Meet the 2021 Commercial Appeal All-Metro high school football team
The first 12 members of The Commercial Appeal all area first-team offense and first-team defense are nominees for the offensive or defensive player of the year. The winner will be announced at the Memphis Area High School Sports Awards, presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans of Tennessee, in the spring. More details about the program coming soon.
First Team
Offense
JD Sherrod
Briarcrest, Jr.
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 190
Position: Quarterback
Why chosen: Sherrod led the Saints to the Division II-AAA quarterfinals, throwing for 2,325 yards and 23 touchdowns. He ran for 522 yards and seven TDs.
Dallan Hayden
Christian Brothers, Sr.
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 195
Position: Running back
Why chosen: Hayden, an Ohio State signee, had 2,002 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns this season, capping it with his second Tennessee Titans Division II-AAA Mr. Football award.
Jamarious Brooks
Central, Sr.
Ht.: 5-9 Wt.: 185
Position: Running back
Why chosen: Brooks had 2,400 yards and 41 touchdowns this past season. He also set the Shelby County record for touchdowns in a season. Along with being a Mr. Football finalist, Brooks was also named the Region 8-5A offensive player of the year.
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Mac Owen
MUS, Sr.
Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 170
Position: Wide receiver
Why chosen: Owen led the Owls with 1,210 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns this season.
Max Carroll
Briarcrest, Jr.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 205
Position: Wide receiver
Why chosen: Carroll had 525 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for the Saints this season.
Quincy Briggs
Central, Sr.
Ht.: 5-10 Wt.: 160
Position: Wide receiver
Why chosen: Briggs was a 1,000 yard receiver for the Warriors this season. Along with 17 total touchdowns, he was named to the Region 8-5A first team. He is committed to Yale.
Patrick Kutas
Christian Brothers, Sr.
Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 300
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: The Arkansas signee and was all-region and all-state this past season.
Kyler Herring
MUS, Sr.
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 300
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: Herring was both chosen to the coaches all-region and Tennessee coaches all-state list for two years.
Ian Falkner
Collierville, Sr.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 285
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: Falkner was graded over 90 percent for the season and named to the all-region first team.
Tyler Bell
Lausanne, Jr.
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 305
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: Bell led the team in pancake blocks and was the team's best OL. Offers from Memphis, South Carolina, Austin Peay and UT Martin.
Luke Needham
Houston, Jr.
Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 300
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: Needham was named to the all-region team the past two seasons.
Cameron Miller
MAHS, Sr.
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 190
Position: Athlete
Why chosen: The Tennessee signee had 1,463 all-purpose yards with 23 total touchdowns. On defense, he had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Hudson Hollenbeck
Collierville, Sr.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 178
Position: Kicker
Why chosen: Hollenbeck was 47-of-56 on PATs and made four field goals, including a season long 47-yard field goal. He added 49 touchbacks this season for the Dragons.
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Defense
Charles Perkins
MAHS, Sr.
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 220
Position: Defensive line
Why chosen: Perkins, a UT-Martin signee, had 62 tackles, with 21 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. He added two fumble recoveries for touchdowns and an interception.
Aaron Bryant
Southaven, Sr.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 300
Position: Defensive line
Why chosen: The Texas signee led the Southaven defense with 72 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and six sacks. He was also named to the all-state first team defense and was the Region 1-6A MVP.
Antonio Chambers
Collierville, Sr.
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 240
Position: Defensive line
Why chosen: Chambers had 51 tackles and 18 tackles for loss and led the Dragons defense with six sacks this season.
Derrick Carroll
Briarcrest, Sr.
Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 225
Position: Linebacker
Why chosen: Carroll led the Saints defense with 91 tackles, six for loss. He added one sack, three forced fumbles and an interception.
Javante Mackey
Whitehaven, Sr.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 230
Position: Linebacker
Why chosen: Mackey led the Tigers defense this season, being named the Region 8-6A defensive player of the year.
Ben Bolton
Lausanne, Sr.
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 215
Position: Linebacker
Why chosen: Bolton led the Lynx defense in tackles with 75 this past season. He also had four sacks.
Donovan Mathena
Collierville, Sr.
Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 215
Position: Linebacker
Why chosen: Mathena was second on the Dragons defense in tackles with 63 and had 20 tackles for loss. He also had five sacks on the season.
Mark Joseph
Sheffield, Jr.
Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 175
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: Joseph led the state in interceptions (10) and was named the Region 8-3A defensive player of the year.
Kody Jones
Germantown, Sr.
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: The Michigan signee had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown for the Red Devils. He also had a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Icarius Hodgin
Munford, Sr.
Ht.: 5-10 Wt.: 170
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: Hodgin was named the Region 8-5A defensive player of the year for the second straight season, finishing with 80 tackles and five interceptions.
JaQuez Bradley
Whitehaven, Sr.
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 180
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: Bradley was named to the defense first team all-region 8-6A.
Tyler Woodard
Freedom Prep, Sr.
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 190
Position: Athlete
Why chosen: On the offensive end, Woodard led the Eagles receiving core with 701 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. On defense, he added 37 tackles and six interceptions.
Cooper Allen
Briarcrest, Sr.
Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 178
Position: Punter
Why chosen: Allen averaged 40 yards per punt this season for the Saints.
Second Team
Offense
QB: Jack Patterson, Northpoint
RB: Craig Cunningham, Lausanne
RB: Auvic White, Munford
WR: Joseph Adams, Mitchell
WR: Tyler Byrd, Tipton-Rosemark
WR: Jackson Thomason, Northpoint
OL: Taylor Burton, Whitehaven
OL: Ben Caviness, Christian Brothers
OL: Chris Gilliland, Northpoint
OL: Marcus James, Germantown
OL: Nathan Tuggle, Munford
ATH: Kenji Lewis, East
K: George Vezina, Houston
Defense
DL: Keyron Crawford, Briarcrest
DL: Myles Saulsberry, Lausanne
DL: Adrian Willis, Ridgeway
LB: Mar’reion Claybrooks, Germantown
LB: Christian Crew, Houston
LB: Caulen Dunn, Collierville
LB: Darrien Lewis, Brighton
DB: Malik Mason, Fairley
DB: Antonyus Moore, Middle College
DB: Arendale Robinson, Whitehaven
DB: Devin Rutherford, Bartlett
ATH: Jarnorris Hopson, Horn Lake
P: Raheem Vance, Kirby
Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Commercial Appeal All-Metro high school football team 2021
