The high school football season is in full swing as we head into week six, and region races are beginning to take shape.
Before the season, we gave you our top 10 players to watch around the area. Now, Noah McKay, Rusty Ellis and Michael Lindsay have discussed the top 10 players in the Upper Cumberland.
Before we get into the list, let’s talk about our honorable mentions: DeKalb’s Briz Trapp and Colby Barnes, Cookeville’s Mace Thomsen and Brock Owen, Smith County’s Dane Woodard, Stone Memorial’s Brady Lane and Bear Eldridge, Cumberland County’s Drayton Hairston and Macon County’s Gabe Borders. With the size of the Upper Cumberland, it’s impossible to include everyone on this list, so those players will represent our honorable mentions.
Now, onto the list.
1. Malaki Dowell – RB – White County
The number one spot was pretty clear-cut and unanimous, as Dowell seems to have taken his game up a couple notches through the season’s first five weeks. This includes a 400-yard rushing game with seven touchdowns against Cookeville, and he’s sitting at 1,595 rushing yards through just five games. Malaki Dowell was our unanimous number one.
2. Hunter Heavilon – QB – Stone Memorial
The biggest leap by anyone from our top-1o players to watch list to now is the Panthers’ signal-caller, who has done everything in his power to lead Stone to a 5-0 record and a top-10 AP ranking in Class 4A. Heavilon has done it with his legs and his arm, both of which were on display in the Panthers’ latest win over Upperman. If Heavilon keeps this play up, Stone could be playing deep into the postseason.
3. Jaxson Rollins – RB – Upperman
Rollins remains a top-3 player in the area despite the Bees only scoring 20 points their last two games. Even with that, Rollins remains one of the most dynamic players in the area and has home run-potential every time he touches the ball. Upperman’s looking to get back on track against Watertown this week, and it’s safe to say Rollins will have a bounce-back game in a winning effort against Watertown.
4. Mason Bowman – RB – Monterey
Bowman has been just as effective as always for the Wildcats this season, and even in a game like the one against York, he was the best player on the field on both sides of the ball. He’s a physical runner that has solid breakaway speed when he gets rolling, and he’s been as solid as ever on defense for Scott Hughes’ squad.
5. Kaleb Flowers – WR – Stone Memorial
We called Flowers the best wide receiver in the Upper Cumberland before the season, and we’re standing by that now. In the Panthers’ win at Monterey, there were moments where Flowers took over the game. He’s a lethal playmaker in space and he’s been a great downfield target for Hunter Heavilon as well.
6. Myles Leffew – QB – York Institute
Leffew is one of the best pure athletes in the Upper Cumberland and his development seems to have taken a giant leap forward with Derwin Wright back as the head coach. He’s done an excellent job of running Wright’s Wing-T offense and when he’s been asked to throw the ball, he’s been equally as effective. His biggest strength is his legs, and when he gets on the edge with the football, he’s got a chance every time to take it to the house.
7. Terrance Dedmon – RB/LB – Upperman
Dedmon has been an important part of the Baxter backfield, just as we all expected. He’s seemingly improved even more on the defensive side of the ball however, as he’s become one of the Bees’ best assets on that side. He’s gotten pressure consistently and he’s done even better against the run.
8. Tripp Pinion – QB – White County
Malaki Dowell gets most of the attention, and it’s more than deserved, but Tripp Pinion has taken a pretty sizable leap for the Warriors as their quarterback. His biggest moment this season came against Mt. Juliet, where he rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns in a narrow defeat. He’s cut down on his turnovers, and he’s a major reason why the Warriors are 4-1.
9. Joseph Marcom – RB – Clay County
We called Marcom one of the most underrated players in the Upper Cumberland, and he’s done an excellent job of proving us right. He and Keaton Arms in the backfield have formed one of the best 1-2 rushing punches in the area and Marcom has done great work serving as Bruce Lamb’s feature back. He’s done this for years in Celina, but this could be the year Clay makes a deep run in the postseason and Marcom is a major reason why.
10. Kaden Powell – QB – Smith County
Ever since week one against Gordonsville where he rushed for three touchdowns and looked calm and collected under pressure, Powell has been on our radar. He’s gotten better with each passing game, and his play, along with the defense, has the Owls looking good at 4-1. It’ll be interesting to see how much progress they’ve made when they play East Nashville, but second in the region is a pretty good floor that any team starting a freshman at quarterback will take.