Nashville, Tennessee – The TSSAA announced Thursday its semifinalists for the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards and East Ridge High School running back Traneil Moore is among those named.
The Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards will be presented to the top 16 backs and linemen in eight classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association on Monday, November 30, 2015, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. For the fourteenth consecutive year, the top kicker in the state will be recognized with a Mr. Football Award, regardless of classification.
Photo by Reese Shipley (FiveFiveSix Creative)
Moore was nominated in Class 3A along with Dustin Clabough of Alcoa, Cole Smith of Knoxville’s Christian Academy and Zack Weatherly of Christ Presbyterian Academy.
The talented junior rushed for more than 1,400 yards on the season and averaged more than nine yards a carry for Coach Tracy Malone’s undefeated Pioneers.
The format for the awards will see a change this year. Four semifinalists are announced in this release for each category and each classification. There are six classifications in Division I and two in Division II. With “Back of the Year” and “Lineman of the Year” for each classification, as well as the “Kicker of the Year” award, that makes for a total of 17 award categories. Two finalists for each category will be announced by Mike Keith on the Titans website at www.titansonline.com on Monday, November 16 at 1:00 p.m. CST / 2:00 p.m. EST. The two finalists for each award will be the ones invited to attend the awards luncheon at Nissan Stadium, where the winner of each award will be announced.
A committee of statewide sports writers selected winners based on performance in the 2015 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.
“We are obviously excited and appreciative about being involved with the Tennessee Titans for the ninth consecutive year,” stated Bernard Childress, Executive Director of the TSSAA. “They have helped make the recognition of these 68 student-athletes, their families, and schools possible. The sponsorship of the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards and numerous contributions to high schools across the state since the team moved to Tennessee have meant a great deal to the member schools of the TSSAA.”
This is the 31st 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 runner-up in each category. The other semi-finalists will each receive a certificate.
More than 400 people, including the 34 finalists, their families, coaches, school administrators and members of the media from all parts of the state, are expected to attend the 2015 luncheon.
Click here for a link to all the players nominated.
