Early Dandy Dozen: Looking at Memphis area's top football prospects in 2026 class

Early Dandy Dozen: Looking at Memphis area’s top football prospects in 2026 class

Posted by author February 4, 2025 Football

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Players from The Commercial Appeal’s 2024 Dandy Dozen have finished their TSSAA football careers, with many having already signed to play in college.

Now, the CA is taking a look at next fall’s potential athletes from the 2026 class for its 2025 Dandy Dozen, a hand-picked group of the area’s top senior-class recruits.

Here is a way-too-early look at the Memphis area football players who could be among the 12 chosen for the 2025 Tennessee high school football season. Players are listed alphabetically.

Andre Amos Jr.

Germantown | 6-foot-4, 315 pounds | OL

Why chosen: Amos was a member of The Commercial Appeal’s All-Metro first team after allowing zero sacks and delivering 125 pancake blocks for Germantown. He has offers from Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss, Western Kentucky and others.

Darrius Baldwin

Melrose | 5-10, 170 | DB

Why chosen: Baldwin was one of the top defenders on the Melrose team that advanced to the 4A state final. He recently picked up an offer from Middle Tennessee.

Marterius Boyd

Lausanne | 5-7, 160 | ATH

Why chosen: Boyd has offers from Arkansas and Miami (OH). Along with being one of Lausanne’s top defensive backs (12 tackles), Boyd rushed for 683 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Celley Davis

Houston | 6-0, 190 | RB

Why chosen: Davis was one of the area’s top running backs last season, posting 1,256 yards and nine touchdowns. He’s received plenty of Division I interest, including offers from TCU, Indiana, Miami (OH), Arkansas State and others.

Raderrion Daniels

Lake Cormorant | 6-1, 170 | DB

Why chosen: Daniels, rated a three-star by 247Sports, recorded 28 tackles, three interceptions, 12 pass breakups and two forced fumbles last season, earning a spot on the All-Metro second team. He has 26 offers, including Ole Miss, Arkansas, LSU, Missouri and Memphis.

Andrus Farmer

Memphis Central | 5-10, 150 | WR

Farmer was an All-Metro first-team selection after one of the most productive seasons of any area receiver, making 40 catches for 867 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has an offer from UT Martin.

TJ Jenkins

Lausanne | 5-10, 170 | QB

Why chosen: Jenkins threw for 1,276 yards and eight touchdowns last season with 424 rushing yards and four scores. He has an offer from Limestone University.

Tylen Mathews

Lake Cormorant | 6-0, 175 | DB

Why chosen: Mathews, a three-star per the 247Sports Composite, posted 34 tackles with three interceptions and five pass breakups last season. He has offers from Tennessee, Auburn, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Memphis among others.

Tre’von McGory

Germantown | 6-0, 170 | WR

Why chosen: McGory is a three-star per 247Sports’ Composite rankings and is ranked as the No. 19 recruit in Tennessee’s 2026 class. He made 27 catches for 510 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. He has 18 offers, including Arkansas, Auburn, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Memphis.

Emanuel Palmer

Collierville | WR

Why chosen: Palmer was Collierville’s leading receiver last season and an All-Metro second-team selection after making 44 catches for 715 yards and eight touchdowns. He has an offer from North Alabama.

Kelvin Perkins

Southwind | 6-0, 180 | QB

Why chosen: After a 5A Mr. Football season in 2023, Perkins was a Mr. Football finalist and All-Metro first-team selection in 2024 after throwing for 1,759 yards and 27 touchdowns with just one interception. He has offers from Austin Peay, UT Martin, Central Arkansas and others.

Jawell Rodgers

Lausanne | 6-0, 180 | ATH

Why chosen: Rodgers led Lausanne with 683 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 31 catches. He has offers from Miami (OH), UNLV and Arkansas State.

Cooper Sherrod

Collierville | 6-3, 300 | OL

Why chosen: Sherrod was a 6A All-State and All-Metro first-team selection this past season. He has offers from Memphis, Tulane, Miami (OH) and Kent State.

Marshall Smith

Collierville | 6-5, 240 | DL

Why chosen: Smith made 21 tackles including eight tackles for loss on one of the area’s top defenses. He has received offers from North Alabama, Southern Miss, ETSU and Florida Atlantic.

Charles Sullins

Southwind | 6-2, 240 | DL

Why chosen: Sullins made 42 tackles including five tackles for loss and seven sacks last season. He has offers from Temple, Eastern Kentucky and Florida Central Tech.

Christopher Talley

Whitehaven | 5-11, 170 | RB

Why chosen: Talley was one of the area’s top running backs last season, rushing for 1,543 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has an offer from Arkansas.

Terrance Whitley

Whitehaven | 5-9, 160 | WR

Why chosen: Whitley had 805 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns this past season and has an offer from Memphis.

Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal’s high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at wendell.shepherd@commercialappeal.com or on X @wendellsjr_.