Repeat winners highlight 2018 TSSAA Mr. Football award recipients

The Tennessean

Ten of the top high school players from across Tennessee took home the state’s most prestigious individual award Sunday at Nissan Stadium

Division 1 Class 3A Mr. Football Walker Russell holds his trophy during the 2018 Titans Mr. Football Awards Dinner at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018.

Lausanne running back Eric Gray polished off a three-peat at the 2018 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award ceremony, beating out CPA’s Noah Henderson and Notre Dame’s Cameron Wynn to become the first-ever three-time Mr. Football award recipient in the events 34-year history.

Gray, a Michigan commitment, eclipsed the 2,000-yard for the third straight season, racking up 2,499 yards and 40 touchdowns in just 12 games for the Lynx.

Greeneville quarterback Cade Ballard, meanwhile, received the nod in Class 4A for the second straight season. The Army commitment threw for 2,955 yards, ran for 681 yards and accounted for 56 total touchdowns for the defending champion Greene Devils.

Cane Ridge running back Devon Starling claimed the award in Class 6A, marking the Metro Nashville public school’s first Mr. Football recipient. The senior averaged 171.7 yards per game, tallying 2,060 yards on 216 carries, and scored 28 total touchdowns for the Ravens.

Greenback’s Bryce Hanley (1A), Meigs County quarterback Aaron Swafford (2A), Alcoa quarterback Walker Russell (3A), Fulton running back/linebacker Deshawn Page (5A), Davidson Academy quarterback Stone Norton (DII-A) and Memphis University School athlete Maurice Hampton (DII-AAA) were also named Mr. Football in their respective classifications.

Oakland senior Garrett Taylor, meanwhile, was tabbed Kicker of the Year after averaging 43.1 yards per punt for the Class 6A finalist Patriots. He also connected on 4 of 6 field goals and hit 38 of 43 extra-point attempts.

Hanley threw for 2,450 yards with 30 touchdowns passes and just three interceptions, to helping guide Greenback to a fourth consecutive Class 1A semifinal appearance, while Swafford accounted for 1,831 yards from scrimmage and 33 total touchdowns for the Class 2A semifinalist Tigers.

30. Will a lineman win a Mr. Football honor after no offensive or defensive lineman won the award in any of the nine classifications in 2018?

Norton, a Florida International commitment, beat out Davidson Academy teammate Da’Joun Hewitt for the school’s first Mr. Football honor since 2008. Norton threw for 3,102 yards and 39 touchdowns for the unbeaten Bears, while Hewitt, a Purdue commitment, ran for 2,045 yards and 37 scores.

In Division II-AAA, Hampton, an LSU commitment who made 12 touchdown grabs during the regular season, beat out reigning Mr. Football recipient Bill Norton of Christian Brothers. Hampton also returned a kickoff and two punts for scores for the unbeaten Owls.

Russell, who has steered Alcoa back to its sixth straight BlueCross Bowl appearance, threw for 1,682 yards with 25 touchdown passes for the Tornadoes.

In addition to running for 535 yards and five touchdowns for Fulton, Page also tallied 59 tackles — 13 for loss — with two sacks and a pair of interceptions for the Region 3-5A champion Falcons.

A committee of statewide sports writers selected the winners based on performance during the 2018 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head coaches and members of the media provided the list of nominees.

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-269-8026 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.