The USA TODAY Sports Network's preseason coverage of the TSSAA football season continues.
We have released the state's top players in the 2025 class . Last week, we began our ranking of Tennessee's top players from the 2026 class .
Now it's time to release the top sophomores in the state for the 2024 season. The players included in these rankings are decided on what we call an athlete's playability and recruitabilty, meaning his accomplishments on the field and his ability to draw college recruiting interest.
They have been selected by high school sports writers from The Tennessean, The Commercial Appeal (Memphis), Knoxville News Sentinel, The Daily News Journal (Murfreesboro) and The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville) and includes input from high school football coaches from around the state.
Here are the USA Today Sports Network's top Tennessee high school football sophomores, ranked 1-25, in the state.
1. David Gabriel Gorges, Baylor, 6-foot, 185 pounds, RB
Gorges holds offers from Oregon, Syracuse, and Charlotte. He’ll be a key offensive weapon for the Red Raider after running for 2,273 yards and 28 TDs while a freshman at Armand-Corbeil High School in Quebec, Canada.
2. Kesean Bowman, Brentwood Academy, 6-2, 170, WR/DB
Bowman could have a huge season in 2024. He holds offers from Ole Miss, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Vanderbilt, Maryland, Louisville, Indiana among others. He sat out last season due to TSSAA rules after transferring from Knoxville.
3. Andre Adams, Antioch, 6-2, 175, QB
As a first-year starter, Adams was 141-for-245 for 2,002 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also ran 85 times for 677 yards and 11 TDs. Antioch's four wins were the most for the program in a single season since 2013 and its 6A playoff appearance this fall was the first since 2016.
4. Condis Cherry, Alcoa, 5-7, 155, WR
Cherry had 28 tackles, two forced fumbles and three interceptions. He also had 40 catches for 543 yards and five touchdowns.
5. Malik Howard, Oak Ridge, 6-4, 220, DE
As a freshman, Howard had 23 tackles, two for a loss, a sack and two pass break-ups. He has offers from Tennessee, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Indiana.
6. Kaden Buchanan, Friendship Christian, 6-5, 330, OL
Buchanan anchored a line for Friendship Christian that helped the Commanders reach the Division II-A state championship game for the second straight year. Friendship rolled up 3,984 rushing yards. He offers from Memphis and Austin Peay, MTSU, EKU and SEMO while Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma have shown interest.
7. Ky’Saun Powell, South Pittsburg, 5-11, 180, Athlete
Powell finished his freshman season with 43 carries for 416 yards and six touchdowns. He helped the Pirates capture the Class 1A state championship with a perfect 15-0 record.
8. Princeton Uwaifo, Siegel, 6-7, 300, OL
Uwaifo should provide protection in the pass game and dominate at the point of attack in the Stars’ run game. He has an offer from SMU.
9. Jamir Dean, Alcoa, 6-2, 165, WR
Dean can stretch the field with his speed as Alcoa chases after the team won the Class 3A state title this season. Dean holds a pair of offers from Memphis, Miami Ohio.
10. Gage Byington, Gleason, 6-0, 185, WR
Byington helped Gleason to a 6-4 record with 32 receptions for 650 yards, 13 touchdowns, and returned a kick for a TD. He averaged 20.3 yards a catch.
11. Dre Otey, BGA, 6-2, 165, DB
Otey has lock-down skills on the outside as a cornerback. He’s has offers by Purdue, Georgia Tech.
12. JP Peace, Knoxville West, 6-3, 205, LB
Peace showed flashes of brilliance last season and should help West maintain a solid defensive group in 2024. He holds an offer from UAB.
13. Kason Young, East Robertson, 5-11, 180, QB
Young led East Robertson to the Class 2A state championship game . He completed 57% of his passes for 1,297 yards and 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
14. Deuce Lawrence, Jackson Christian, 6-1, 190, RB
Lawrence was brilliant as a freshman last season. He rushed for 1,019 yards and eight touchdowns for the Eagles.
15. Will Jones, Maryville, 6-1, 170, QB
Jones completed 69 of 101 passes for 835 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions while starting the last seven games of the season. He also had 63 rushes for 375 yards with three touchdowns. He has an offer from Eastern Kentucky.
16. Tae Walden, Collierville, 6-1, 175, WR/CB
Walden saw only limited playing time last year but is poised to have a breakout season in 2024. His speed as already drawn FCS and FBS interest.
17. Fletcher Fields, BGA, 5-9, 170, WR/DB
Fields was a menace to defenses last season while playing at Forrest where he was named All Region 4-2A as a freshman. He had 80 carries for 727 yards and 11 touchdowns and should have higher numbers in Bobby Bentley’s offense at BGA.
18. Cooper Newman, Sevier County, 6-2, 190, QB
Newman was the Region 1-5A Underclassman of the Year after completing 137 of 235 passes for 1,896 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
19. Leon Johnson, North Greene, 5-10, 170, LB
Johnson led North Green with 61 tackles, 13 for a loss to go along with 3.5 sacks. He received All Region 1-1A first-team honors.
20. Matt Horner, Independence, 6-6, 200, QB
Horner didn’t play varsity as a freshman but has already generated a lot FBS interest with his size and arm strength.
21. Brayden Maples, Gatlinburg-Pittman, 5-11, 180, RB
Maples had 30 rushing attempts for 316 yards and four TDs as a freshman. Coaches expect him to produce over 1,000 yards this season.
22. Roman Jennings, Brentwood Academy, 6-2, 205, LB
If Jennings isn’t pushing for a starting spot, he’ll see some significant playing time as Brentwood Academy has developed depth at the linebacker position this season.
23. Zac Fowler, West Carroll, 5-11, 175, QB
As a freshman, Fowler was 65-for-112 for 917 yards and eight touchdowns. He also ran for 341 yards and five TDs. The two-sport star is also a baseball standout.
24. Jackson Younger, Gatlinburg-Pittman, 6-0, 235, LB/TE
An athletic two-way player, Younger should help the Highlanders maintain is hold on Region 1-3A after a 11-2 record last year resulted in a state quarterfinal appearance.
25 Duran Head, Lawson, 5-8, 155, CB
Head had 31 tackles, six pass break-ups, two interceptions and a defensive TD. He was named All Region 6-5A.
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ranking best Tennessee high school football sophomores for 2024 TSSAA season
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