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The 2026 Tennessee high school football season is quickly approaching.
Last week, The Daily Herald highlighted the area's top returning TSSAA football players on defense, now we're giving fans the chance to select which athlete you believe will make the greatest impact this season.
Vote below to decide The Daily Herald's top TSSAA football player on defense entering the 2026 high school season.
Here are the nominees.
Conner Duncan, Battle Creek, Sr.: Duncan led the Grizzlies last season with 67 tackles, seven for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Nathanel Karkau, Columbia Academy, Jr.: In his sophomore season, Karkau had 40 tackles, six for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Xzavior Murphy, Columbia Central, Sr.: Murphy was an All-Region 4-5A First Team honoree after recording 40 tackles, 12 for a loss, five sacks and a forced fumble.
Zane Nash, Columbia Central, Jr.: Nash led the Lions with 76 tackles, 15 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning an All-Area First Team selection.
Brody Bullock, Independence, Sr.: Bullock had 48 tackles, three for a loss, five pass break ups and two interceptions at defensive back last season. He'll also line up at receiver for the Eagles.
More: Meet The Daily Herald's 2026 All-Area high school baseball teams
More: Columbia area's top TSSAA football players on offense for 2026 season
Gage Moses, Lawrence County, Sr.: Moses had 41 tackles, 12 for a loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal on the Wildcats' defensive line last season.
Hanlee Thornton, Loretto, Sr.: Thornton eclipsed 40 tackles at defensive back before his junior season was cut short due to a shoulder injury in Week 7.
Braydon Parish, Mt. Pleasant, Sr.: The senior linebacker had 77 tackles, 53 of them solo and 10 for a loss, along with three QB hurries and two forced fumbles.
AJ Seiber, Mt. Pleasant, Jr.: As a sophomore Seiber led the Tigers with 94 tackles, six for a loss and a forced fumble, earning an All-Area Second Team selection.
Collin Cagle, Richland, Sr.: Cagle was an All-Area First Team honoree last season after racking up 123 tackles and three interceptions. He also added 672 all-purpose yards with nine total touchdowns on offense.
Gavin Jacobs, Spring Hill, Sr.: Jacobs had 41 tackles, eight for a loss, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, earning an All-Area Second Team selection.
Jackson Taylor, Spring Hill, Sr.: Taylor recorded 47 tackles, five for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in his junior season.
Eli Shaffer, Summertown, Sr.: Shaffer led the Eagles with 50 tackles, five for a loss, a sack and an interception at linebacker last season.
Ryan Ellis, Summit, Sr.: Ellis was an All-Area First Team selection after leading the area with 146 tackles, while adding 8.5 TFLs, three forced fumbles, two sacks and an interception.
Be sure to cast your vote below before the poll closes at noon on Friday.
Harrison Campbell covers high school sports and more for The Daily Herald. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Vote for the Columbia area's top returning TSSAA football player on defense
Continue reading...
Last week, The Daily Herald highlighted the area's top returning TSSAA football players on defense, now we're giving fans the chance to select which athlete you believe will make the greatest impact this season.
Vote below to decide The Daily Herald's top TSSAA football player on defense entering the 2026 high school season.
Here are the nominees.
Conner Duncan, Battle Creek, Sr.: Duncan led the Grizzlies last season with 67 tackles, seven for a loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Nathanel Karkau, Columbia Academy, Jr.: In his sophomore season, Karkau had 40 tackles, six for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Xzavior Murphy, Columbia Central, Sr.: Murphy was an All-Region 4-5A First Team honoree after recording 40 tackles, 12 for a loss, five sacks and a forced fumble.
Zane Nash, Columbia Central, Jr.: Nash led the Lions with 76 tackles, 15 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning an All-Area First Team selection.
Brody Bullock, Independence, Sr.: Bullock had 48 tackles, three for a loss, five pass break ups and two interceptions at defensive back last season. He'll also line up at receiver for the Eagles.
More: Meet The Daily Herald's 2026 All-Area high school baseball teams
More: Columbia area's top TSSAA football players on offense for 2026 season
Gage Moses, Lawrence County, Sr.: Moses had 41 tackles, 12 for a loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal on the Wildcats' defensive line last season.
Hanlee Thornton, Loretto, Sr.: Thornton eclipsed 40 tackles at defensive back before his junior season was cut short due to a shoulder injury in Week 7.
Braydon Parish, Mt. Pleasant, Sr.: The senior linebacker had 77 tackles, 53 of them solo and 10 for a loss, along with three QB hurries and two forced fumbles.
AJ Seiber, Mt. Pleasant, Jr.: As a sophomore Seiber led the Tigers with 94 tackles, six for a loss and a forced fumble, earning an All-Area Second Team selection.
Collin Cagle, Richland, Sr.: Cagle was an All-Area First Team honoree last season after racking up 123 tackles and three interceptions. He also added 672 all-purpose yards with nine total touchdowns on offense.
Gavin Jacobs, Spring Hill, Sr.: Jacobs had 41 tackles, eight for a loss, 6.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, earning an All-Area Second Team selection.
Jackson Taylor, Spring Hill, Sr.: Taylor recorded 47 tackles, five for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble in his junior season.
Eli Shaffer, Summertown, Sr.: Shaffer led the Eagles with 50 tackles, five for a loss, a sack and an interception at linebacker last season.
Ryan Ellis, Summit, Sr.: Ellis was an All-Area First Team selection after leading the area with 146 tackles, while adding 8.5 TFLs, three forced fumbles, two sacks and an interception.
Be sure to cast your vote below before the poll closes at noon on Friday.
Harrison Campbell covers high school sports and more for The Daily Herald. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Vote for the Columbia area's top returning TSSAA football player on defense
Continue reading...
