By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–It was only fitting that one of the best players in a region that produced the Class 2A state champion for the third straight year took his rightful place on the Class 2A All State football team.
Union City High School senior tackle Neil Brown — named by coaches in Region 7 as that league’s Best Lineman — was chosen as a member of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association All State unit today.
Brown, a four-year starter at tackle for the Golden Tornadoes, was one of just five players picked in 2A in entire state for the honor. He joins a long and illustrious list of players to earn the accolade from a program that counts four state titles and three state runners-up among its decorated history.
The 6-5, 280-pound Brown was the mainstay of both the offensive and defensive lines for the Purple and Gold in the 2020 campaign. Offensively, he helped pave the way for UC to average 295 yards rushing per-game and more than 320 yards in all.
The Tornadoes boasted a pair of 1,000-yard rushers (QB Wes Tilghman and FB Travon Westbrook), averaging six yards-per-play in a run-heavy option scheme.
On defense, he was a noted pass rusher and run stopper despite opponents regularly game-planning away from his side of the field and paying him extra attention otherwise.
Brown burst onto the scene his freshman year, earning a starting role at offensive tackle during the last of Union City’s four state championship seasons in 2017. He was a regular since and has drawn some college interest.
Nick Markle, who completed his first season in charge of the Tornadoes this season, said Brown was absolutely deserving of the honor.
“You don’t win superlatives like ‘Best Lineman’ in a league like ours without being an outstanding player,” Markle said. “Our was a region that was stacked, again, and produced the state champion (Peabody) again. There are some awful good linemen in our league and there are obviously a lot more throughout the state because of the numbers so many running backs and quarterbacks put up.
“I think Neil would tell you that this is a team away, though, and that he’s most proud that it keeps our program in the spotlight and among the very best when it comes to turning out good players. He’s just as good a student as he is a football player, too, and that makes me even more proud to be his coach.”
Peabody placed five players on the All State team, while Adamsville had a selection that gave Region 7 seven players in all chosen.
CLASS 2A
OFFENSE
QB – Luke Myers, South Greene, Jr.*
QB – Jacob Dooley, Waverly, Jr.
RB – Khalik Ganaway, Peabody, Jr.*
RB – Dylan Roebeck, Bledsoe County, Sr.
RB – Jordan Cason, Watertown, Sr.
WR – Brady Stanfield, Waverly, Sr.
WR – Quanterrius Hughes-Malone, Watertown, Sr.
WR – Kaden Snitzer, Eagleville, So.
OL – Malachi Hayden, Meigs County, Sr.
OL – Blake Minnis, Peabody, Sr.
OL – Neil Brown, Union City, Sr.
OL – Jackson Kelley, Rockwood, Sr.
OL – Shelton Hopkins, Peabody, Sr.
ATH – Will Meadows, Meigs County, Sr.*
K — Jay Higgins, South Greene, Jr.
DEFENSE
DL – Kaigan Thomas, Bledsoe County, Jr.
DL – C.J. King, Oneida, Jr.
DL – Jason Baskerville, Peabody, Jr.
DL – Luke Lewis, Riverside, Sr.
LB – London Burkett, Peabody, So.
LB – Hagan Lowe, Meigs County, Sr.
LB – Cameron Rankins, Trousdale County, Sr.
LB – Tucker Johnson, Adamsville, Sr.
DB – Taye Hutchins, Marion County, Sr.
DB – Marcus Collins, Eagleville, Jr.
DB – Xadrian Fickey, Rockwood, Jr.
DB – Carson Vandiver, Peabody, Sr.
ATH – Jordan Carter, Watertown, Sr.
P – Kolby Morgan, Oneida, Sr.