Alcoa High School finished the year with a 14-0 record and a Class 3A Tennessee State Championship. The Tornadoes were ranked third overall in the Volunteer State as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters and broadcasters. Alcoa managed to wipe the floor with most of their opponents.
They managed to win 10 of their 15 games by a 40+ point margin. The Maryville Rebels were the only school able to top them, defeating the Tornadoes 17-3 in their fourth game of the season, holding Alcoa to their lowest point total of the year.
The Tornadoes have consistently been a top team in the state of Tennessee over the past decade. This Blount County school has been recognized as one of the state’s top 25 teams nine times in the last ten years, not to mention making trips to the state title game every year since 2013. They have taken home hardware every year since, except in 2014, when they lost a low scoring game to Christ Presbyterian Academy that saw both teams combine for seven points.
Their most forgettable season of the decade came in 2011 when the team held a record of 8-5 and fell in the Tennessee High School Football Quarterfinals.
Since their championship streak began in 2015, the Tornadoes have maintained a terrific 65-10 record, with 3017 points scored compared to just 607 points allowed.
If history is any indication, the Alcoa Tornadoes should be considered the favorite to add another trophy to their hefty collection.
Offense
Alcoa’s powerhouse offense averaged 43.5 points per contest in 2019. Leading the charge was Isiah Cox, a 6-2, 185-pound receiver. Cox is ranked the 36th overall recruit in Tennessee. He has drawn interest from 20+ universities, including Appalachian State, Arizona State, Boston College, Charlotte, and Cincinnati. His most recent offer came on May 18, which was offered by the Western Carolina Catamounts.
Elijah Cannon and Itty Salter (5’7 160) are two more running backs that will be strong contributors.
Ahmaudd Sankey (5’10 185) is another name to keep an eye out for this season. A skilled wide receiver and a Knoxville 2019 All-Metro Second-Team Offense honoree. Sankey has a knack for finding ways to make big plays, a big reason why Tulane decided to extend him a scholarship offer. He also has impressive numbers in the weight room for his size, benches 255 pounds, squats 455 pounds, and deadlifts 465 pounds.
Under center, the Tornadoes will have a few nice options with Safdar McCrary (6’2 220) and Zach Lunsford (6’2 175). McCrary is a big Dual-Threat quarterback in the 2022 class that has ideal size and athletic ability. Lunsford is only a sophomore but has a nice arm and is ready to make an impact. The team will likely use both of them and manage the situation where they can get quality time.
The team lost four starters on the offensive line from the 2019 team. Alcoa has some young talent that will be ready to dive in and compete. Lance Williams is a 6’4 300-pound left tackle in the Class of 2023 with a lot of potential. Williams is also a state champion wrestler. Austin McGhee (6’5 225) will move from Tight End to Right Tackle. Joe Tuft (5’10 267) will be the Center. The guys upfront will quickly show they can pick up right where last year’s line left off.
Defense
The Tornadoes’ defense was the real difference-maker that has enabled them to be crowned champions . The team held their opponent to single-digit scoring totals in 80% of their games. Points rarely came easy. In fact, they held the opposition to 0 points in 10 of their 15 contests.
Remember, Isaiah Cox? Well, his contributions on the field are not just limited to the offensive end. Also a gifted linebacker, Cox was named to the 2019 All-State Defensive team for Class 3A in addition to being named Defensive Player of the Year in Region 2-3A for his role in helping the team’s defense to average five points allowed per game.
However, Grey Carrol (6’3 250) is the most sought after prospect of Alcoa’s defensive unit. The strongside defensive end accumulated 79.5 total tackles and 16 sacks for the Tornadoes. He gained quite the award collection from his 2019 campaign, being honored with a place on the All-State Defensive Team, the Knoxville Defense All-Metro First-Team, and Player of the Year for Region 2-3A. Carrol’s name was well known in the NCAA recruiting space, collecting 16 offers from different colleges before ultimately committing to Georgia Tech. He has enjoyed much of this success due to his athleticism, sporting a 33.5 vertical leap and 4.37 second shuttle time.
Another standout is Taharin Sudderth, a 6’4 231-pound defensive end. He has size, speed, and strength playing on the edge. Sudderth has over 20 Group 5 offers and should have Power 5 offers before the season is over. Major Newman (6’2 185) is a linebacker that will be a difference-maker this season.
Camden Burden (6’2 205) is a two-way star for the Tornadoes. Burden is an offensive weapon that can play multiple positions and was impressive as an outside linebacker on defense.
2020 Outlook
Alcoa’s rare combination of offensive and defensive dominance bodes well for the school as they attempt to keep the momentum up heading into the 2020 season. With several young and talented starters set to return, it appears as though the Tornadoes could be looking at yet another championship run.
