Clarksville-Northwest’s Jaylen Jackson
Blackman’s Anthony Ochoa (22)
Smyrna’s Deylon Williams
Oakland’s Jackson Cauthen (28)
Football
Hillsboro’s Javonta Wiggins (2).
With the start of high school football less than two months away, here’s a look at some of the top returning Midstate linebackers for the 2016 season, as ranked by The Tennessean’s Michael Murphy.
Independence’s Hunter Dupree (right)
10. Jaylen Jackson
Northwest, Sr.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 185
Why chosen: Jackson, a 2015 All-Region 6-5A selection, had 141 tackles and a pair of sacks as a junior, helping lead the Vikings to a 5-5 record — their most successful season since 2009.
9. Mitch Rossi
Franklin, Sr.
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 215
Why chosen: Rossi, a two-way starter and 2015 All-Region 3-6A selection, recorded a team-leading 77 tackles, including 10 behind the line of scrimmage, with two sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries for the Rebels last season.
8. Brett Starr
MBA, Sr.
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 225
Why chosen: Starr had 40 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and a pair of pass deflections in 2015, helping lead the Division II-AA runner-up Big Red to a second consecutive BlueCross Bowl appearance.
7. JaVonta Wiggins
Hillsboro, Jr.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 225
Why chosen: Wiggins, who started 10 games as a sophomore, had 54 tackles and three sacks a season ago, helping lead the Burros to a 9-4 record and a second consecutive Class 5A quarterfinal appearance.
6. Jackson Cauthen
Oakland, Sr.
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 210
Why chosen: Cauthen, a 2015 All-Midstate and All-Region 2-6A selection, registered a team-leading 150 tackles with four interceptions and three pass breakups a season ago, helping lead the region champion Patriots to a 12-2 record and a Class 6A semifinal appearance.
5. Deylon Williams
Smyrna, Sr.
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 220
Why chosen: After recording 67 tackles as a sophomore in 2014, Williams, a three-star prospect according to 247Sports, did not play a single down last season after suffering a shoulder injury in spring practice.
4. Hunter Dupree
Independence, Sr.
Ht: 5-11 Wt: 215
Why chosen: In addition to being the team’s leading tackler (118), Dupree, a 2015 All-Midstate selection, was a takeaway machine last season, hauling in five interceptions while causing four fumbles for the unbeaten Class 5A champion Eagles.
Hunter Dupree 5’11” 215 Junior Year
3. Anthony Ochoa
Blackman, Sr.
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 220
Why chosen: Ochoa, a 2015 All-Region 2-6A selection, posted 77 tackles, including 12 behind the line of scrimmage, three sacks and a forced fumble last season, helping lead the region runner-up Blaze to 10-3 record and a Class 6A quarterfinal appearance.
2. Cain McWilliams
Marshall County, Sr.
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 225
Why chosen: McWilliams, a three-star transfer from Fayetteville High School who recently picked up an offer from South Carolina, recorded 67 tackles, including 18 behind the line of scrimmage, with four sacks and two interceptions a season ago.
1. Jacob Phillips
East Nashville, Sr.
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 228
Why chosen: Phillips, the state’s top-ranked linebacker according to 247Sports, had 122 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception a season ago, and the 2015 All-Midstate selection has offers from more than 20 Division I schools.
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
Republican leader resigns, blasts Tennessee GOP
Ruling offers hope to teens sentenced to life, but not in Tennessee
10 new Tennessee laws you need to know
