It’s been the talk of the Moore County sidelines and the Coach T message boards for weeks and on Thursday the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) made if official. Senior quarterback Dawson White is a semifinalist for the 2023 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Award in Class 1A.
Moore County’s Dawson White is joined by South Pittsburg’s Ja’Marion Farrior and Kamden Wellington, as well as Cornersville’s Ben Franklin, and Dresden’s Cameron Schlicht.
Over 1,500 total yards and 140 points
White’s stats are impressive. According to the regular season stats in Max Preps, White is 116 of 161 (71percent) in passing and averages 13.1 per per gain. He’s thrown 16 passing touchdowns and run for another 21. He’s mounted 1,566 all purpose yards and scored 140 total points during the regular season.
As most players on smaller Class 1A teams do, White plays both ways. On defense, White’s managed 54 total tackles including 41 solo tackles and 13 assists. Ironically, the QB’s snagged two interception on the year. As a punt returner, he’s managed 74 total yards and 37 yards per punt. He also returned five kickoff returns for a total on 124 yards.
Finalist named on November 21
The award will be presented to the top football players in nine classifications of the TSSAA on Tuesday, December 5 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The top kicker in the state will also be recognized with a Mr. Football Award, regardless of classification. Five semifinalists were announced today for each classification and the Kicker of the Year category. There are six classifications in Division I and three in Division II.
The three finalists for each award will be unveiled by Mike Keith and Titans head coach Mike Vrabel at on Tuesday, November 21 at 8 p.m. The announcement will be streamed on the Tennessee Titans website. The three 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 semifinalists based on performance in the 2023 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 excited and appreciative about being involved with the Tennessee Titans for the 17th consecutive year,” stated Mark Reeves, Executive Director of the TSSAA. “They have helped make the recognition of these 50 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 39th 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 remaining semi-finalists will each receive a certificate.
Other southern, middle Tennessee semifinalists include Tullahoma High School’s Grant Chadwick who was nominated as Kicker of the Year.
Jackson Cassidy of McKenzie won the award last season. McKenzie also won the Class 1A state championship with 34-14 win over Clay County last year.•
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