED

Below you’ll find the 2024 All-5Star Preps Football Teams.

This is not a prospect list or recruiting rankings.

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, 2024 season statistics, team success in 2024, nominees from their head coaches, and recommendations from area coaches.

QUARTERBACKS

FIRST TEAM

Eli Graf (Alcoa, senior): The 5Star Preps Offensive Player of the Year guided Alcoa to a 10th consecutive state title, throwing for 1,853 yards and 25 touchdowns while also leading Alcoa in rushing with 1,146 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also returned kicks, punted and played cornerback.

Cooper Newman (Sevier County, sophomore): The 5Star Preps Offensive Underclassman of the Year steered Sevier County to a Class 5A state championship, throwing for 45 touchdowns and 3,488 yards.

Will Jones (Maryville, sophomore): Jones competed 71 percent of his passes for 2,369 yards with 30 touchdowns, also rushing for 473 yards and six more touchdowns while leading Maryville to the 6A semifinals.

SECOND TEAM

Weston Edmondson (Grace Christian, senior): The 6-5 ETSU signee threw for 3,080 yards and 32 touchdowns in guiding GCA to a 9-3 mark.

Mason Phillips (Northview Academy, senior): The Tennessee PWO passed for 1,871 yards, rushed for 838 yards and totaled 31 touchdowns.

Landen Hensley (Anderson County, senior): Hensley passed for 2,962 yards and 35 touchdowns in helping the Mavs reach the 4A semifinals.

THIRD TEAM

Blaine Stansberry (Oak Ridge, junior): Stansberry helped Oak Ridge make the 5A semifinals with 2,290 yards and 19 passing touchdowns.

Amari Lethgo (Halls, junior): Lethgo followed up his 2023 breakout with 2,617 yards and 25 touchdowns in the 2024 season.

Deuce Rodgers (Powell, junior): Rodgers threw for 1,725 yards and 21 TDs to go with 889 yards rushing and 10 more scores.

 

RUNNING BACKS

FIRST TEAM

Skylar Thomas (Jefferson County, senior): Thomas led the area in rushing yards (2,129) and carries (309) while scoring 19 touchdowns in 11 games.

Waylon LaRue (Anderson County, senior): A Class 4A Mr. Football finalist and the Region 2-4A MVP ran for 2,050 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Carson Quillen (Greeneville, senior): A Class 4A Mr. Football finalist and the Region 1-4A MVP rushed for 1,775 yards and 33 touchdowns.

SECOND TEAM

Price Davis (Maryville, senior): The Region 2-6A MVP and Air Force signee ran for 1,193 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Albert Johnson (Fulton, senior): Johnson helped Fulton reach the 4A playoffs with 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Ryan Shaffer (Tellico Plains, senior): The Region 2-2A MVP rushed for 1,611 yards and 18 TDs. Also a LB, he made 143 tackles with 15 for loss.

THIRD TEAM

Grayson Kreis (Harriman, senior): The Region 2-1A MVP had 1,860 yards, 21 rush TDs, 381 receiving yards, and five receiving TDs.

Carcel Whitehead (Kingston, senior): Sharing carries in Kingston’s O, Whitehead ran 124 times for 1,305 yards, and 17 TDs.

Damillyan Porter (Oak Ridge, sophomore): Porter rushed for 1,286 and 22 touchdowns while making 32 catches for 388 and three TDs.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

FIRST TEAM

Tyreek King (Catholic, junior): The Tennessee commitment had 49 catches for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Irish.

Bryson Maddox (Clinton, junior): The 6-5 Maddox hauled in 54 passes for 1,063 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024.

Will Pressley (Oak Ridge, junior): Pressley overcame midseason injury to snag 32 catches for 900 yards (28.1 ypc) and 10 TDs.

SECOND TEAM

Derrick Smith Jr. (Fulton, senior): Smith caught 44 passes in 2024 for 796 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Jamir Dean (Alcoa, sophomore): The 6-3 Dean led 3A champion Alcoa in receiving yards (723) and TD catches (nine).

Zaydyn Anderson (Greeneville, junior): A keen DB as well, Anderson caught 28 passes for 713 yards (25.5 ypc) and 11 TDs.

THIRD TEAM

Dakoda Haun (Jefferson County, senior): Haun stood out as a wideout with 47 catches for 727 yards and eight scores.

Ja’Quan Benton (Oliver Springs, junior): The 6-3 Benton had 34 catches for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Haydon Akers (Sevier County, senior): A big-play WR, Akers caught 42 passes, 623 yards, and nine scores.

 

ATHLETES

FIRST TEAM

Terrion Thomas (Grace Christian, sophomore): Thomas had 1,265 rushing yards, 1,044 receiving yards, and 28 total touchdowns. He wound up with 2,615 all-purpose yards in a 12-game season in 2024.

Shavar Young (Webb, junior): The Clemson defensive back commit ran 61 times for 504 yards and five touchdowns, also making 44 catches for 503 yards and seven touchdowns. He made 38 tackles and forced two fumbles on defense.

Brody Rogers (Halls, junior): The 6-1, 200-pound Rogers enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, intercepting 10 passes on defense with 59 tackles while also hauling in 75 passes for 1,004 yards and eight touchdowns.

Drew Parrott (Bearden, senior): Parrott’s versatility came in handy for Bearden multiple times in 2024, as he passed for 880 yards with seven TDs, ran 25 times for 171 yards with three TDs, caught 21 passes for 520 yards with five TDs, and scored a team-high 94 points. He also made eight tackles and broke up two passes.

SECOND TEAM

Tory Beaufort (Bearden, junior): In addition to his 307 yards rushing and three rushing scores, Beaufort added 51 catches for 883 and five TDs. He had 241 kickoff returns yards and averaged 30.0 on four punt returns.

Hal Niendorff (Webb, senior): Niendorff completed seven of eight passes, rushed for 366 yards with seven TDs, caught 10 passes for 138 yards and a TD to go along with 84 tackles, five tackles for loss, four interceptions (207 return yards), two forced fumbles — and, two defensive TDs.

Gabe Dennis (Carter, senior): Dennis’ breakout season included 828 yards receiving, 298 return yards, 11 total touchdowns, 57 passing yards, 81 rushing yards and 24 tackles with four interceptions.

Landon Collins (Farragut, senior): The MTSU commit had 54 catches for 818 yards and three TDs with 40 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups.

THIRD TEAM

Tuff Ricker (Meigs County, junior): The QB rushed for 1,561 yards and 20 TDs while throwing for 887 yards and 16 scores. On defense, he amassed 86 tackles with 13 tackles for loss.

Robbie Jacobs (Farragut, senior): The Tennessee Tech signee shone on offense and defense for Farragut in 2024, making 50 catches for 806 yards and eight touchdowns while also racking up 35 tackles and five pass breakups.

Caden Baugh (Greeneville, junior): The Region 1-4A Offensive POY passed for 1,437 yards and 18 touchdowns but also ran 113 times for 974 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Cam Anderson (Harriman, junior): Anderson ran 124 times for 976 yards and 16 TDs, passed for 620 yards and seven TDs — and, he returned two defensive interceptions for touchdowns.

 

TIGHT ENDS

FIRST TEAM

Eli Owens (Alcoa, senior): The Michigan signee played major minutes on defense but still managed to catch 35 passes for 452 yards and eight touchdowns.

Drew Ross (Halls, senior): A highly productive tight end for a number of seasons, Ross racked up 701 yards receiving in 2024 with 10 touchdowns.

Jude Costner (Sevier County, senior): Costner had a monster 2024, catching 55 passes for 779 yards and 14 touchdowns — also rushing for eight TDs and making 77 tackles on defense with five TFLs and three sacks.

SECOND TEAM

Malik Howard (Oak Ridge, sophomore): Injury slowed Howard somewhat, but he returned and helped OR reach the semifinals with 32 catches, 389 yards and six touchdowns.

Jaylen Stolz (Northview Academy, junior): The 6-3 Stolz had 40 catches for 540 yards and five touchdowns.

Ben Reece (Gatlinburg-Pittman, senior): G-P used Reece in a variety of ways, but he also caught 44 passes for 721 yards and eight TDs.

Daniel Sackie (Central, senior): Charleston signee; 40 catches, 590 yards, 7 TDs; 56 carries, 433 yards.

 

OFFENSIVE LINE

FIRST TEAM

Otto Janse Van Rensburg (Sevier County, senior, 6-4, 300): The MTSU signee and starting left tackle propelled an offense that churned out nearly 6,000 yards in a 15-game, state-championship run.

Brody Smith (Maryville, junior, 6-6, 260): The Power Four prospect and starting left tackle helped comprise an offensive front that produced more than 5,000 yards en route to the 6A semifinals.

Alex Boyd (Maryville, senior, 6-4, 280): The Rebels’ right tackle is headed to Air Force to play college football after years of being a staple on Maryville’s offensive line, where he won accolade after accolade.

Jacob Crow (Alc0a, junior, 6-8, 290): A monstrous presence in Alcoa’s vaunted run game, Crow started at right tackle for the Tornadoes in their Class 3A state championship season.

Nic Moore (Jefferson County, senior, 6-3, 300): Moore helped pave the way for a 2,000-yard rusher at Jefferson County and has signed to play for the University of Tennessee.

Camden Goforth (McMinn County, junior, 6-4, 300): A tenacious athlete with a penchant for pancake blocks, Goforth won Region 4-5A Offensive Lineman of the Year and is coming into his own as a Group of Five and Power Four prospect.

SECOND TEAM

Ethan Eubanks (Oak Ridge, senior, 6-6, 260): Eubanks helped spearhead an Oak Ridge late-season push to the 5A semifinals. The two-time, all-region talent signed with UT-Martin.

Judd Taylor (Carter, senior, 6-4, 270): An all-state selection who helped the Green Hornets average 329 yards per game, Taylor will play collegiately for Army next season.

Charles Humphrey (Bearden, junior, 6-7, 295): Humphrey’s family moved to Knoxville, and the Power Four prospect made his debut in Game Four for the Bulldogs. He made a big impact immediately and even helped out on defense.

Mason Smith (Coalfield, senior, 6-3, 300): Smith’s been a standout in Class 1A football for some time now, having made three consecutive TSWA All-State Teams. He helped Coalfield reach the 1A semifinals this past fall.

Lataveus Booker (Sevier County, senior, 6-4, 320): Booker made a name for himself this season during Sevier County’s run to the 5A championship.

Eli Dorton (Anderson County, senior, 6-5, 290): Dorton helped kick-start AC’s high-powered offense that made nearly 6,000 yards of offense in a 4A state-semifinal run.

THIRD TEAM

Jake Holbert (Central, senior, 6-2, 285): Holbert garnered Region 2-5A Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Marlee Watts (Alcoa, sophomore, 6-3, 310): Watts started at left tackle for 3A champion Alcoa.

Stephen Johnson (West, senior, 6-1, 260): A multi-year starter on the offensive front for a powerful West program.

Brandon Iezzi (Greeneville, senior, 6-2, 300): Iezzi was named Region 1-4A Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Jared Bafford (Oak Ridge, junior, 6-4, 290): Bafford was an all-region choice and helped OR reach the semifinals.

Bryson Daugherty (Lenoir City, senior, 6-3, 285): A Carson-Newman signee, Daugherty was Region 3-5A Offensive Lineman of the Year.

THE DEFENSE

HOW PLAYERS ARE SELECTED

Below you’ll find the 2024 All-5Star Preps Football Teams.

This is not a prospect list or recruiting rankings.

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, 2024 season statistics, team success in 2024, nominees from their head coaches, and recommendations from area coaches.

DEFENSIVE LINE

FIRST TEAM

Dom Culp (Halls, junior): Culp wreaked havoc, amassing 153 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and two blocked kicks.

Jake Coffey (Carter, junior): The 6-3, 265-pound Region 2-4A Defensive Lineman of the Year had 78 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.

Cardell Thomas (Powell, senior): The 6-2, 205 Thomas turned heads in the fall with 89 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and 38 quarterback pressures.

Cole McCampbell (Heritage): The 6-2, 265-pound Region 2-5A Defensive Player of the Year had 85 tackles, six sacks, and 12 tackles for loss.

Jamir Turner (Alcoa): Turner spearheaded Alcoa’s defense in its 3A championship run, winning Region 2-3A Defensive Player of the Year. He had two sacks and two stops for loss in the title game.

Iverson Garcia (Powell, junior): The Division I prospect had 81 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, and a whopping 37 QB pressures for one of East Tennessee’s top defensive units.

SECOND TEAM

Archer Laney (Northview, senior): 117 tackles, 31 TFLs, 7.5 sacks.

C.J. Reyes (Greeneville, senior): Region 1-4A DL of Year, 73 tackles, 13 TFLs, 5 sacks.

Jaxson Perry (Sevier County, sophomore): 71 tackles, 7 TFLs, 9 sacks.

Ethan Hill (Bearden, junior): 55 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles.

Taylor Davis (Anderson County, senior): 61 tackles, 14 TFLs, 10 sacks.

Christian Wilson (Jefferson County, junior): 104 tackles, 29 stops for loss, and nine sacks.

THIRD TEAM

Wyatt Deroche (West, senior): 75 tackles, 7 TFLs, sack, forced fumble.

Kyron Smalls (Elizabethton, senior): 62 tackles, 8 TFLs, 6 sacks, 10 QB pressures.

Michael Stewart (HVA, senior): Region 2-6A DL of the Year, 69 tackles, 6 sacks, 12 TFLs.

Evan Allen (Gatlinburg-Pittman, senior): 76 tackles, 21 TFLs, 8 sacks.

Collin Crider (CAK, junior): 103 tackles, 13 TFLs, 6 sacks.

Zak Hampel (Maryville, senior): 73 tackles, 9 TFLs, 2.5 sacks.

 

LINEBACKERS

LINEBACKERS

FIRST TEAM

Jack Keith (West, senior): Keith made 119 tackles, intercepted six passes, and wound up scoring four defensive touchdowns.

Matthew Covert (Maryville, senior): Covert’s 108 tackles also came with 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, three fumble recoveries, an interception, a PAT block, a blocked field goal, a safety, and a defensive TD.

Joey Galazin (Sevier County, junior): Though injury robbed Galazin of a few games late, the 6-5 standout still made 145 tackles with 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and blocked punt.

Drew Armbrister (Greeneville, senior): The Region 1-4A Defensive Player of the Year made more than 100 tackles for the Greene Devils with 13 tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles.

Parker Newman (Sevier County, sophomore): The 5Star Preps Defensive Underclassman of the Year had 109 tackles with eight tackles for loss and three sacks for the state champion Smoky Bears. He had eight pass breakups, a game-clinching INT and two forced fumbles.

Waylon Holt (Jefferson County, senior): Holt was highly productive in the Patriots’ 11-game season in 2024, making 136 tackles with 23 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks.

SECOND TEAM

Eli Harrison (Lenoir City, senior): 100 tackles, 7 TFLs, sack, INT.

Tyler Mann (Sevier County, senior): 129 tackles, 9 TFLs, sack.

Sean Young (Jefferson County, junior): 117 tackles, 18 TFLs, 3 sacks.

Cody Miller (Anderson County, senior): 116 tackles, 23 TFLs, 4 sacks.

Eli Justice (Coalfield, senior): 98 tackless, 14 TFLs, 3 INT (2 ret for TD), 5 FF, Region 2-1A DPOY.

Darius Sudderth (Alcoa, sophomore): 102 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 QB pressures.

THIRD TEAM

Ben Gilbert (Oneida, junior): 125 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 PBUs.

Jackson Coffey (Grace Christian, sophomore): 107 tackles, 10 TFLs, sack, INT.

Craig Huskey (Gatlinburg-Pittman, junior): Co-DPOY Region 1-3A, 132 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3 sacks.

Cooper Jones (Oliver Springs, junior): 105 tackles, 14 TFLs, 3 sacks, INT.

Abu Keefer (Powell, senior): 88 tackles, 9 TFLs, 3 sacks, 5 QB pressures.

Maddox Mozingo (CAK, senior): 139 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, safety.

 

SECONDARY

SECONDARY

FIRST TEAM

Antwain Burdine (West, senior): The 5Star Preps Defensive Player of the Year gave opposing QBs fits, intercepting a school-record nine passes while amassing 76 tackles, five tackles for loss and one defensive touchdown.

Trent Strickland (Anderson County, senior): One of the area’s most versatile talents, Strickland intercepted seven passes in the Mavs’ run to the semifinals. He broke up 11 more passes, made 67 tackles, had 940 receiving yards and 10 TDs. He also punted.

Bryson Headrick (Sevier County, junior): The Region 1-5A Athlete of the Year broke up 11 passes and intercepted four pass with 37 tackles. He also made two sacks, two stops for loss and two blocked FGs — one in the state title game that he returned for a key TD.

Condis Cherry (Alcoa, sophomore): Cherry made a big splash on defense in his first season with the Tornadoes, being a big playmaker on the back end of the defense with a team-high six interceptions.

Jarrell Chandler (Halls, sophomore): An elite defensive back with an ever-growing list of Power Four offers, the 6-3 Chandler broke up 17 passes in 2024 and making 68 tackles.

Israel Small (Anderson County, senior): The 6-0 athlete stood out in the pass game but his athleticism really shone through in the secondary. He had 54 tackles, three interceptions, five pass breakups, two sacks and two stops for loss.

SECOND TEAM

Evan Pritchard (Grace Christian, junior): 86 tackles, 5 TFLs, 6 INTs, 3 PBUs.

Devonte Wigfall (Cosby, senior): 61 tackles, 6 INTs; plus 921 yards receiving, 12 TDs.

Keshawn Mills (Bearden, junior): 41 tackles, 5 PBUs, 3 INTs.

Wyatt Maples (Sevier County, junior): 47 tackles, 6 INTs, 3 PBUs.

Torin McAfee (Central, junior): 2 INTs, 5 PBUs, 2 FFs, blocked FG.

Javaston Badgett (Central, junior): 10 PBUs, 2 INTs, FF.

THIRD TEAM

Micah Jones (Alcoa, sophomore): 53 tackles, 4 PBUs, 2 defensive TDs.

Sladen Hickman (Sevier County, senior): 107 tackles, 4 TFLs, 4 PBUs, INT.

Bodee Anderson (Loudon, senior): 5 INTs, 41 tackles, Region 3-4A DB of the Year.

Ja’Taalis Henderson (Powell, junior): 29 tackles, 4 INTs.

Mason Eckerson (TKA, sophomore): 5 INTs, 2 defensive TDs, 6 PBUs.

Levi James (Oneida, senior): 100 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 INT, 7 PBUs.

 

SPECIALISTS

FIRST TEAM

Mikel Van Pelt (Gibbs, junior): Van Pelt erupted in 2024 with 57 touchbacks on kickoffs and 11 made field goals — with a long of 47. He also averaged 37 yards per punt.

Dylan Stooksbury (Powell, senior): The Mr. Football Kicker Semifinalist made 12 of 15 field goals — with a long of 53 —while averaging 41 yards per punt. He sent 28 kickoffs for touchbacks and made 42 of 44 PATs.

Nathan Holbrook (Hardin Valley, senior): The area’s top punter in 2024 lifted 38 punts up last fall for a 44.7-yard-per-punt average. His longest traveled 67 yards. He also made all 21 PATs and was 4 of 5 on field-goal tries with a long of 48.

Taylor Madison (Sevier County, senior): The specialist for Class 5A state champion Sevier County Smoky Bears connected on 7 of 11 field goals, booted 49 touchbacks, and made 66 PATs. He went 2-for-2 on onside-kick tries and averaged 37 yards per punt.

Eli Pearson (Oak Ridge, junior): In addition to sending 35 kickoffs for touchbacks, Pearson averaged 39.3 yards per punt on 36 tries. He mad 43 PATs and went 8 of 10 on field goals with a long of 40.

SECOND TEAM

Kyrin Tyson (Alcoa, junior): 6-6 FGs, 61 made PATs.

Ryan McCue (Farragut, junior): 38.0 punt average, 7-7 FGs (long 42), 26-26 PATS.

Pete Rogers (West, junior): 23 touchbacks, 12-15 FGs (long 45), 49-51 PATs.

Daniel Kinney (Bearden): Kennesaw State signee, 6-8 FGs (54 long), 23-23 PATs.

William Pendergrass (Bearden, senior): 38 yards per punt, 5-7 FGs, 23-26 PATs.

THIRD TEAM

Sam Gourley (Greeneville, junior): 66 PATs, 37 touchbacks.

Caleb Campbell (Elizabethton, senior): 35 touchbacks, 36-yard punt average.

Hudson Jamerson (Maryville, junior): 6-8 FGs (long 42), 59-61 PATs.

Ezekiel Alvarado (Morristown West, senior): 7-9 FGs (long 47), 26-27 PATs.

Jackson Payne (Anderson County, junior): 71 kick points, 31 touchbacks.