Vote for the Ponce Law 2025 TSSAA football Preseason Top Kick Returner from the Nashville area.
The Tennessean ranked the top 20 Nashville area high school kick returners ahead of the 2025 TSSAA football season.
Now, you get to choose the best.
Vote for the Ponce Law 2025 Preseason Top Kick Returner. Voting will close Thursday at noon.
Rankings were based on 2024 statistics, strength of schedule, observations, recruiting interest, and coach feedback. Players below are listed by their grade for the 2025-26 school year and in order of their schools alphabetically.
Owen Cabell, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.: Cabell, an Alabama commitment, had 225 total yards in returns and returned one kickoff for a TD.
Jamarcus Watkins, Clarksville, Sr.: Watkins, who has a Vanderbilt offer, returned one kickoff for a touchdown in 2024.
Josh Bolden,Davidson Academy, Sr.: Bolden had 10 punt returns for 181 yards and a touchdown in 2024. He had 23 kickoff returns for 585 yards and one score.
Kinnie Fuller, East Nashville, Sr.: Fuller had 310 yards on punt and kick returns, with one kickoff TD and one punt return score.
Justin Hopkins, Ensworth, Sr.: Hopkins, a Minnesota defensive back commitment, returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score and averaged 11 yards on punt returns.
Bishop Starling, Ensworth, Sr.: Starling, a standout defensive back, returned one punt for a touchdown as a junior.
Mike Hassell, Franklin Road Academy, Sr.: Hassell had five kickoff returns for 245 yards and two TDs, averaging 49 yards a return. His offers include Marshall, Eastern Kentucky and ETSU.
Javarion Bradford, Hillsboro, Sr.: Bradford finished with 433 kick return yards, returning two for scores. He has offers from Grambling State and Southern Miss.
Jadon Stafford, Lebanon, Jr.: Stafford returned five kicks for touchdowns as a sophomore.
Marianta Waters, Maplewood, Jr.: Waters finished with 322 kick return yards, taking two for TDs.
Kaden Grigsby, Nashville Christian, Jr.: Grigsby totaled 447 yards in return yardage. He returned one punt for a TD and one kick for a score.
Craig Tutt, Oakland, Sr.: Tutt, a four-star safety prospect, had 321 total kick return yardage with 1 kickoff return TD for 96 yards. His finalists are Tennessee, Auburn and Ole Miss.
Knight Wilson, Page, Sr.: Wilson, an Air Force commitment, returned seven kicks for 270 yards, averaging 38.6 yards per attempt.
Cy Longley, Ravenwood, Sr.: Longley averaged 13.9 yards per punt return and took one for a TD. He also averaged 26 yards on kick returns.
Jayden Westmoreland, Rossview, Sr.: Westmoreland, the Region 6-7A athlete of the year, had 415 yards in punt and kick return yardage with one kickoff return TD.
Joseph Campbell, Stratford, Jr.: Campbell Jr. had 356 total yards in kick and punt returns and returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Kaden McCrory, Summertown, Jr.: McCrory had 269 yards in kick returns and took two for touchdowns.
Hicks Hunter, Sycamore, Sr.: Hunter had 298 yards in kickoff and punt returns and returned two kicks for scores. He's also a standout running back, rushing for 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.
Carmine Phillips, Upperman, Sr.: Phillips had 12 punt returns for 299 yards and two touchdowns. He returned 10 kickoffs for 194 yards.
Jocquais Covington, Whites Creek, Sr.: Covington returned two punts and one kick for a touchdown in 2024. He had 11 punt returns for 260 yards and four kick returns for 175 yards. .
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for him? Reach Tyler at [email protected] and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also writes The Tennessean’s high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg.Subscribe to the newsletter here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA football: Vote for Ponce Law top preseason kick returner in Nashville
Category: General Sports
