More than 30 Shelby-Metro players have been nominated to Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State teams by Journal West 10 Media staff. Nominations were made after recommendations from coaches, media, statistics provided by high school sports information directors and by local statistician Keith Gentry.
Members of other Memphis media outlets nominated additional players. The All-State teams were selected by TSWA members on Dec. 2 at Tennessee Tech prior to Friday’s state championship games.
The all-state teams will be announced in late December.
1. Matt Connors – Quarterback – Junior – Collierville High School – 6A – Passing: 1,805 yards, 15 touchdowns, completed 117-of-225. Completed 31 passes of more than 20 yards. 106.5 QB rating. Rushed for 136 yards for 7 touchdowns.
2. Peyton McCay – Running back – Senior – Collierville High School – 6A – Rushing: 583 yards, 7 touchdowns. Receiving: 2 touchdowns.
3. Dylan Scott – Placekicker – Senior – Collierville High School – 6A – Made 13 of 17 field goals, including longest of 45 yards. Made 41 of 44 extra points. Scored team-high 80 points. Had 52 punts netted 1,688 yards for 35.71 average including longest of 56 yards. Had 69 kickoffs for net yardage of 2,431 including longest of 65 yards. Kickoff average 57.93 yards. Finished his high school career, kicking 37 of 45 field goals. First-team All-Region 4-6A. Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10 in Memphis.
4. Cole Johnson – Running back, kick returner, defensive back – Junior – Collierville High School – 6A – Scored 66 points. 231 yards rushing, scored 7 rushing touchdowns, had 42 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns. Had 486 yards in kickoff yardage, averaged 27 yards per kickoff return. Had 5 punt returns of 50 yards for 10-yard average. First team All-Region on defense, second team on special teams.
5. Tyler Garvey – Linebacker – Senior – Collierville High School – 6A – Led team with 72 tackles, including 46 solo. Had lost yardage of 20.5. 2 fumble recoveries. First-team All-Region 4-6A and selected to play in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10 in Memphis.
6. Devan Reynolds – Defensive lineman – Senior – Collierville High School – 6A – Had 70 tackles. Had lost yardage of 40 yards. In on 3 sacks. Second team defense Region. Coach Mike O’Neill, Collierville said Reynolds is the strongest player he has ever coached: 460-pound bench, 660-pound squat, 280-pound power clean contributed to his being a force for offensive linemen and offensive players.
7. John Hassell – Offensive line – Center – Senior – Collierville High School – 6A – Graded at 90 percent in all 12 games. “Best lineman on team,” said Collierville Coach Mike O’Neill. First-team offense All-Region 4-6A. At 235 pounds played against 270-pound defenders.
8. Marquavius Weaver – Running back – Senior – Bartlett High School – 6A – Gained 1,106 yards rushing on 132 carries, 8.3 yards per carry average. Scored 14 touchdowns. First-team offense All-Region 4-6A. Invited to Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game in Memphis on Dec. 10.
9. Jaylin Willliams – Cornerback – Wide Receiver – Junior – Germantown High School – 6A – He had 36 catches for 850 yards and 10 touchdowns. On defense, he had 70 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles. First team offense, second-team defense All-Region 4-6A.
10. Hunter Goodman – Wide Receiver – Junior – Arlington High School – 6A – 47 catches, 896 yards, 12 touchdowns. First-team offense All-Region 4-6A. Second team all-region punter.
11. Edward Johnson – Wide Receiver – Senior – Cordova High School – 6A – 65 receptions for 1,134 yards, 9 touchdowns. Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game in Memphis on Dec. 10. Second team offense All-Region 4-6A. Played on team that advanced to state semifinals.
12. Quinton Bohanna – Defensive tackle – Senior – Cordova High School – 6A – 91 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 19 sacks. East vs. West Toyota All-Star Game Dec. 9 at Tennessee Tech. First team offense All-Region 6A. All-state in 2014 and 2015. Advanced to state semifinals. Committed to the University of Kentucky.
13. Jerry Craine – Quarterback – Senior – Wooddale High School – 5A – Total yards: 2, 247. Passed for 2,100 yards and 20 touchdowns. Rushed for 147 yards and 4 touchdowns. First team quarterback for Region 8-5A. Invited to play in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game in Memphis on Dec. 10.
14. Tate Kolwyck – Quarterback – Junior – Arlington High School – 6A – 2, 825 total yards. Passed for 2,650 yards, 31 touchdowns. Completion percentage .537. Completed 173 of 322. Averaged 15.3 yards per completion, 240.9 yards per game. QB rating: 102.9. Rushed for 175 yards, 3 TDs. Named first-team offense for Region 4-6A.
15. Bobby Wade – Quarterback/Safety – Junior – Memphis University School – Div. II – Started when Steven Regis was injured. Total offense 696 yards. Passing 378 yards, completed 24-of-39 (61.5 percent), 2 touchdowns. 139.36 efficiency rating. Rushing 318 yards, 4 touchdowns. Averaged 5.7 yards per carry. Scored 36 points. Led MUS to 10-1 record, 10-0 in regular season. At safety, 39 solo tackles, 3 interceptions for 79 yards, 5 pass break-ups, 2 fumble recoveries.
16. Trey Thomas – Kicker – Junior – Memphis University School – Div. II – Kicked 19-of-25 field goals. Led team with 93 points. Had 46 kickoffs for 2,144 yards, 4 touchbacks, averaged 46.6 yards through 10 games.
17. Oganna Oraedu – Defensive End – Senior – Memphis University School – Div. II – 60 tackles. 3 interceptions for 78 yards. 6 pass break ups.
Invited to play in the Auto Zone-Liberty Bowl All-Star game in Memphis Dec. 10.
18. Maurice Hampton – Defensive back and wide receiver – Sophomore – Memphis University School – Div. II – 469 receiving yards, averaged 13.8 yards per catch and scored 2 touchdowns and averaged 42.6 yards per game. At defensive back had 4 interceptions for 113 yards for 28.2 average and 1 TD. 20 tackles. 7 pass break-ups. 3 fumble recoveries, 2 returns for 48 yards and 2 touchdowns. Scored 30 points. Had 4 kick returns for 20.2 average. 680 all-purpose yards, averaging 61.8 per game.
19. Joe Carter – Defensive lineman and nose guard – Junior – Memphis University School – Div. II – He had 39 tackles, 6 sacks for 23 yards, 17 tackles for loss of 59 yards. He was first team defense for Div. II.
20. Dorian Hopkins – Linebacker – Sophomore – Memphis University School – Div. II – 2016 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football-Lineman Winner. 98 tackles. 5 sacks for 21 yards. 16 tackles for loss for 39 yards, 3 forced fumbles.
21. Jake Powers – Wide Receiver, Kick returner and Safety – Senior – Briarcrest Christian School – Div. II – Wide Receiving: 34 catches for 574 yards, 4 touchdowns. 28 carries for 191 yards, 6 touchdowns. 1 thrown TD pass for 44 yards. Punt returns: 9 for 243 yards, 1 TD. Kick returns 6 for 86 yards. Interceptions 3 for 105 yards, 1 TD. 59 tackles, 3 for loss, 9 pass break ups.
First team Division 2-West AA. Selected to play in Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10. Multiple college offers. Preseason Murphy Fair All-State team. Team captain junior and senior. 4-time Citizen’s Bank Player of the Week. 2015 All-State honorable mention. 2015 Examiner’s All-State team. First team All-Region as a junior.
22. Griffin Hawkins – Offensive/Defensive Lineman – Senior – Briarcrest Christian School – Div. II – 53 tackles, 12 for loss which led team. 4 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries, 2 pass break ups. Graded out at 93 percent as OL with 0 sacks allowed. Averaged 5-plus pancakes (a block that puts a runner on his back) per game. Mr. Football Finalist this year. Pre-season Murphy Fair all-state team. Best of the Preps selection by The Commercial Appeal in 2015. First team all-region in 2015. First team Offense Division 2-West AA in 2016. Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10 in Memphis. 2015 Honorable mention all-state. Team captain as senior. Multiple college offers.
23. Will Barto – Linebacker – Senior – Briarcrest Christian School – Div. II – 101 tackles, 10 for loss, 2 sacks, 8 QB hurries, 3 pass break- ups. 2016 First-team All-Division 2-West AA. Team captain. Selected to play in Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10. Committed to Akron. 2015 second team All-West Division 2-AA.
24. Chase Martin – Linebacker – Junior – Briarcrest Christian School – Div. II – 74 tackles, 8 for loss, 7 sacks, 4 pass-break-ups.
25. Charles Elliott – Running Back and Defensive Back – Senior – Briarcrest Christian School – Div. II 2 – 163 carries for 915 yards, 7 touchdowns. Receiving: 7 touchdowns for 123 yards, 2 touchdowns.
26. Jackson Walker – Quarterback – Sophomore – Briarcrest Christian School – Div. II – 130-of-259 passes for 1,943 yards, 19 touchdowns. First team All-Division 2-West.
27. Carter Nelson – Running Back and Linebacker – Senior – Ravenwood – 6A – 77 tackles. Rushed for 700 yards, 10 TDs. First team All-Region 3-6A.
28. McCain Marrow – Quarterback – Senior – Ravenwood – 6A – Completed 224 of 370 passes for 2,808 yards, 24 touchdowns. 60 percent completion rate.
29. Terrell Tatum – Wide Receiver, Kick Returner and Defensive Back – Senior – Houston – 6A – 22 catches for 433 yards, 2 TDs. Kickoff returns 8 for 236 yards, 1 TD. 4 interceptions for 70 yards and 1 TD. Finished with 5 TDs. Second Team-All-Region 4-6A at wide receiver and defensive back.
30. Tahj Williams – Outside Linebacker – Senior – Ravenwood – 6A – 88 tackles. First team All-Region 3-6A.
31. Carson Blackfan – Running back – Senior – Houston – 6A – Through 10 games, had 259 carries for 1,159 yards, 8 touchdowns. The carries were the most in Shelby-Metro in games, including playoffs, before the state championship game was played. First team All-Region 4-6A. Invited to play in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game. Cordova head coach Anthony Jones said of Blackfan, “He is one of the best running backs I have ever seen in high school. He is the toughest, smartest, most complete running back I have ever seen in high school.”
32. Chase Hayden – Running back – Senior – St. George’s – Div. II – Mr. Football Finalist in 2016. Won Mr. Football in 2015. Rushed for 2,104 yards on 183 carries. Averaged 10.5 yards per carry. Scored 31 rushing touchdowns. Receiving: 20 passes for 301 yards for 4 touchdowns. Scored 6 points on two-point conversions. Finished with 180 points. Committed to Arkansas. First team All-Division and Player of the Year Div. II West District 2. Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10 in Memphis.
33. Ben Glass – Quarterback – Senior – St. George’s – Div. II – Completed 163 of 247 passes for 2,802 yards, 32 touchdowns, only 6 interceptions. Rushing: 124 carries for 511 yards, 14 rushing TDs. Total offense rushing and passing: 3, 313 yards, 46 touchdowns. First team All-Division 2-A West District 2. Invited to play in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10. Named by league coaches as Offensive Player of the Year in Division 2-A West District 2.
34. Corey Jones. Wide Receiver. St. George’s. Senior. Division 2-A West. 68 catches for 1,698 yards, 22 touchdowns. That led all Shelby-Metro (in touchdowns and receiving yards). Kick returns 10 for 374 yards, 2 touchdowns. Scored 1 rushing TD. Total of 23 touchdowns. First team All-Division 2-A West District 2. Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10.
35. Noah Pope – Defensive end – Senior – St. George’s – Div. II – 94 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 4 blocked kicks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries. Had 8 receptions for 124 yards, 2 TDs. Named Division 2-A West Dist. II Defensive Player of the Year. First Team All-Division 2-A West. Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star game on Dec. 10. Committed to Yale.
