On Monday the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its All-State football teams for Class 1A, 2A, and 3A, and West Greene’s Austin Franklin was recognized as one of the top players in Tennessee. Franklin was named to the Class 2A All-State team as a defensive back.
Franklin was a weapon this season for the West Greene Buffaloes no matter where he lined up on offense, defense or special teams. On offense he lined up at running back, receiver and quarterback, and wherever he was he was a threat to make a big play. As a runner he carried the ball 64 times for 628 yards and six touchdowns. As a receiver he had nine catches for 500 yards and five more touchdowns. He also threw for 114 yards. He finished the year with 1,577 all-purpose yards and 12 total touchdowns.
On defense Franklin made 61 tackles with two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three interceptions, nine pass break ups and a blocked kick. He was named the Region 1-2A Specialist of the Year, and the TSWA named him to its All-State team as a defensive back. Franklin is the first West Greene player to earn TSWA All-State honors since Blair Shelton in 2021.
Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s
All-State Football Teams
Class 1A
OFFENSE
QB – Tate Surber, McKenzie, Sr.*
QB – Nate Adams, Clay County, Sr.*
QB – Brody Whittaker, MASE, Sr.
RB – Grayson Kreis, Harriman, Sr.
RB – JaMychal Buckner, South Pittsburg, Jr.
RB – Marquis Gardner, Chattanooga Prep, Jr.
WR – Cole Brown, McKenzie, So.
WR – Nolan Adams, Clay County, Jr.
WR – Ja’Quan Benton, Oliver Springs, Jr.
OL – Mason Smith, Coalfield, Sr.
OL – Jamarkus Pittman, MASE, Sr.
OL – Kelan Roberson, Union City, Sr.
OL – Noah Young, Cloudland, Sr.
OL – Aydan Blair, Moore County, Sr.
OL – Xavier Reviere, South Pittsburg, Jr.
ATH – Amari Cotton, Jo Byrns, Sr.
K – Skyler Fornera, McKenzie, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL – Caden Jackson, Oliver Springs, Sr.
DL – Caleb Carroll, Wartburg, Sr.
DL – J.R. Hardrick, South Pittsburg, Jr.
DL – Peyton Martin, Moore County, Sr.
LB – Eli Justice, Coalfield, Sr.
LB – Zac Mahoney, Harriman, Sr.
LB – Stanley Burrow, MASE, Sr.
LB – Akeem Hunt, MASE, So.
DB – Dayon Cooper, South Pittsburg, So.
DB – Bennett McDougal, Whitwell, Sr.*
DB – Devonte Wigfall, Cosby, Sr.
DB – Kaidence Nelson, MASE, So.
P – Khari Escobar, Sale Creek, Sr.
Class 2A
OFFENSE
QB – Andrew Johnson, Fairley, Jr.*
QB – Kason William Young, East Robertson, So.*
QB – Tilton Pickett, Marion County, Sr.
RB – Jaydon Peete, Milan, Jr.*
RB – Cooper White, Westmoreland, Sr.
RB – Dominique Burleson, Hampton, Sr.
WR – Troyce Grimsley, Fairley, Jr.
WR – Corben Reynolds, Loretto, Jr.
WR – Sam Pickett, Marion County, Sr.
OL – Zach Bruggner, Bledsoe County, Sr.
OL – David Lands, Polk County, Sr.
OL – Ben Parr, Milan, Sr.
OL – Bra’Kyrin Cole, Jackson Central-Merry, Sr.
OL – Caleb Woodley, Fairley, Sr.
OL – Hunter Gray, Westmoreland, Sr.
ATH – Gray Eubanks, Huntingdon, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL – Delandis Dandridge, Fairley, Sr.
DL – Kenderrius Robertson, Mitchell, Sr.
DL – Myles Mays, Marion County, Sr.
DL – Zach Groves, East Robertson, Jr.
LB – Taylor Scharber, Marion County, Sr.
LB – Evan Plunkett, Mt. Pleasant, Sr.
LB – Ryan Shaffer, Tellico Plains, Sr.
LB – Quint Smith, Summertown, Sr.
DB – Austin Franklin, West Greene, Sr.
DB – Lake Drake, York Institute, Sr.
DB – Levi James, Oneida, Sr.
DB – Braden Reed, Tellico Plains, Sr.
P – Braydon Case, Mt. Pleasant, Jr.
Class 3A
OFFENSE
QB – Graham Simpson, Westview, Fr.*
QB – Eli Graf, Alcoa, Sr.*
QB – Xavier Murray, White House Heritage, So.
RB – Skylan Smith, Covington, Sr.*
RB – Lorenz Wright, Memphis East, Jr.
RB – Hicks Hunter, Sycamore, Jr.
WR – Dontez Joy, Westview, Jr.
WR – Jamir Dean, Alcoa, So.
WR – Radarious Jackson, Sheffield, Sr.
OL – Jayden Jackson, East Nashville, Sr.
OL – Josh Phelps, Sequatchie County, Sr.
OL – Lucas Hughes, Meigs County, Jr.
OL – Jacob Crow, Alcoa, Jr.
OL – Evan Allen, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Sr.
OL – Marlee Watts, Alcoa, So.
ATH – Ronye Watson, Chattanooga Central, Sr.
K – Kyrin Tyson, Alcoa, Jr.
DEFENSE
DL – Jaeden Isbell, Tyner, Sr.
DL – Jamir Turner, Alcoa, Sr.
DL – Deangelo Franklin, Sheffield, Jr.
DL – Jaxon Cupples, Westview, Jr.
LB – Kason Hicks, Sequatchie County, Jr.
LB – Sam Cretsinger, Johnson County, Sr.
LB – Eli Owens, Alcoa, Sr.
LB – Craig Huskey, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Jr.
DB – Condis Cherry, Alcoa, So.
DB – Dason Springer, White House Heritage, Sr.
DB – Antoni Morton, East Nashville, Sr.
DB – Hunter Minton, Sequatchie County, So.
P – Grant Garner, Liberty Creek, So.
