Crystal Dangerfield led Blackman to its second straight Class AAA state championship in March.
Jauan Jennings of Blackman
MURFREESBORO – Jauan Jennings and Jack Jones are no longer rivals on the football field.
The two Rutherford County high school football standouts now are teammates at the University of Tennessee as early enrollees.
Jennings and Jones were named The Daily News Journal’s Co-Male Athletes of the Year on Sunday at the 22nd annual All Sports Banquet presented by First Tennessee Bank.
Blackman junior Crystal Dangerfield was named The DNJ’s Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year.
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Jack Jones of Oakland.
Jennings and Jones each were honored with Mr. Football awards. Jennings received the Mr. Football Back award while Jones received the Mr. Football Lineman award for the second consecutive season. Jones is the lone Oakland player to receive the Mr. Football award.
Jennings completed 125-of-222 passes for a school-record 2,169 yards and 22 touchdowns. The dual-threat quarterback also rushed for 877 yards and 17 touchdowns.
His dynamic play helped lead Blackman to the District 7-AAA championship. The Blaze reached the 6A state quarterfinals last season, losing to Oakland.
Jones is considered one of the best offensive lineman to come out of Rutherford County. He anchored a talented offensive line with his physical play on the line of scrimmage despite missing a couple games at the start of the season because of a knee sprain.
DNJ prep editor Tom Kreager, left, stands with Female Athlete of the Year Crystal Dangerfield and First Tennessee President Phil Holt at the 22nd Annual All Sports Awards Banquet on Sunday in Murfreesboro.
Oakland reached the Class 6A state semifinals last season, falling to eventual state champion Maryville.
“I really enjoyed this season, my senior year,” Jones said. “The group of guys I played with I’ve been with since I was 6 years old. I wish we could have finished on top, but I have nothing to hang my head at. All of us played our hearts out until the very end.”
Dangerfield, a Connecticut women’s basketball commitment, helped lead Blackman to its second straight Class AAA state championship in March. She averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 assists this past season.
The DNJ award is the most recent in a growing list of honors for the 5-foot-5 point guard. She was named the Tennessee Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the year for the second consecutive season. She received the TSSAA’s Miss Basketball award and was named a MaxPreps All-American first team member.
Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @kreager.
PAST DNJ ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Male Athletes of the Year
•2015: Jauan Jennings, Blackman; Jack Jones, Oakland
•2014: Jauan Jennings, Blackman
•2013: Brent Stockstill, Siegel
•2012: I’Tavius Mathers, Blackman
•2011: I’Tavius Mathers, Blackman
•2010: Terry Hodges, La Vergne
•2009: Josh Patton, Blackman
•2008: Sonny Gray, Smyrna
•2007: Sonny Gray, Smyrna
•2006: Adam Smotherman, Smyrna
•2005: Justin Jones, Riverdale
•2004: David Price, Blackman
•2003: David Price, Blackman
•2002: Ralph King, Riverdale
•2001: Ralph King, Riverdale
•2000: Ted Montgomery, Riverdale
•1999: Luke Powell, Smyrna
•1998: Eric Locke, Riverdale; Brennan King, Oakland
•1997: Eric Locke, Riverdale; Bret Matz, La Vergne
•1996: Larry Daniels, Smyrna
•1995: Alvin Duke, Riverdale
Female Athletes of the Year
•2015: Crystal Dangerfield, Blackman
•2014: Crystal Dangerfield, Blackman; Alexa Middleton, Riverdale
•2013: Olivia Jones, Riverdale
•2012: Shacobia Barbee, Riverdale
•2011: Shacobia Barbee, Riverdale
•2010: Shacobia Barbee, Riverdale
•2009: Dymon Raynor, Smyrna
•2008: Morgan Faulkner, Siegel
•2007: Anne Marie Lanning, Riverdale
•2006: Bekah Carroll, La Vergne
•2005: Ashley Asberry, Oakland
•2004: Alana Hicks, Blackman
•2003: Miranda Clark, Riverdale
•2002: Melissa Weiland, Riverdale
•2001: Erin MacBeth, Oakland
•2000: Erin MacBeth, Oakland
•1999: Kristin Peck, Smyrna
•1998: Monique Alsup, Riverdale
•1997: Katherine Cox, Smyrna
•1996: Jaclyn Story, Smyrna
•1995: Rachael Short, Riverdale