Austin-East Roadrunners Football – 2025 Season

Posted on by Timothy G. Elrod

Team History and Awards

Austin-East High School, also known as Austin-East Magnet High School, is located at 2800 Martin Luther King Jr Ave in Knoxville, Tennessee. The school fields athletic teams known as the Roadrunners, sporting scarlet red and Columbia blue colors. Austin-East is operated by Knox County Schools and includes a magnet school program in performing arts. The school is the successor to two formerly racially segregated schools—the all-black Austin High School (founded in 1879) and the all-white East High School—which were combined in 1968 to form the integrated Austin-East High School.

The Roadrunners’ football program has a proud championship tradition, having captured two TSSAA state championships: 1983 (Class AA) and 2001 (Class 3A). The program also finished as state runner-up in 1985 and 1987, demonstrating sustained excellence during that era. The 2001 championship team completed a remarkable 13-2 season, bringing home the Class 3A title. Currently competing in TSSAA Division I Class 3A, Region 2, Austin-East continues to develop young athletes while maintaining its commitment to academic and athletic excellence.

Team Highlights and Notable Alumni

Championship History: Austin-East has won two state football championships, establishing the program as one of Knoxville’s most successful:

  • 1983 – Class AA State Champions
  • 2001 – Class 3A State Champions (13-2 record)

The program also reached the state championship game in 1985 and 1987, finishing as runner-up both years, demonstrating remarkable consistency during the mid-1980s.

Notable Football Alumni: Austin-East has produced exceptional talent that has gone on to success at the highest levels:

  • Leroy Thompson – Former NFL running back known for his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. Thompson was an All-American football player who led Austin-East to state championships in football, basketball, and track during his senior year (1987 graduate).
  • Reggie McKenzie – Former NFL player and executive who notably served as general manager for the Las Vegas Raiders, demonstrating success both on the field and in NFL front offices.
  • Joe Fishback – Professional football player who also played college ball in the SEC and won two Super Bowl championships (1987).
  • Tavon Austin – Former NFL wide receiver who played for the St. Louis Rams and other teams, known for his explosive playmaking ability.
  • Carl Torbush – Football coach who attended East High School and remained at Austin-East after the merger, graduating in the merged school’s first class. He was the first Austin-East football player to receive all-state recognition.

2025 Season Leadership: Under Head Coach Stanton Stevens and Assistant Coach Tobran Tillman, the Roadrunners continue to build on their championship tradition while developing the next generation of student-athletes.

Meet the Team – 2025 Roster Snapshot

Head Coach: Stanton Stevens
Assistant Coach: Tobran Tillman

Offense

  • Deandre Adair (#4, So., QB/DB) – 5’9″, 140 lbs
  • Spencer Moore (#5, Jr., QB/LB) – 6’1″, 195 lbs
  • Nymire Jackson (#9, So., QB/FS) – 5’5″, 135 lbs
  • Landon Lightfoot (#18, Fr., QB/DB) – 6’0″, 150 lbs
  • Dallas Young (#2, Sr., RB/LB) – 5’11”, 175 lbs
  • Jarvis Henderson (#6, Sr., RB/LB) – 5’10”, 225 lbs
  • Jucorius Towns (#11, Jr., RB/LB) – 5’11”, 195 lbs
  • Jakobe Harris-McKenzie (#24, So., RB/DE) – 5’9″, 145 lbs
  • Jamarion Chatman (#26, Fr., RB/DB) – 5’7″, 135 lbs
  • Aaron Flowers (#30, So., RB/LB) – 5’7″, 145 lbs
  • Keyvon Booker (#33, Fr., RB/LB) – 5’11”, 160 lbs
  • Trashawn Hardin (#39, Sr., RB/DB) – 5’8″, 155 lbs
  • Jeffery Minor (#56, Jr., FB/DE) – 5’10”, 185 lbs
  • Dikyeis Towns (#3, So., WR/DB) – 5’10”, 155 lbs
  • Travis Claiborne (#7, Jr., WR/DB) – 5’7″, 145 lbs
  • Jaylon Evans-Thomas (#8, Sr., WR/DB) – 5’9″, 165 lbs
  • Ken Easterly (#10, Jr., WR/DB) – 5’10”, 165 lbs
  • Julis Young (#12, Fr., WR/DB) – 6’1″, 155 lbs
  • Sam Cochran (#13, So., WR/DB) – 5’5″, 135 lbs
  • Jeremiah Dean (#14, Sr., WR/DB) – 5’9″, 145 lbs
  • Travis Tucker (#15, Jr., WR/DB) – 6’0″, 150 lbs
  • Kamari Ladd (#16, Jr., WR/DB) – 5’7″, 155 lbs
  • Dewyone Bean (#17, Jr., WR/DB) – 6’0″, 155 lbs
  • Travis Burgins (#19, So., WR/DB) – 5’6″, 135 lbs
  • Elijah Lee (#20, So., WR/DB) – 5’10”, 160 lbs
  • Dewayne Thompson (#21, Sr., WR/DB) – 5’10”, 160 lbs
  • Layden Middlebrook (#25, So., WR/DB) – 5’6″, 135 lbs
  • Anais Carter (#27, Fr., WR/DB) – 5’6″, 120 lbs
  • Tysean Gillispie (#28, Jr., WR/DB) – 6’2″, 160 lbs
  • Marcos McCord (#29, Fr., WR/DB) – 6’1″, 160 lbs
  • Josh Hurst (#31, Jr., WR/DB) – 5’8″, 155 lbs
  • Jaziyus Fountain (#32, Jr., WR/DE) – 6’1″, 160 lbs
  • D’Shawn Fenderson (#34, So., WR/DB) – 5’11”, 170 lbs
  • Justin JP Pruitt (#36, Sr., WR/DB) – 5’11”, 180 lbs
  • Tucker Collins (#37, Jr., WR/DB) – 5’8″, 145 lbs
  • Javion Love (#40, Fr., WR/DB) – 5’4″, 100 lbs
  • Charles Scott (#45, So., WR/DB) – 5’4″, 130 lbs
  • D’Andre Hundley (#0, Sr., TE/LB) – 6’1″, 215 lbs
  • Eden Charles (#42, So., TE/DL) – 6’0″, 170 lbs
  • Mikel Scott (#51, So., TE/DE) – 6’2″, 195 lbs

Offensive & Defensive Line

  • Jaheim Tate (#22, So., WR/DL) – 5’8″, 125 lbs
  • Karlton Tate (#23, So., OL/DL) – 5’7″, 170 lbs
  • David Weaver (#50, Jr., OL/DL) – 5’10”, 205 lbs
  • Juelz Houston (#52, So., OL/LB) – 5’11”, 215 lbs
  • Issac Hardy (#53, Fr., OL/DE) – 5’5″, 200 lbs
  • Ajaveon Harris (#54, Fr., OL/DL) – 5’10”, 180 lbs
  • Jo’Mon Cody (#55, So., OL/DL) – 5’7″, 195 lbs
  • Tylee Jackson (#59, Sr., OL/DB) – 6’3″, 260 lbs
  • Zaylan Strickland (#60, So., OL/DL) – 6’0″, 185 lbs
  • Victor Haynes (#65, Jr., OL/DL) – 5’11”, 275 lbs
  • Brandon Wells (#67, Fr., OL/DL) – 5’10”, 278 lbs
  • J’erion Geter (#73, So., OL/DL) – 6’0″, 268 lbs
  • Cason Britt (#73/75, Fr., OL/DL) – 5’7″, 250 lbs
  • Zavion Haynes (#76, Fr., OL/DL) – 5’9″, 250 lbs
  • Jose Escamilla (#77, So., OL/DL/K) – 6’1″, 265 lbs

2025 Season Schedule

(District games marked with *)

  • Aug 22 – @ South-Doyle (Away), 7:00 PM
  • Aug 29 – vs William Blount (Home), 7:00 PM
  • Sep 12 – @ Scott* (Away), 7:00 PM
  • Sep 19 – vs Brainerd (Home), 7:00 PM
  • Sep 26 – vs Roane County* (Home), 7:00 PM
  • Oct 3 – vs Sweetwater* (Home), 7:00 PM
  • Oct 9 – vs Gatlinburg-Pittman (Home), 7:00 PM
  • Oct 17 – @ Carter (Away), 7:00 PM
  • Oct 24 – @ Meigs County* (Away), TBA
  • Oct 31 – @ McMinn Central* (Away), 7:00 PM

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