McKenzie’s Tate Surber is TSSAA Class 1A Mr. Football (Video Intervie…

NASHVILLE (December 10) — McKenzie's Tate Surber was named TSSAA 1A Mr. Football for 2024 in a ceremony in Nashville on Tuesday, December 10. Surber navigated a field of candidates to be named semi-finalist, finalist and finally Mr. Football.

During the regular season (on which nominations are based), Tate Surber had 2,904 total yards of offense. This includes 2,096 passing yards with 25 touchdowns. Surber rushed for 808 yards with 21 touchdowns. He was 113 of 163 passing, a 69.3 completion percentage.

The McKenzie senior is also a 4.0 student and was recently named Mr. McKenzie High School.

The awards were presented to the top football players in nine classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association on Wednesday, December 10 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The top kicker in the state will be recognized with a Mr. Football Award, regardless of classification.

Other winners were: Division I: Class 2A Jaydon Peete of Milan; Class 3A Skylan Smith of Covington; Class 4A Tyler Thompson of Marshall County; Class 5A Eric Hazzard of Page; Class 6A Donovan Starr of Ravenwood; Division II: Class A Jared Curtis of Nashville Christian School; Class AA Noah Spencer of University School of Jackson; Class AAA David Gabriel Georges of Baylor; and Kicker of the Year was Phillipe LaForge of Baylor. Congratulations to all winners.

Finalists for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards were announced Tuesday, November 26. Included were McKenzie’s Tate Surber (Class 1A), Milan’s Jaydon Peete (2A) and Westview’s Graham Simpson (3A).

Five semifinalists in each classification were announced on November 7. There are six classifications in Division I and three in Division II.

A committee of statewide sports writers selected winners based on performance in the 2024 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

“We are very appreciative of the Tennessee Titans for their continued support of these awards,” stated Mark Reeves, Executive Director of the TSSAA. “Having the awards presented at Nissan Stadium will provide a very special atmosphere for these outstanding student-athletes.”

This is the 40th year that the Mr. Football Awards have been presented to Tennessee’s best high school football players. A Mr. Football trophy will be presented to the winners of each category. A Mr. Football plaque will be presented to the other two finalists in each category. The other semi-finalists will each receive a certificate.

Mike Keith, play-by-play voice of the Tennessee Titans, emceed the awards presentation. A live videostream of the awards was provided on the Tennessee Titans website.

2024 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Finalists

DIVISION I, CLASS 1A
Nate Adams, Clay County High School
Bennett O’Neal McDougal, Whitwell High School
Tate Surber, McKenzie High School

DIVISION I, CLASS 2A
Andrew Johnson, Fairley High School
Jaydon Peete, Milan High School
Kason William Young, East Robertson High School

DIVISION I, CLASS 3A
Eli Graf, Alcoa High School
Graham Simpson, Westview High School
Skylan Smith, Covington High School

DIVISION I, CLASS 4A
Waylon LaRue, Anderson County High School
Carson Quillen, Greeneville High School
Tyler Thompson, Marshall County High School

DIVISION I, CLASS 5A
Brenden Anes, Page High School
Eric Hazzard, Page High School
Kelvin Perkins, Southwind High School

DIVISION I, CLASS 6A
Samuel Iroh, Collierville High School
Donovan Starr, Ravenwood High School
Craig Tutt, Oakland High School

DIVISION II, CLASS A
Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian School
Nix Fullen, Tipton-Rosemark Academy
Jay’len Mosley, Jackson Christian School

DIVISION II, CLASS AA
Hutson Chance, Christ Presbyterian Academy
Kaedyn Marable, Battle Ground Academy
Noah Spencer, University School of Jackson

DIVISION II, CLASS AAA
David Gabriel Georges, Baylor School
George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy
Ethan Utley, Ensworth High School

KICKER OF THE YEAR
Elliott Arnold, McCallie School
Philippe LaForge, Baylor School
Ethan Lane, Boyd Buchanan High School

2024 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Semifinalists

DIVISION I, CLASS 1A
Nate Adams, Clay County
Ja’mychal Buckner, South Pittsburg
DaYon Cooper, South Pittsburg
Bennett McDougal, Whitwell
Tate Surber, McKenzie

DIVISION I, CLASS 2A
Gray Eubanks, Huntingdon
Andrew Johnson, Fairley
Jaydon Peete, Milan
Sam Pickett, Marion County
Kason William Young, East Robertson

DIVISION I, CLASS 3A
Eli Graf, Alcoa
Radarious Jackson, Sheffield
Eli Owens, Alcoa
Graham Simpson, Westview
Skylan Smith, Covington

DIVISION I, CLASS 4A
Bronzden Chaffin, Upperman
Waylon LaRue, Anderson County
Tripp Pinion, White County
Carson Quillen, Greeneville
Tyler Thompson, Marshall County

DIVISION I, CLASS 5A
Brenden Anes, Page
Eric Hazzard, Page
Cooper Newman, Sevier County
Kelvin Perkins, Southwind
Tay Starks, Munford

DIVISION I, CLASS 6A
Kannon Burroughs, Green Hill
Samuel Iroh, Collierville
Miles Reding, Kirkwood
Donovan Starr, Ravenwood
Craig Tutt, Oakland

DIVISION II, CLASS A
Mitchell Cash Carey, DCA
Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian
Nix Fullen, Tipton-Rosemark
Jay’len Mosley, Jackson Christian
Brayden Waller, Trinity Christian

DIVISION II, CLASS AA
Hutson Chance, CPA
David Green, Boyd Buchanan
Kaedyn Marable, BGA
Noah Spencer, USJ
Terrion Thomas, Knoxville Grace

DIVISION II, CLASS AAA
Briggs Cherry, Baylor
David Gabriel Georges, Baylor
Tyreek King, Knoxville Catholic
George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy
Ethan Utley, Ensworth

KICKER OF THE YEAR
Elliott Arnold, McCallie
London Bironas, Brentwood Academy
Philippe LaForge, Baylor
Ethan Lane, Boyd Buchanan
Dylan Stooksbury, Powell