The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association celebrated the 2021 season on Tuesday by announcing the nine Tennessee Titans Mr. Football winers. The National Football League team has been a sponsor of the state’s top high school football award since 2007.
More than 400 people, including the honorees, their families, coaches, school administrators and members of the media from all parts of the state, attended the 2021 luncheon at Nissan Stadium, home of the Titans in Nashville.
“This is such an outstanding honor for all 30 of the young men recognized today at the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards,” said Bernard Childress, Executive Director of the TSSAA. “They were here not only due to their athletic ability that they displayed on the field throughout the season, but just as much for their outstanding character and academic achievements.”
High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists. A committee of statewide sports writers selected winners based on performance in the 2021 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration.
The awards were presented to the top football players in each of the nine classifications of the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association. The top kickers in the state were also recognized. There were three finalists in this category, regardless of their school’s classification.
2021 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Award Winners
Division I, Class 1A
Khalik Ganaway, Peabody
Division I, Class 2A
Ty Simpson, Westview
Division I, Class 3A
Caden Buckles, Alcoa
Division I, Class 4A
Bari’On Brown, Pearl Cohn
Division I, Class 5A
De’Sean Bishop, Karns
Division I, Class 6A
Destin Wade, Summit
Division II, Class A
Steele Haynes, USJ
Division II, Class AA
Alexander Broome, Lipscomb Academy
Division II, Class AAA
Dallan Hayden, Christian Brothers
Kicker of the Year
Justus Chadwick, Tullahoma
- Khalik Ganaway repeated as Class 1A Mr. Football. The Peabody senior had 1,283 rushing yards with 21 touchdowns in the regular season. On defense he had 27 total tackles with an interception.
- Class 2A Mr. Football Ty Simpson of Westview was 144-of-224 passing during the regular season with 28 touchdowns. Simpson, who is an Alabama commitment, is also the 2021 Tennessee Gatorade Football Player of the Year, as well.
- Alcoa senior quarterback Caden Buckles is the Class 3A Mr. Football. Buckles led Alcoa to the 3A state championship, winning the BlueCross Bowl MVP. Currently the Tornadoes are currently ranked No. 64 in the High School Football America 100 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
- Barion Brown, a Pearl-Cohn senior, received the Class 4A Mr Football. He’s a Kentucky commitment, who had 59 carries for 817 yards with 10 touchdowns. He also caught 22 balls for 303 yards and three scores. On defense, Brown had 24 tackles with two for loss.
- Karns junior De’Sean Bishop is the rClass 5A Mr. Football. Bishop ran for 2,708 yards in the regular season.
- Kentucky-recruit Destin Wade, a Summit senior, is the Class 6A Mr. Football. Wade rushed for 1,463 yards with 21 touchdowns. He also threw for 926 yards with 12 TDs.
- Steele Haynes, a USJ senior, received the Division II-A Mr. Football award. He rushed for 1,476 yards in eight regular-season games and scored 27 rushing TDs.
- Alex Broome, a Lipscomb Academy senior, received the DII-AA Mr. Football. Broome, a Boston College commitment, rushed for 1,009 yards and had 694 receiving yards in the regular season with 33 total TDs.
- Dallan Hayden, a Christian Brothers senior, received the DII-AAA Mr. Football award. Hayden, an Ohio State commitment, rushed for 2,002 yards with 33 total touchdowns this season.
- Justus Chadwick, a Tennessee senior, received the Kicker of the Year honor. Chadwick was 42-of-43 on PAT’s and 5-of-6 on field goals with a long of 46. He also averaged 37 yards per punt.
