Nashville area preseason All-Midstate high school football team
Tom KreagerThe high school football season kicks off this week.
Meet The Tennessean's 2019 preseason All-Midstate football team.
Nick Semptimphelter
BGA, Sr.
Position: Quarterback
Why chosen: The Bucknell commitment is the leading returning passer in the Nashville area. He was 226-of-330 passing for 3,187 yards with 36 touchdowns and 11 interception in 2018.
High school football:Top Nashville area quarterbacks returning in 2019
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Jordan James
Brentwood Academy, So.
Position: Running back
Why chosen: James had 607 yards on 86 carries with eight touchdowns as a backup in 2018. His college offers include Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
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James Moore
Stratford, Sr.
Position: Running back
Why chosen: Moore rushed for a school single-season record 2,273 yards on 328 carries and scored 25 touchdowns to lead the Spartans to the Class 3A state semifinals in 2018.
High school football:Top Nashville running backs returning in 2019
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Malik Bowen
Mt. Juliet, Sr.
Position: Wide receiver
Why chosen: The Duke commitment is the No. 24 prospect in the state for the Class of 2020, according to the 247Sports Composite. He had 27 catches for 663 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018.
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Mt. Juliet's Malik Bowen, a Duke commitment, to expand offensive role in 2019
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Quenton Barnes
Cane Ridge, Jr.
Position: Wide receiver
Why chosen: Barnes is the No. 6 prospect in the state for the Class of 2021. He had 30 catches for 582 yards with four TDs in 2018.
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Wesley Smith
Livingston Academy, Sr.
Position: Wide receiver
Why chosen: Smith had 41 catches for 958 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2018.
High school football:Top Nashville area receivers returning in 2019
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Graham Barton
Ravenwood, Sr.
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: The Duke commitment is the No. 19 prospect in the state and a three-year starter for the Raptors.
TSSAA football:Ravenwood's Graham Barton grows into offensive line as three-year starter
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Noah Josey
Brentwood Academy, Jr.
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: Josey is the No. 11 prospect in the state for the Class of 2021.
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Michael Reese
Cane Ridge, Sr.
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: The Duke commitment is the No. 35 prospect in the state for the Class of 2020 and is a three-year starter for the Ravens.
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Cane Ridge's Michael Reese learned football from dad, who was Tennessee State's coach
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Gabriel Sleenhof
Ravenwood, Sr.
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: The Yale commitment is a multi-sport athlete for the Raptors and helps anchor the line.
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Eli Sutton
Brentwood Academy, Jr.
Position: Offensive line
Why chosen: Sutton is the No. 4 prospect for the Class of 2021. He has more than 20 offers that include Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
High school football:Top Nashville area offensive, defensive linemen returning for 2019
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Keshawn Lawrence
Ensworth, Sr.
Position: Athlete
Why chosen: The No. 2 prospect in the state and Tennessee commitment had 117 carries for 766 yards with seven touchdowns and had 15 tackles at safety.
High school football:Top Nashville area athletes returning in 2019
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Ensworth's Keshawn Lawrence says Tennessee is home
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Luke Akers
Ravenwood, Sr.
Position: Kicker
Why chosen: The UCLA commitment was 4-of-6 on field goals with a long of 46.
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Bryan Rice
Ravenwood, Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Why chosen: The Region 6-6A Defensive MVP had 71 tackles with 19 for loss along with nine sacks and recovered three fumbles.
TSSAA football:2018 Nashville area high school football all-region teams and awards
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Tre'vonn Rybka
Dickson Co., Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Why chosen: Rybka had 60 tackles including nine for loss. The three-star prospect's top four schools are Kentucky, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee. He plans to announce his choice on Tuesday.
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Tre'vonn Rybka wants to make Dickson County proud
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Gary Smith III
Shelbyville, Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Why chosen: Smith, a three-star prospect, had 65 tackles in 2018. His top five schools include Duke, Florida State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Shelbyville's Gary Smith III ready to carry the ball one more year before focusing on defensive line
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Dallas Walker IV
Smyrna, Sr.
Position: Defensive line
Why chosen: The Texas A&M commitment had 55 tackles with eight sacks in 2018.
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Smyrna's Dallas Walker IV, a Texas A&M commitment, ready to take on leadership role
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Devyn Curtis
Brentwood Academy, Sr.
Position: Linebacker
Why chosen: The three-star linebacker had 99 tackles, including 16 for loss, and had 10 sacks in 2018. He is the No. 18 prospect in the state.
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Brentwood Academy's Devyn Curtis takes on leadership for four-time defending state champs
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Reggie Grimes II
Ravenwood, Sr.
Position: Linebacker
Why chosen: Grimes, the top prospect in the state, had 48 tackles with three for loss and an interception in 2018.
TSSAA football:Dandy Dozen: Meet Ravenwood's Reggie Grimes II, the top college football prospect in the Nashville area for 2019
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Xiere Howard
Brentwood, Sr.
Position: Linebacker
Why chosen: Howard had 123 tackles with five for loss and three interceptions. Two of the interceptions were returned for game-winning touchdowns.
High school football:Top 15 Nashville area high school football linebackers returning in 2019
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Trevor Griffin
Eagleville, Sr.
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: Griffin had 46 tackles, nine interceptions, recovered three fumbles and blocked three kicks in 2018.
High school football:Nashville area top defensive backs returning in 2019
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Garnett Hollis Jr.
BGA, Sr.
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: Hollis, a Northwestern commitment, is a shutdown corner. He had 11 tackles in 2018.
High school football:Dandy Dozen: Garnett Hollis Jr.'s first love is basketball. His college future is football.
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De'Arre McDonald
Oakland, Sr.
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: The Ole Miss commitment had 38 tackles with six interceptions.
High school football:Dandy Dozen: Ole Miss commitment De'Arre McDonald didn't play football until eighth grade
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Antonio Stevens
BGA, Sr.
Position: Defensive back
Why chosen: The Purdue commitment and three-star prospect had 16 tackles and two interceptions in 2018.
More:Dandy Dozen: BGA's Antonio Stevens' commitment to Purdue football fulfills goal
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Tim Coutras
Nolensville, Sr.
Position: Athlete
Why chosen: The Liberty commitment had eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. He also had 38 catches for 737 yards with six touchdowns.
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Tabor Miller
Brentwood, Sr.
Position: Punter
Why chosen: Miller was the Region 6-6A punter of the year in 2018 and is the No. 72-ranked punter in the country according to Kohl's for the Class of 2020.
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Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.