Mike Hutchens
Communications Director
Union City football standouts Jacob Arnold and Keaten Brown have grabbed one last headline.
Both Arnold and Brown – following spectacular senior seasons – were selected to the Tennessee Sports Writers Class 1A All-State team, announced today.
Arnold was chosen for his play on defense, while Brown was tabbed as an ‘athlete’ on the offensive side of the ball by TSWA voters.
The duo – both of whom were selected to the All-Region 7A team – helped Union City to nine wins and a state quarterfinal spot during the 2023 campaign to cap stellar individual prep playing careers.
Brown rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the second straight season with a team-high 23 touchdowns as the triggerman in the Twisters’ triple-option attack. He rushed for more than 100 yards in a game six times and had games of multiple touchdowns eight times in his senior campaign.
Brown, who finished with 1,199 rushing yards and another 302 passing with two more scores this past year, also was selected and played in the annual West Tennessee All-Star game.
For his career, he ran for 2,645 yards and 68 TDs and threw for 676 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He was also a stalwart defensively, ranking third on the team in tackles with a half-dozen for lost yards from his linebacker post.
Arnold, a hard-hitting safety with good coverage skills, ranked No. 2 on the Union City tackle chart for the second year in a row with 53 total stops. He also led the Tornado defense with three interceptions.
As the featured back in the flexbone scheme, Arnold also eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second straight year, finishing with a team-high 1,535 yards and 19 scores. The total ranks as the 14th-best single-season mark in program history.
He also had six 100-yard rushing games, headlined by a 204-yard, four-touchdown performance against South Fulton.
For his career, Arnold rushed for 3,168 yards and 36 TDs.
UC head coach Nick Markle had high words of praise for his All-State tandem.
“They are certainly deserving of being mentioned in the same sentence with the best players in the state in Class 1A,” the Tornado skipper claimed. “Their production for us speaks volumes, and they both were tremendous leaders who set great examples with their work ethic and their commitment.
“They left their mark on Union City football.”
CLASS 1A
OFFENSE
QB: Cameron Schlicht, Dresden, senior; Dawson White, Moore County, senior; Kamden Wellington, South Pittsburg, senior.
RB: Calvin Mullins, Lake County, senior; Tristan Jett, Dresden, senior; JaMychal Buckner, South Pittsburg, sophomore.
WR: Colt Norden, McKenzie, junior; Nehemiah Cooney, Oakdale, senior; Nick Turnbow, Dresden, senior.
OL: Mason Smith, Coalfield, junior; Tyler Wren, Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, senior; Martavious Collins, South Pittsburg, senior; Griffin Metcalfe, Rockwood, senior; Aydan Blair, Moore County, junior.
ATH: Keaten Brown, Union City, senior.
K: Paul Betzou, Dresden, junior.
DEFENSE
DL: Ben Franklin, Cornersville, senior; Eli Justice, Coalfield, junior; Carson Nivens, Oliver Springs, junior; Colton Robbins, North Greene, senior; J.R. Hardrick, South Pittsburg, sophomore.
LB: Jamarion Farrior, South Pittsburg, senior; Stanley Burrow, Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering, senior; Coalton Henry, Coalfield, senior; Jacob Arnold, Union City, senior; Marshall Spann, Eagleville, senior.
DB: Joseph Summers, Oakdale, senior; Kyle Adams, Gordonsville, senior; Eli Roberts, Coalfield, senior; Brandon Mitchell, Memphis Middle College, senior.
P: River Shropshire, Cosby, sophomore.