After a crazy week that saw five coaches hired, one coach resign, one coach fired and the best two players in the Class of 2014 commit to Tennessee, the Class 4A Spring Top 10 is late being published.
With my apologies please enjoy the Spring Top 10.
10. Liberty Crusaders
Last Season’s Record- 9-5, lost to Covington in Semifinals
Head Coach- Steve Hookfin
Region- 15-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 7/5
Offense- Spread
Defense- 4-4
Key Returnees- Jake Halford (OL/DL, Jr.), Xavier Brown (OL/DL, Sr.), Joe Jones (OL/DL, Sr.), Christian Hardaway (DL, Sr.), BJ Jones (OL/DL, Sr.), Colton Meadows (OL/DL, Jr.), Jerry Marshall (LB, Jr.), Ajan White (QB/WR, Jr.), Avondre Cross (DB/WR, Sr.), Quinn Taylor (WR/RB, Sr.)
Key Losses-LaDarius Finley (WR), Tyler Taylor (LB), Cordarius Owens (WR), Dominique Davis (QB), Octavian Cooper (LB)
Spring Strengths- The Crusaders are coming off a surprise semifinal run last season and have seven returning starters on offense and are poised for another big season.
Liberty virtually has the entire offensive line returning intact which will help as junior quarterback Ajan White gets comfortable running the Wing T.
Spring Questions- The Crusaders will need to find some receiving targets for White as their two most athletic wide receivers graduated and they also must replace their linebacking corps as well.
9. Crockett County Cavaliers
Last Season’s Record- 6-5, lost to Maplewood in first round
Head Coach- Kevin Ward
Region- 13-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 7/8
Offense- Wing T
Defense- 3-4
Key Returnees- Johnny Jones (RB, Jr.), Josh Tatum (RB, Sr.), Nathan Taylor (DT, Sr.), Hunter Boyd (LB, Sr.), Collin Avery (DB/QB, Sr.), Cade Parlow (QB, Jr.)
Key Losses- Ryan Harber (OL/DL), Donovan Mayfield (QB), Dallas Taylor (OL/DL)
Spring Strengths- Year Three in the Kevin Ward tenure has the fans in Alamo excited as this could be a huge year for the Cavaliers.
The backfield weapons are back as junior running back Johnny Jones and backfield mate Josh Tatum both return and they combined for 1,900 yards rushing.
Spring Questions- The first question in Alamo is who will be the signal caller, junior Cade Parlow or Collin Avery?
The Cavaliers will also have to replace their two best offensive lineman who were lost to graduation.
8. Lexington Tigers
Last Season’s Record- 10-2, lost to Liberty in second round
Head Coach- Bryant Hollingsworth
Region- 14-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 3/4
Offense- Wing T
Defense- 40
Key Returnees- Sam Shannon (OL, Sr.), Dillon Smith (WR/S, Sr.,), LaMarcus Boales (OL/DT, Sr.), Tanner Kizer (FB/LB, Sr.), Will Jefferson (LB, Jr.)
Key Losses- A. J. Gray (LB), Taylor Ballagh (OL), Alec Hodgin (OL), Kristopher Williams (QB), Dylan Greenway (OL)
Spring Strengths- The Tigers should come into the 2013 season with a bad taste in their mouth after being bounced from the playoffs by rival Liberty in the second round.
The two returning starters on the offensive line in Sam Shannon and LaMarcus Boales are talented nice pieces for Coach Hollingsworth to build his line around.
Spring Questions- For Lexington to advance past the second round in 2013, they will have to find replacements for some talented playmakers at skill positions lost to graduation.
7. Loudon Redskins
Last Season’s Record- 6-5, lost to CAK in first round of 3A playoffs
Head Coach- Jeff Harig
Region- 5-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 6/4
Offense- Spread
Defense- 4-2-5
Key Returnees- Trent Elliott (QB/DB, Sr.), Jack Nichols (LB, Jr.), Tyler Ferguson (WR, Jr.), Travis Brewer (S/QB, Jr.), Trevor Reese (OL/DE, Jr.), Jesse Kerr (OL/DT, Soph.), Brandon Thomas (OL/DT, Sr.)
Key Losses- Jake Mourfield (RB/LB), Josh Taylor (OL/DL), Ryan McNabb (LB), Tyler Elliott (TE/DE), Bryan McFalls (OL/DE), Beau Sellers (OL/DL), Bryston Hardy (WR)
Spring Strengths- The Redskins have had a couple of down seasons by their standards but 2013 could be a breakout year for Loudon.
Senior quarterback Trent Elliott is back to be the trigger man for the Redskins spread offense.
Spring Questions- Loudon will have to find a running back to replace Jake Mourfield in the offense as well as three offensive linemen to protect Elliott.
6. Knoxville Catholic
Last Season’s Record- 4-6
Head Coach- Steve Matthews
Region- 4-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 3/6
Offense- Multiple Spread
Defense- 3-4
Key Returnees- Logan Lacey (RB/LB, Jr.), Jordan Anderson (DB/RB, Jr.), Harrison Huber (WR, Sr.), Tanner Sharp (QB, Jr.), Logan Irwin (DE, Sr.), Eric Perfetto (LB, Sr.), Eric White (LB, Sr.), Elijah Brown (DB, Sr.), Alex Smolens (OL, Sr.)
Key Losses- Nolan Coulter (RB), Cole Lombardo (RB), Gabriel Saaverda (K), Zach Cole (OL/DL), Stuart Smith (DB), Tyler O'Brien (OL), Hayden Varner (TE)
Spring Strengths- The Irish have six starters back on defense including three linebackers to play in new coach Steve Matthews 3-4 defense.
Junior quarterback Tanner Sharp will like Matthews Multiple Spread attack with Harrison Huber and Logan Lacey to be targets in the passing game.
Spring Questions- Catholic will have to find someone to carry the football as they lost their top two ball carriers from 2012.
They also will have to find starters all over the field on offense as they have only three returning starters back.
5. Greeneville Greene Devils
Last Season’s Record- 8-4, lost to Fulton in second round
Head Coach- Caine Ballard
Region- 2-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 6/6
Offense- Spread
Defense- 4-4
Key Returnees- Zack Finchum (QB, Sr.)
Trevor Wright (WR/S, Sr.), Hays Culbreth (WR, Sr.), Quan Wilson (RB/DB, Sr.), Jake Sell (DL, Sr.), Nic Wright (DL, Sr.), Quan Harrison (DB/WR, Jr.), Matthew Allen (OL, Jr.), Austin Bailey (LB, Sr.)
Key Losses- Dunkan Gibson (OL), Brandon Jones (OL), Tanner Stewart (QB), Tyrus Rollins (LB), Ben Hopkins (C), Brandon Jones (OG), Trey Clark (P)
Spring Strengths- The Greene Devils bring back six starters on both sides of the ball which makes coach Caine Ballard's job easier come spring practice time.
Zack Finchum will be back to lead the Greeneville spread offense and will have his favorite targets back in Hays Culbreth and Trevor Wilson.
Senior Quan Wilson who split carries last season will be the go to guy in the Greene Devil running game.
Spring Questions- The Greene Devils will have to address their offensive and defensive lines which when they won state titles in 2010 and 2011 where the strength of their team.
4. Giles County Bobcats
Last Season’s Record- 13-1, lost to Fulton in Semifinals
Head Coach- David O'Connor (subject to leave to take Buckhorn (AL) job)
Region- 12-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 6/6
Offense- Multiple
Defense- 4-4
Key Returnees-Kenton Baker (WR, Sr.), Brandon Houston (RB/LB, Sr.)
Zach Voss (LB, Sr.), Dontarius Gilbert (FS, Jr.), Marcus Rhea (DT, Sr.),
Trey Beets (DL, Sr), Dylan Gibson (OL, Sr.), Lucas Harrison (WR, Jr.), Kelly Donnely (OL, Sr.), Trevor Holder (QB, Jr.)
Key Losses- Al Cobb (QB), Blake Sanders (OL), Nieco Walker (RB), Ben Bates (WR/SS), Chris Few (LB), Darren May (DE/TE)
Spring Strengths- The Bobcats are coming off a semifinal run with 12 returning starters in 2013.
Although they lost prolific QB Al Cobb, they have his leading receiver back in Kenton Baker who was fabulous in 2012.
Running back Brandon Houston returns to led the ground game and the Giles defense will be solid with linebacker Zach Voss, junior free safety Dontarius Gilbert, and senior defensive tackles Marcus Rhea and Trey Beets.
Spring Questions- The biggest question mark will who will be the head coach as David O'Connor is heading to Buckhorn (AL) to be the head coach of that program.
If either coordinator in Josh Benningfield and Thomas Osteen stay at Giles County they would be the leading candidate for the head coaching job.
Who can replace Al Cobb at quarterback will be the biggest on the field question for Giles, so look for juniors Trevor Holder and Lucas Harrison to battle it out for the job.
3. Elizabethton Cyclones
Last Season’s Record- 11-3, lost to CAK in 3A Semifinals
Head Coach- Shawn Witten
Region- 1-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 6/6
Offense- Spread
Defense- 3-4
Key Returnees- Ethan Thomas (RB/LB, Jr.), Caleb Bailey (QB, Sr.), Logan Birchfield (K, Jr.), Markus Olds (WR/DB, Jr.), Eric Carter (DB, Sr.), Jacob Woodby (FB/LB, Sr.), Matt Lingerfelt (OL/DL, Sr.), Adam Mullins (OL/DL, Sr.)
Key Losses-Christine Hardin (K), Terrence Turner (RB)
Spring Strengths- The Cyclones return 12 starters and none are bigger then junior running back Ethan Thomas who rushed for over 2,000 yards as a sophomore.
Senior quarterback Caleb Bailey returns to lead the Cyclone spread offense and the offensive line will be anchored by Matt Lingerfelt and Adam Mullins.
Spring Questions- The graduation of kicker Christine Hardin could not be understated as Hardin made some big kicks in her career, so can Logan Birchfield pick up where she left off?
2. Signal Mountain Eagles
Last Season’s Record- 7-4, lost to Page in first round
Head Coach- Bill Price
Region- 7-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 8/8
Offense- Wing T
Defense- 4-3
Key Returnees- Colin Rich (OL, Sr.), Harrison Moon (TE, Jr.), James McClellan (DT, Sr.), Diamez Franklin (RB, Jr.), Hunter VanDyken (FS, Jr.), Jack Teter (QB, Jr.), Jacob Wright (DE, Sr.)
Key Losses-Reese Phillips (QB), Elijah Turnage (DE), Will Hawkins (LB), Chris Abernathy (WR/DB)
Spring Strengths- After losing in the first round last season, the Eagles return 16 starters and are a junior laden squad.
Junior tight end Harrison Moon and senior offensive lineman Colin Rich while defensive linemen James McClellan and Jacob Wright lead the defense.
Spring Questions- The Eagles biggest question is can junior Jack Teter take over where University of Kentucky signee Reese Phillips left off?
1. Fulton Falcons
Last Season’s Record- 13-2 defeated Covington in the 4A State title game
Head Coach- Rob Black
Region- 3-AA
Returning Starters On Offense/Defense- 7/7
Offense- Multiple I
Defense- 3-4
Key Returnees- Akeem Cooperwood (OL/DL, Sr.), Xavier Hawkins (WR, Sr.), Daryl Rollins (RB, Sr.), Michael Scates (OL/DL, Sr.), Penny Smith (QB, Sr.), K.J. Roper (WR, Jr.), Steven Vasquez (OL, Sr.), Jonathan Roth (DE, Jr.), Tony Gunn (NG, Jr.), D.J. Campbell (FB/LB, Jr.), Domonique Williams (DB, Jr.)
Key Losses- Jolante Castle (RB/LB), Trey Fletcher (RB), Dean Taylor (TE/DE), Christian Kirk (OL), Shawn Sullivan (LB)
Spring Strengths- The Falcons not only have 14 returning starters to the 2012 4A title team but they have a ton of playmakers back in the fold.
The Falcon backfield comes back intact as senior running back Daryl Rollins and quarterback Penny Smith as well as junior fullback D.J. Campbell return to lead the offense.
Fulton also returns three starters on the offensive line led by senior Akeem Cooperwood.
Spring Questions- Can the Falcons handle being the hunted and getting everyone's best game every time out?
Five Teams Just Outside The Top 10: Pearl Cohn, Dyersburg, Jackson Northside, Sullivan South, DeKalb County
Contact Donovan at donovans1222@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at Examine_Stew
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