Nashville _ 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 atwww.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