Four Area Athletes Named As Mr. Football Finalists

Nashville – 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 28, 2016, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. For the fifteenth consecutive year, the top kicker in the state will be recognized with a Mr. Football Award, regardless of classification.

McCallie School quarterback Robert Riddle is a finalist in the Division II-AA back category, while Sequatchie County's Hunter Davenport, a double nominee, was selected as a finalist as the Division I Class 3A Back of the Year.

Marion County linebackers Alex Kirkendoll and Hunter McClain are the Division I Class 2A Lineman of the Year finalists.

Four semifinalists for each category and each classification were announced on November 4. 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 were announced by Mike Keith on the Titans website at www.titansonline.com today at 11:00 a.m. CST / 12:00 p.m. EST. The two finalists for each award that were announced today 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 2016 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 Bernard Childress, 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 32nd 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 2016 luncheon.

Mike Keith, play-by-play voice of the Tennessee Titans, will emcee the awards presentation. A live videostream of the awards will be provided at www.titansonline.com.

2016 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Finalists