Male Athlete of the Year

Maryville’s Blackmon embraces value of multi-sports training

Rebel junior T.D. Blackmon, a MaxPreps football All-American, proved one of Blount County’s best on the hardwood with an All-District 4AAA selection. Photos by Wallace Bowden

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

T.D. Blackmon is one of the most watched high school football players in the land.

A big year for Blackmon on the gridiron included being named a MaxPreps high school All-American, Class 6A Mr. Football and state championship game defensive most valuable player.

Maryville coach George Quarles fields inquiries from colleges interested in the Rebel All-American linebacker on an almost daily basis. More and more, it isn’t how many tackles Blackmon had last season they want to know, how much he benches, his time in the 40-yard dash.

How’s his jump shot?

Can he hit the 3?

That, statistics say, will have a lot to do with where the Barley’s/Blount Press Row Male Athlete of the Year ends up at the college level and beyond.