TSWA honors college players of the week - Nov. 11

November 11, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia and Tennessee Tech’s Theron Gaines were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, as announced by the organization.

Pavia accounted for a career-high 489 yards of total offense and four touchdowns in an overtime victory against Auburn. He completed 25-of-33 passes for a career-best 377 yards with three touchdowns while also rushing for a season-high 112 yards and a score. He became the first-ever player at Vanderbilt to post 300-plus passing yards and 100-plus rushing yards in a single game.

Pavia’s seven-yard TD run in the opening minute of the fourth quarter gave the Commodores their first lead in the contest and he connected with Cole Spence for the game-winning four-yard TD pass in overtime. His 489 yards of total offense are the second-highest posted by a Commodore since the 1996 campaign. Vanderbilt scored 45 points against an Auburn defense that had not allowed more than 24 in any of its first nine outings this season.

Gaines posted a season-high 11 tackles, six solo, recording two sacks and two quarterback hurries. He also recovered a fumble that he returned 10 yards for a touchdown with 3:50 remaining in the contest, his second defensive score of the season, putting the game away in a 21-9 victory against Eastern Illinois. He collected a sack on EIU’s first offensive snap of the game and added another later in the fourth quarter after the fumble return. Theron leads the Golden Eagles with 71 tackles this season and has 6.5 sacks and a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Maryville College’s Chase Morgan earned Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors, averaging 27.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in two wins to open the season for the Scots. He posted 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting with four boards and four assists in a win over Pfeiffer University. He followed that with 29 points, making 13-of-16 shots, with rebounds and four blocks versus Berry College.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Tennessee’s Talaysia Cooper was voted Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades, netting 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.3 steals in three games for the Lady Vols. She debuted with 23 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 31 minutes against No. 9/8 NC State, connecting on 9-of-17 shots with a pair of 3-pointers. Against ETSU in the home opener, she made 7-of-11 field goal attempts, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, netting 18 points with four rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 18 minutes of action. She finished the week with 10 points and three boards at UT Martin.

VOLLEYBALL: Belmont’s Brooke Gilleland garnered Volleyball Player of the Week recognition, registering 35 kills and 17 digs in two matches for the Bruins. She collected 21 kills, 12 digs and three aces at Southern Illinois and followed that with 14 kills and five digs versus Valparaiso. Gilleland ranks among the Missouri Valley Conference leaders in kills, double doubles and service aces and leads the Bruins with 318 kills, averaging 2.91 per set, along with 199 digs (2.21 per set) and 46 service aces this season.

2025 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Colton Hood, Tennessee (Defense)
Sept. 9 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech (Defense)
Sept. 16 | Bryson Rollins, Maryville College (Offense); CJ Heard, Vanderbilt (Defense)
Sept. 23 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Cannon Johnson, Cumberland (Defense)
Sept. 30 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Arion Carter, Tennessee (Defense)
Oct. 7 | Kekeo Visperas, Tennessee Tech (Offense); Kamari Todd, Chattanooga (Defense)
Oct. 14 | DeSean Bishop, Tennessee (Offense); Jacquese Abner, Maryville College (Defense)
Oct. 21 | Camden Orth, Chattanooga (Offense); Cruz Temple, Carson-Newman (Defense)
Oct. 28 | Chris Parson, Austin Peay (Offense); Montreze Smith, Jr., Austin Peay (Defense)
Nov. 4 | Bryson Rollins, Maryville College (Offense); Isaiah Cane, Carson-Newman (Defense)
Nov. 11 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech (Defense)

2025-26 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 | Chase Morgan, Maryville College

2025-26 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Nov. 11 | Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee

TSWA/USA Today Network Prep Poll - Nov. 10

November 10, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced football rankings after Week 12 on Monday. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II classes were selected by TSWA members and USA Today writers with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

Division I
Class 1A
1. McKenzie (10-1) – 157 (13). Last Week: No. 1
2. South Pittsburg (10-1) – 147 (3). Last Week: No. 2
3. Coalfield (9-2) – 127. Last Week: No. 3
4. Clay County (10-1) – 110. Last Week: No. 4
5. Dresden (9-2) – 98. Last Week: No. 6
6. Richland (9-2) – 77. Last Week: No. 7
7. Memphis Middle College (9-1) – 59. Last Week: No. 8
8. Sale Creek (10-1) – 49. Last Week: No. 9
9. Midway (8-3) – 26. Last Week: 10
10. South Fulton (9-2) – 22. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. Milan (10-0) – 155 (11). Last Week: No. 1
2. East Robertson (11-0) – 149 (5). Last Week: No. 2
3. Marion County (10-1) – 124. Last Week: No. 3
4. Huntingdon (10-1) – 108. Last Week: No. 4
5. Gordonsville (11-0) – 98. Last Week: No. 5
6. Fairley (9-2) – 74. Last Week: No. 6
7. Happy Valley (11-0) – 59. Last Week: No. 7
8. Peabody (9-2) – 45. Last Week: No. 8
9. East Nashville (5-5) – 40. Last Week: No. 9
10. Bledsoe County (9-2) – 21. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 3A
1. Westview (10-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman (11-0) – 135. Last Week: No. 2
3. Tyner Academy (10-1) – 127. Last Week: No. 3
4. Meigs County (10-1) – 106. Last Week: No. 4
5. Covington (10-1) – 97. Last Week: No. 6
6. Melrose (9-1) – 90. Last Week: No. 5
7. Unicoi County (9-2) – 56. Last Week: No. 7
8. Fairview (9-2) – 48. Last Week: No. 9
9. Giles County (8-3) – 34. Last Week: 9
10. Sequatchie County (8-3) – 15. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Greeneville (10-1) – 150 (9). Last Week: No. 1
2. Alcoa (10-1) – 142 (5). Last Week: No. 2
3. Anderson County (8-2) – 132. Last Week: No. 3
4. Springfield (10-1)– 107. Last Week: No. 4
5. Pearl-Cohn (7-4) – 101. Last Week: No. 5
6. Upperman (9-2) – 84. Last Week: No. 6
7. Stone Memorial (10-1) – 59. Last Week: No. 9
8. South Gibson (8-3) – 43. Last Week: No. 10
9. Gibbs (9-2) – 36. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Dyer County (9-2) – 10. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 5A
1. Page (10-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Sevier County (10-1) – 144. Last Week: No. 2
3. Powell (9-1) – 118. Last Week: No. 4
4. Beech (9-1) – 117. Last Week: No. 3
5. Munford (10-1) – 88. Last Week: No. 5
6. Knox Central (9-2) – 85. Last Week: No. 6
7. Memphis Central (9-2) – 65. Last Week: 8
8. Kirkwood (9-2) – 43. Last Week: No. 10
9. Henry County (7-3) – 29. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Lincoln County (9-2) – 12. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 6A
1. Oakland (11-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Ravenwood (11-0) – 144. Last Week: No. 2
3. Maryville (10-1) – 128. Last Week: No. 3
4. Southwind (11-0) – 111. Last Week: No. 4
5. Blackman (10-1) – 97. Last Week: No. 5
6. Riverdale (8-3) – 68. Last Week: No. 6
7. Dobyns Bennett (10-1) – 55. Last Week: No. 9
8. Antioch (10-1) – 47. Last Week: No. 8
9. Green Hill (9-2) – 33. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Science Hill (8-3) – 23. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: Collierville (11)

Division II-A
1. Nashville Christian (10-0) – 80 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. University School of Jackson (9-1) – 58. Last Week: 2
3. Friendship Christian (9-2) – 53. Last Week: No. 3
4. Trinity Christian (9-2) – 33. Last Week: No. 4
5. Jackson Christian (9-2) – 16. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Boyd Buchanan (10-0) – 76 (15). Last Week: No. 1
2. Franklin Road Academy (9-1) – 66 (1). Last Week: No. 2
3. Battle Ground Academy (10-1) – 49. Last Week: No. 3
4. Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville (9-2) – 31. Last Week: No. 4
5. Lausanne Collegiate (7-3) – 18. Last Week: 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor School (9-0) – 80 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Brentwood Academy (9-0) – 63. Last Week: No. 2
3. McCallie School (9-2) – 46. Last Week: No. 3
4. Ensworth School (7-3) – 35. Last Week: No. 4
5. Briarcrest Christian (7-3) – 16. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Publications that participated in the voting include The Tennessean in Nashville, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, The Daily Herald in Columbia, The Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, The Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, 615Preps.com, The Chattanooga Times-Free Press, Five Star Preps, The Mirror-Exchange in Milan, Tri-Cities Sports, The Westmoreland News, The Herald Citizen in Cookeville and Union City Messenger.

College players of the week named by TSWA - Nov. 4

November 4, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Maryville College’s Bryson Rollins and Carson-Newman’s Isaiah Cane were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, as announced by the organization.

Rollins completed 24-of-31 passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns, all to different receivers), in a 42-22 victory over Rhodes College. He tossed scoring throws of 28, 14 and seven in the first 17 minutes of the game, helping the Scots to a 28-15 halftime lead. The junior posted TD passes of 26 and 11 yards in the second half.

Rollins also rushed for a team-best 56 yards on four carries, including a 51-yard scamper. He has passed for 2,734 yards and 26 touchdowns in eight games this season.

Cane posted three tackles and intercepted a pass with 69 seconds remaining, preserving a 24-16 win over Catawba College. The Eagles held Catawba 20 points below their season scoring average and to 4-of-13 on third down against a team that was leading the nation in third down efficiency. Catawba scored just one touchdown in five trips into the red zone as well, with Cane’s INT ending the final drive.

He has 18 tackles, two interceptions, six pass breakups and eight passes defended along with one fumble recovery in eight games this season.

MEN’S SOCCER: Maryville College’s Brady Hammer earned Men’s Soccer Player of the Week honors, scoring twice and assisting on another goal in a 3-2 victory in the semifinals of the conference tournament, all in the final 15 minutes of the match. With the Scots trailing 2-0, he assisted on a Ben Brophy goal in the 76th minute and netted the equalizer unassisted in the 80th minute. He then converted a penalty kick 47 seconds later for the game-winner against Belhaven University. Hammer has 10 goals and 13 assists this season, both team-highs.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Trevecca Nazarene’s Riley Kate Collins was voted Women’s Soccer Player of the Week accolades, netting her first two goals of the season in a 5-3 victory over Christian Brothers. She found the back of the net midway through the first half and then again in the 57th minute.

VOLLEYBALL: Maryville College’s Kylie Wilhelmi collected Volleyball Player of the Week recognition, posting 39 kills and 15 digs in two matches for the Scots. She registered 22 kills and eight digs at Belhaven University and followed that with 17 kills and seven digs versus Piedmont University, committing just four errors in 78 attacks across the two outings. She has 442 kills in 29 matches this season, 4.21 per set, along with 316 digs, 3.01 per set.

2025 TSWA FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Colton Hood, Tennessee (Defense)
Sept. 9 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Theron Gaines, Tennessee Tech (Defense)
Sept. 16 | Bryson Rollins, Maryville College (Offense); CJ Heard, Vanderbilt (Defense)
Sept. 23 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Cannon Johnson, Cumberland (Defense)
Sept. 30 | Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (Offense); Arion Carter, Tennessee (Defense)
Oct. 7 | Kekeo Visperas, Tennessee Tech (Offense); Kamari Todd, Chattanooga (Defense)
Oct. 14 | DeSean Bishop, Tennessee (Offense); Jacquese Abner, Maryville College (Defense)
Oct. 21 | Camden Orth, Chattanooga (Offense); Cruz Temple, Carson-Newman (Defense)
Oct. 28 | Chris Parson, Austin Peay (Offense); Montreze Smith, Jr., Austin Peay (Defense)
Nov. 4 | Bryson Rollins, Maryville College (Offense); Isaiah Cane, Carson-Newman (Defense)

2025 TSWA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Sept. 3 l Caroline Macander, Middle Tennessee
Sept. 9 | Kylie Wilhelmi, Maryville College
Sept. 16 | Emerson Ahsmuhs, Carson-Newman
Sept. 23 | Kamryn Chaney, Vanderbilt
Sept. 30 | Raegan Durbin, Middle Tennessee
Oct. 7 | Addison Cunnagin, Trevecca Nazarene
Oct. 14 | Raegan Durbin, Middle Tennessee
Oct. 21 | Caroline Macander, Middle Tennessee
Oct. 28 | Emerson Ahsmuhs, Carson-Newman
Nov. 4 | Kylie Wilhelmi, Maryville College

TSWA/USA Today Network Prep Poll - Nov. 3

November 3, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association and USA Today Network announced football rankings after Week 11 on Monday. Top 10 teams in each of the six Division I classifications and Top 5 in three Division II classes were selected by TSWA members and USA Today writers with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

Division I
Class 1A
1. McKenzie (9-1) – 157 (13). Last Week: No. 1
2. South Pittsburg (9-1) – 147 (3). Last Week: No. 2
3. Coalfield (8-2) – 125. Last Week: No. 3
4. Clay County (9-1) – 107. Last Week: No. 4
5. Hampton (9-1) – 97. Last Week: No. 5
6. Dresden (8-2) – 87. Last Week: No. 6
7. Richland (8-2) – 60. Last Week: No. 7
8. Memphis Middle College (8-1) – 44. Last Week: No. 8
9. Sale Creek (9-1) – 27. Last Week: No. 10
10. Midway (7-3) – 20. Last Week: 9
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 2A
1. Milan (9-0) – 155 (11). Last Week: No. 1
2. East Robertson (10-0) – 149 (5). Last Week: No. 2
3. Marion County (9-1) – 122. Last Week: No. 3
4. Huntingdon (9-1) – 114. Last Week: No. 4
5. Gordonsville (10-0) – 95. Last Week: No. 5
6. Fairley (8-2) – 81. Last Week: No. 7
7. Happy Valley (10-0) – 52. Last Week: No. 9
8. Peabody (8-2) – 43. Last Week: No. 6
t9. East Nashville (4-5) – 29. Last Week: No. 8
t9. Bledsoe County (8-2) – 29. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: Lewis County (11)

Class 3A
1. Westview (9-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Gatlinburg-Pittman (10-0) – 140. Last Week: No. 2
3. Tyner Academy (9-1) – 124. Last Week: No. 4
4. Meigs County (9-1) – 105. Last Week: No. 5
5. Melrose (8-1) – 94. Last Week: No. 6
6. Covington (9-1) – 93. Last Week: No. 3
7. Unicoi County (8-2) – 55. Last Week: No. 9
8. Fairview (8-2) – 51. Last Week: No. 10
9. Giles County (8-2) – 34. Last Week: Not Ranked
10. Waverly (9-1) – 23. Last Week: 8
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 4A
1. Greeneville (9-1) – 152 (12). Last Week: No. 2
2. Alcoa (9-1) – 131 (3). Last Week: No. 1
3. Anderson County (7-2) – 123. Last Week: No. 7
4. Springfield (9-1)– 117. Last Week: No. 3
5. Pearl-Cohn (6-4) – 102 (1). Last Week: No. 4
6. Upperman (8-2) – 92. Last Week: No. 5
7. Haywood (8-2) – 59. Last Week: No. 8
8. Elizabethton (8-2) – 47. Last Week: 6
9. Stone Memorial (9-1) – 37. Last Week: No. 9
10. South Gibson (7-3) – 18. Last Week: No. 10
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 5A
1. Page (9-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Sevier County (9-1) – 144. Last Week: No. 2
3. Beech (8-1) – 115. Last Week: No. 5
4. Powell (8-1) – 111. Last Week: No. 4
5. Munford (9-1) – 98. Last Week: No. 3
6. Knox Central (8-2) – 83. Last Week: No. 8
7. Rhea County (9-1) – 60. Last Week: No. 9
8. Memphis Central (8-2) – 45. Last Week: Not Ranked
9. East Hamilton (8-2) – 36. Last Week: No. 6
10. Kirkwood (8-2) – 16. Last Week: No. 7
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Class 6A
1. Oakland (10-0) – 160 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Ravenwood (10-0) – 144. Last Week: No. 2
3. Maryville (9-1) – 127. Last Week: No. 3
4. Southwind (10-0) – 112. Last Week: No. 5
5. Blackman (9-1) – 94. Last Week: No. 6
6. Oak Ridge (9-1) – 74. Last Week: No. 4
7. Riverdale (7-3) – 53. Last Week: No. 7
8. Antioch (9-1) – 35. Last Week: No. 9
9. Dobyns Bennett (9-1) – 28. Last Week: No. 10
10. Clarksville (8-2) – 23. Last Week: Not Ranked
Other who received 10 or more points: Germantown (19)

Division II-A
1. Nashville Christian (9-0) – 80 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. University School of Jackson (9-1) – 60. Last Week: 3
3. Friendship Christian (8-2) – 50. Last Week: No. 2
4. Trinity Christian (8-2) – 34. Last Week: No. 4
5. Jackson Christian (8-2) – 16. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AA
1. Boyd Buchanan (9-0) – 78 (15). Last Week: No. 1
2. Franklin Road Academy (8-1) – 64 (1). Last Week: No. 2
3. Battle Ground Academy (9-1) – 49. Last Week: No. 3
4. Grace Christian Academy-Knoxville (8-2) – 33. Last Week: No. 4
5. Lausanne Collegiate (6-3) – 16. Last Week: 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

Division II-AAA
1. Baylor School (9-0) – 80 (16). Last Week: No. 1
2. Brentwood Academy (9-0) – 63. Last Week: No. 2
3. McCallie School (8-2) – 46. Last Week: No. 3
4. Ensworth School (7-3) – 35. Last Week: No. 4
5. Briarcrest Christian (7-3) – 16. Last Week: No. 5
Other who received 10 or more points: None

TSWA recognizes college players of the week - Oct. 28

October 28, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – Austin Peay’s Chris Parson and Montreze Smith, Jr., were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Tuesday, as announced by the organization.

Parson completed 17-of-24 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 12 times for 53 yards and three more TDs in a 56-28 victory over North Alabama. He tossed a season-long 79-yard scoring pass along with TD throws of six and 47 yards. He posted a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and 37 and six-yard TD carries in the fourth quarter. The Governors scored 21 of the final 28 points of the contest to pull away, with Parson accounting for 364 yards of total offense in the contest.

Smith, Jr., registered 12 tackles with 10 solo stops, one tackle for loss and two interceptions. He picked off a pass at the APSU 31-yard line late in the first quarter, returning it 24 yards, and another in the fourth period at the APSU goal line.

MEN’S SOCCER: Lincoln Memorial’s Gian-Carlo Kama earned Men’s Soccer Player of the Week honors, netting three goals in a 4-3 back-and-forth win over Carson-Newman. He scored in the 15th minute for the first goal of the match and recorded the equalizer in the 74th minute. He found the back of the net again five minutes later for the game-winner. He leads the club with seven goals this season.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Maryville College’s Hannah Smoot was voted Women’s Soccer Player of the Week accolades, registering three goals with an assist in a Scots victory against Wesleyan College. She netted goals in the 10th, 25th and 42nd minutes and assisted on a goal in the 39th minute. She leads the team with 11 goals and five assists this year.

VOLLEYBALL: Carson-Newman’s Emerson Ahsmuhs collected Volleyball Player of the Week recognition, logging her 10th and 11th double-doubles of the season in two matches for the Eagles. She recorded 20 kills and 13 digs versus Mars Hill and added 19 kills and 20 digs against Catawba College for her fifth straight double-double. The 20 digs against Catawba marked the fifth 20-dig outing of the season for the sophomore.