Alcoa returns its 45-touchdown quarterback, Georgia commit Jamir Dean, leading tackler Darius Sudderth and a deep backfield while rebuilding around them.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/17/20266 min read
Alcoa lost once in 2025, then responded by winning five playoff games and another state championship. The Tornadoes beat Pearl-Cohn 47-27 in the TSSAA Class 4A final, finished 14-1 and extended their title streak to 11 consecutive seasons, this time in a higher classification after being bumped up due to their history of success.
The 2026 offense returns a quarterback who threw 45 touchdown passes, a Georgia commitment at receiver and multiple runners with championship-game production. The roster turnover is real in the trenches, but senior tackle Marlee Watts and leading tackler Darius Sudderth both return.
Team Snapshot
2025 record: 14-1
2025 region record: 6-1
2025 finish: TSSAA Class 4A state champion
2026 classification: TSSAA Class 4A, Region 2
Head coach: Brian Nix
2025 scoring: 692 points scored, 167 allowed
Active title streak: 11 consecutive state championships
2026 Outlook
Thomas Manu gives Alcoa an unusual level of certainty at quarterback. He completed 80.4 percent of 229 passes for 3,099 yards, 45 touchdowns and two interceptions as a junior. He also rushed for 327 yards and four scores. Manu does not have a current Division I offer, but his production is central to this team.
Jamir Dean remains the first receiving option. He caught 34 passes for 590 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025, then produced 120 receiving yards in the state final. The Class of 2027 receiver flipped his commitment from Penn State to Georgia in June.
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Jamerius Abuhania adds another experienced target after catching seven touchdown passes as a junior. He has a reported offer from UT Martin. Condis Cherry, Demauri Dubose and Micah Jones give Alcoa multiple returning runners, and Jones enters the fall after rushing for 120 yards and four touchdowns in the championship game.
The offensive line loses Texas Tech signee Jacob Crow, but it does not lose Watts. The Class of 2027 tackle was a junior in 2025 and remains a current Alcoa lineman. His return makes the protection rebuild more manageable around a quarterback who already sees the field at a championship level.
The defense also has enough returning production to avoid a full reset. Sudderth led Alcoa with 84 tackles and added 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as a junior. Jennaris Henry recorded 56 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a sophomore. Together they give the front seven two proven producers.
Henry is the other current Alcoa player with reported FBS offers. The Class of 2028 linebacker and edge defender has reported offers from Tennessee, Kentucky and Tulane. His role grows after the graduation of Cade Stinnett, Carter Cowart and Kenny Harris, who combined for 17.5 sacks.
Micah Jones, Dubose and Lucah Daugherty return in a secondary that created turnovers in 2025. The defense does not need to start over, but it must redistribute the work that left with three productive senior pass rushers.
Players to Know
Thomas Manu | QB | Class of 2027 Manu threw for 3,099 yards and 45 touchdowns with only two interceptions while completing 80.4 percent of his passes. His decision-making is the strongest reason Alcoa can change linemen and runners without changing expectations.
Jamir Dean | WR/CB | Class of 2027 Dean is committed to Georgia after 34 catches, 590 yards and 11 touchdowns in the available 2025 statistics. He also delivered his biggest receiving game on the championship stage.
Darius Sudderth | LB | Class of 2027 Sudderth returns after leading Alcoa with 84 tackles and adding 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He was incorrectly treated as a graduation loss in the old roster picture and is now restored as the defensive organizer.
Jennaris Henry | LB/EDGE | Class of 2028 Henry produced 56 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore. His FBS offer list includes Tennessee, Kentucky and Tulane, and his pressure becomes more valuable after three senior pass rushers graduated.
Jamerius Abuhania | WR/DB | Class of 2027 Abuhania caught seven touchdown passes in 2025 and holds a reported offer from UT Martin. He prevents defenses from treating Dean as Manu's only dependable target.
Micah Jones | RB/DB | Class of 2027 Jones rushed for 120 yards and four touchdowns in the Class 4A final and led the Tornadoes with five interceptions during the season. He can change a game from either side of the ball.
Condis Cherry and Demauri Dubose | RB/ATH | Class of 2027 Cherry and Dubose give Alcoa experienced options around Jones. Their rotation lets the Tornadoes keep the run game fresh without placing every carry on one player.
Marlee Watts | OT | Class of 2027 Watts is a returning senior tackle, not a graduated lineman. His experience is the anchor for a group replacing Crow and other senior blockers.
Schedule Breakdown
Alcoa starts on the road against its two biggest non-region tests. Maryville hosts the opener on Aug. 21, and Bearden hosts the Tornadoes one week later. Alcoa beat both teams in 2025, including a 28-21 win over Maryville.
Gibbs and West visit before road games at Union County and South-Doyle. Fulton, Heritage and Anderson County come to Alcoa, while the Tornadoes travel to Carter on Oct. 23.
The final game carries specific weight. Anderson County handed Alcoa its only 2025 loss, 31-30, before the Tornadoes began their playoff run. This year's rematch is at Alcoa and closes the regular season.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Aug. 21: at Maryville
Aug. 28: at Bearden
Sept. 4: vs. Gibbs
Sept. 11: vs. West
Sept. 18: at Union County
Sept. 25: vs. Fulton
Oct. 2: at South-Doyle
Oct. 9: Open date
Oct. 16: vs. Heritage
Oct. 23: at Carter
Oct. 30: vs. Anderson County
Biggest Question
Can Alcoa rebuild enough of both lines to preserve its physical advantage?
Manu, Dean and the backfield give the offense proven answers, while Sudderth and Henry give the defense returning production. Crow is gone, and Stinnett, Cowart and Harris leave 17.5 sacks behind. The new starters do not have to be stars immediately, but they must hold up at Maryville and Bearden before region play takes over.
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10-0 regular season; wins the Class 4A state championship.
I have Alcoa extending the streak to 12 titles (that's insane!!). Manu's efficiency, Dean's big-play ability and the returning backfield give the Tornadoes more proven offense than their Class 4A peers. Maryville and Anderson County are the clearest threats to an unbeaten regular season, but the return of Sudderth and Watts gives the Tornadoes proven experience at two critical spots.
Bottom Line
Alcoa is changing pieces around a proven championship core. The quarterback, top receiver, leading tackler, second-leading sack producer, state-final MVP and a veteran tackle all return.
The title streak will not extend on history alone, but this roster has current production behind the standard. If the new line starters develop around Watts, Sudderth and Henry, Alcoa has enough to win every game on the prediction line.
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