Team History and Awards
South-Doyle High School, located in Knoxville, Tennessee, fields athletic teams known as the Cherokees, sporting Columbia blue and red colors.
The Cherokees football program was established in 1967 through the consolidation of South and Doyle High Schools. The team has made multiple playoff appearances, highlighted by a deep Class 5A semifinal run in 2014. South-Doyle also won the Region 2-5A championship in 2019, marking one of the strongest seasons in school history.
Team Highlights and Star Players
- Elijah Young (RB, Class of 2020): Standout running back who rushed for more than 5,000 career yards in high school. Played at the University of Missouri and signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2025.
- Shawn Summers (DB, Class of 1990): Former University of Tennessee defensive back who went on to play in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears.
- Tee Martin (WR, Class of 1996): Quarterbacked the Tennessee Volunteers to the 1998 BCS National Championship after transferring from South-Doyle’s program roots at Doyle High School. Later became a college and NFL coach.
- Notable Alumni: The program has produced multiple Division I athletes and remains a consistent contributor of talent to both in-state and SEC schools.
Meet the Team – 2025 Roster Snapshot
Head Coach: Larry Headrick
Statistician: Steven Johnson
Offense (Juniors and Seniors)
- Isaiah Winfield (Sr., RB/MLB) – 5’9″, 185 lbs
- Kayden Kidd (Sr., WR/SS) – height not listed
- DeMorris McKenzie (Sr., CB/WR) – height not listed
- Benson Brang (Jr., QB) – 6’2″, 200 lbs
- Walter Gould (Jr., RB/OLB) – 5’6″, 145 lbs
- Kamariyon Rice (Jr., WR/FS) – 6’0″, 155 lbs
- Jeremiah Smith (Jr., WR/FS) – 5’9″, 150 lbs
- Jayden Norries (Jr., RB/CB) – 5’7″, 160 lbs
Defense (Juniors and Seniors)
- Tison Davis (Sr., TE/OLB) – height not listed
- Isaiah Mitchell (Sr., K/P) – height not listed
- Braden Sands (Sr., WR/CB) – height not listed
- Carson Vandergriff (Sr., TE/DL) – height not listed
- Trashawn Berry (Sr., T) – 6’1″, weight not listed
- Caden Stephens (Sr., G/DT) – 5’7″, 225 lbs
- Cooleon Mills (Sr., DT) – 6’2″, weight not listed
- Lincoln Jackson (Jr., DE/T) – 6’0″, 200 lbs
- Sean Hall (Jr., DE/TE) – 6’0″, 205 lbs
- Cole Jackson (Jr., RB/OLB) – 5’8″, 170 lbs
- Silas Johnson (Jr., WR/CB) – 5’7″, 135 lbs
- Cole Snyder (Jr., C/DT) – 5’10”, 220 lbs
- Caeyden Colbert (Jr., DL/OL) – height not listed
- Terry Mills (Jr., T/DE) – 6’0″, 205 lbs
2025 Season Schedule
- Aug 22 – vs Austin-East (Home), W 52-30
- Aug 29 – at Karns (Away), W 31-21
- Sep 5 – at Heritage (Away), L 35-14
- Sep 12 – vs Carter (Home), L 37-30
- Sep 19 – at Gibbs (Away), W 27-24
- Sep 26 – vs Union County (Home), 7:00 PM
- Oct 3 – at Alcoa (Away), 7:00 PM
- Oct 17 – vs Clinton (Home), 7:00 PM
- Oct 24 – vs Anderson County (Home), 7:00 PM
- Oct 30 – at Fulton (Away), 7:00 PM
