McCallie has been picked to finish fourth and Baylor seventh in Division II-AA high school football this season.
Brentwood Academy, coached by former McCallie coach Ralph Potter, was picked first in the coaches survey conducted by and published in Murphy Fair's 2008 Tennessee High School Football Magazine.
Fair's book can be purchased at www.murphyfair.com.
2008 Coaches Predictions
1. Brentwood Academy
2. Montgomery Bell Academy
3. Ensworth
4. McCallie
5. Father Ryan
6. Battle Ground Academy
7. Baylor
8. John Paul II (tie)
8. Webb (tie)
2007 Final Standings
1. MBA, 6-0, 13-0
2. Brentwood, 5-1, 11-2
3. Ensworth, 4-2, 9-3
4. Ryan, 4-2, 9-3
5. Webb, 4-2, 7-4
6. BGA, 2-4, 6-4
7. McCallie, 1-5, 5-5
8. Baylor, 1-5, 2-8
9. JPII, 0-6, 1-9
Potter's team secured every first-place vote that was cast by opposing coaches in the DII-AA preseason poll.
Four Brentwood players are considered DI prospects -- Alex Bullard, Thad McHaney, Barry Dabney and Jeremy Martin. All except Martin are members of the Eagles' line. Martin plays in the secondary.
McCallie, coached by Rick Whitt, missed the postseason last year for the first time since 1995.
Leading McCallie this year will be defensive back Jay Fullam, who has committed to Vanderbilt.
Baylor, coached by Phil Massey, also missed the playoffs last year. Massey retursn six starters on offense and five on defense.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)