Tennessee High may not be expected to repeat its 2009 undefeated regular-season run, but high expectations have still followed a trio of Viking seniors into the fast-approaching 2010 football season.
Offensive lineman Mack Crowder, tight end Brendan Downs and kicker Brandon Rutherford have all been named to the Murphy Fair preseason 5A all-state team.
Other than Tennessee High, only Beech High in Sumner County had even two selections to the popular magazine and website’s 5A offensive team. Between the offensive and defensive 5A teams, Beech High was also the only school to match Tennessee High’s three overall picks.
“That’s the first time we’ve had that many,” said Tennessee High coach Greg Stubbs. “... That’s a pretty good accomplishment there to have three kids from the same team.”
Stubbs said he hopes to play Crowder, who has received numerous NCAA Division I scholarship offers, at tackle in 2010 after he primarily played center for the Vikings last season.
He’ll also handle Tennessee High’s long-snapping duties and be a factor on the interior of the Vikings defensive line.
Downs burst on to the scene midway through the 2009 season as he became a bigger part of the Tennessee High passing game from his tight end position.
He verbally committed to Duke this spring, although he is still being recruiting by numerous major college programs, including the University of Tennessee.
Downs, too, will play on the defensive line for the 2010 Vikings as an end, Stubbs said.
“We’ll start them on offense,” Stubbs said about Crowder and Downs, “and hopefully they’ll be in the rotation on defense.”
Rutherford handled the kickoff duties for the Vikings in 2009, setting a school record with 29 touchbacks. Stubbs said he’ll take on a bigger role this season.
“He will be the kicker for us,” Stubbs said. “He will be the punter and the placekicker and the kickoff guy.”
Tennessee High is not ranked in the 2010 Murphy Fair preseason coaches’ top 10 poll. From the Big Eight Conference, only Daniel Boone and Dobyns-Bennett are in the rankings, each coming in at No. 10 in the 5A and 6A polls, respectively.
Daniel Boone ended Tennessee High’s 2009 season in the second round of the playoffs with a 23-14 upset. Beech High tops the Murphy Fair preseason 5A coaches’ poll.
Football practice in Tennessee begins Monday and the 2010 regular season gets going August 27.
nhubbard@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Hubbard_BHCSprt | (276) 645-2543
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement