Long’s poise impresses area coaches
By Steve Williams
Kaden Long looked very “polished” for a high school junior quarterback, said Clinton High Coach Jake Dawson last week when he recalled seeing Long in a mid-season game.
“He looked comfortable in the pocket and off-script,” said Dawson. “I think he did a lot of things right. He took care of the football. I think all of that stuff is evident in the kind of run Central is putting together.”
One thing that really stood out to Dawson was Long’s “poise and pocket presence,” he added. “He was able to stand in there and make some really good decisions.
“Our defense is kind of predicated on we want people to have to make decisions in a split second and he did a great job in taking care of the ball.”
Dawson, whose team is also in Region 2-5A like Central, is just one of many who has noticed the advancement that Long has made this season. And it has earned him The Focus / Coaches’ Knox County Player of the Year award for 2025.
Powell quarterback Deuce Rodgers, who missed nearly two games early in the season due to injury, finished a close second in the balloting.
The one thing that stands out about the 6-2, 170-pound Long is that he seems to like to run as much as he likes to throw the football.
During the regular season, which is what this award is based on, Long passed for 2,761 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 965 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The Bobcats’ regular season record also is much better this year (8-2 overall and 6-1 in region to the 2024 record of 4-6 and 1-3).
Here are other top statistics for first team honorees on this year’s All-Knox County team:
Karns sophomore running back Cam George rushed for 1,568 yards and Grace Christian freshman Javey Stinson totaled 1,386 yards on the ground.
DeZion Jackson of Powell, a junior receiver, snagged 46 passes for 911 receiving yards.
Central senior wide receiver Javaston Badgett topped the 1,000-yard plateau with 1,002 yards.
The All-Knox County first team includes the big and strong guys up front. That would be Central’s Seth Laws, CAK’s Cooper House, Knoxville Catholic’s Anton Hamilton, GCA’s Will DeLong and Powell’s Brody Naughton.
House, a 3-year starter, has the reputation of “never missing a game.”
Jace Ballard of Grace Christian is an “Athlete” on the offensive team. He totaled 25 touchdowns rushing and catching in the regular season plus had one TD pass and a kickoff return for six points.
The “special team” guys include Gibbs kicker Melik Van Pelt, who is a nominee for Mr. Kicker in the state. Return specialist Nick Rivers of Hardin Valley runs 10.5 in 100 meters and is often double covered and opponents try to kick away from him.
More information on The Focus / Coaches’ All-Knox County 2025 defensive first team will be in The Focus’ Dec. 1 issue.
THE FOCUS / COACHES’ 2025 ALL-KNOX COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Kaden Long, Central, jr.
RB-Cam George, Karns, soph.
RB-Javey Stinson, GCA, fr.
FL-DeZion Jackson, Powell, jr.
WR-Tyreek King, Catholic, sr.
WR-Javaston Badgett, Central, sr.
LT-Seth Laws, Central, sr.
LG-Cooper Houser, CAK, sr.
C-Anton Hamilton, Catholic, sr.
RG-Will DeLong, GCA, jr.
RT-Brody Naughton, Powell, sr.
ATH-Jace Ballard, GCA, sr.
(Special teams)
K-Mikel Van Pelt, Gibbs, sr.
H-Clay Phillips, Gibbs, jr.
P-Logan Holbrook, HVA, jr.
LS-Durgan Ragland, HVA, jr.
RS-Nick Rivers, HVA, jr.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
E–D’Andre Hundley, Austin-East, sr.
T-Jake Coffey, Carter, sr.
T-Seth Seiber, Gibbs, jr.
T-Iverson Garcia, Powell, sr.
E-Collin Crider, CAK, sr.
LB-Weston Ritter, Karns, sr.
LB-Samuel Mann, HVA, sr.
LB-Johnny Rosenbalm, Carter, jr.
CB-Brody Rogers, Halls, sr.
CB-Dom Culp, Halls, sr.
S-Jeremiah Smith, South-Doyle, jr.
ATH-Shavar Young, Webb, sr.
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB-Brody Sparks, Carter, soph.
RB-Ryan Gibson, CAK, sr.
RB-Maurice Smith, Concord, fr.
RB-Mill Crenshaw, South-Doyle, soph.
WR / RB-Jody Scruggs, Carter, jr.
WR-Johonauan Moore, Powell, jr.
LT-Wyatt Bentley, Gibbs, sr.
LG-Tucker Massengill, Powell, sr.
C-Zach Brown, Central, jr.
RG-Rodarrius Pannell, Central, sr.
RT-Hayden Wallace, Powell, soph.
K-Braden Walker, GCA, sr.
ATH-Rejuan Womble, Fulton, sr.
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
E-Travis Brasfield, Halls, jr.
T-Jesse McGaha, Karns, sr.
T-Lincoln Jackson, South-Doyle, jr.
T-Will Pasley, GCA, soph.
E-Chance Sharp, HVA, jr.
LB-Kaden Webber, GCA, jr.
LB-Jackson Coffey, GCA, jr.
LB-Reed Reynolds, South-Doyle, jr.
CB-Jarrell Chandler, Halls, jr.
CB-Connor Gilbreath, Bearden, jr.
S-Bennett Jelks, CAK, jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
BEARDEN
Paxton Parrott RB/LB
Grant Cross WR
CAK
Gabriel Linkous WR
Sawyer Anderson QB
Benton Blevins OL
Kyler Cook LB
CARTER
Joseph Armenta
CATHOLIC
Mack Bartholomew QB
Dominic Daddabbo LB
Gavin Jones LB
George Mancini Safety
Xavier Bowman CB
Brooks Johnston Safety
Jeremy George OL/DL
Issiaga Yattara OL/DL
Jacob Rice LT/DE
CENTRAL
JJ Sackie WR
FARRAGUT
Corbin Hobson QB
Max Garfield WR
Owen Petoskey DL
Ryan McCue K/P
Julian Melendy P/K
GIBBS
Da’Juan Harris WR
Tucker Owenby RB
Chase Norman TE/LB
Keith Jones QB
GRACE CHRISTIAN
Shawn Daulton DL
Evan Pritchard DB
Colton Brooks OL
Caden Gang OL
HALLS
Amari Lethgo QB
Carson Pearce OLB
Gavin Self ILB
McKylus Daniel RB
Cooper Faust WR
Noah Partin OT
Dan Brittain OG
HARDIN VALLEY
Brody Lamb WR
Wells Harm OL
KARNS
Austin Slover QB
POWELL
Deuce Rodgers QB
Ory Vananda-Walker RB
Caleb Lanius PK
SOUTH-DOYLE
Benson Brang QB
Cole Jackson LB
Walter Gould OLB
Isaiah Mitchell P
Kamariyon Rice WR
DeMorris McKenzie CB
TSD
Renzen Shaw WR
WEBB
Marvin Hicke OT
Greg Porter QB
WEST
Ryheem Lee RB
Messiah Wrenn RB
Jeremiah Caswell DL
Nalijsha Dickey DL
Addison Cline PK
Colston Colquitt P
