By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City, Tenn.–Kaleb Craig’s numbers spoke for themselves.
And members of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association all-state committee heard them loud and clear.
The Union City High School fullback, who posted the second-best rushing season in the program’s illustrious history, was named to the Class 2A All State team today by the TSWA.
Craig rushed for 2,165 yards – just the fourth running back in UCHS annals to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season ‑- in leading the Golden Tornadoes to the state quarterfinals for the seventh time in the last 10 campaigns.
The 5-9, 190-pound workhorse in Union City’s triple-option scheme gained 100 yards or more in 11 of the Twisters’ 13 games. Five times, he eclipsed the 200-yard mark, including a 276-yard performance in a second-round playoff upset of Memphis Fairley in which he outshined Mr. Football semifinalist Terry Wilkins.
Tornado head coach Darren Bowling, who called Craig “the best fullback I’ve had here at Union City” late in the season, followed up that ultimate compliment with more flattering words after being informed of Craig’s all-state selection.
“They (the committee) certainly got that one right,” Bowling said of the accolade deservedly-given to the UC senior. “That was a no-brainer. His statistics are even more impressive when you consider that everyone we played schemed to stop him. And they couldn’t.
“I’ve said several times, Kaleb is a football player. He was a playmaker on offense. He was our best player on defense, and whatever we asked him to do on special teams, he did that with great success too. He took a pounding all week in practice, and then took another one every Friday night and never complained.”
Craig, who was named The Messenger’s Obion County Prep Player of the Year earlier this month and also was an All-Region 7-2A selection, additionally was picked to play in the West Tennessee All Star game in Jackson in early December.
He certainly proved durable, carrying the ball 330 times for a 6.6 yards-per-attempt average during the 2018 season. Craig scored 120 points in all (19 TDs, three 2-point conversions.
His career numbers on both sides of the ball will certainly rank him among the most-productive players in the history of a program than has won four state titles in the last 10 years.
Craig rushed for 3,402 yards in three seasons, scoring 39 touchdowns during that time. As a linebacker, he led the Purple and Gold in tackles his sophomore year, was second on UC’s 2017 state championship squad when he was named Most Valuable Defensive Player in the BlueCross Bowl, and finished third on this year’s tackle chart while leading the Tornadoes in tackles for loss and interceptions.
His selection marked the sixth consecutive year that Union City has had a player named All State.
“That really says a lot about our program,” Bowling added. “And, obviously, a great deal of that has had to do with our team success.
“Kaleb is such a humble young man, and I’m sure he’ll be the first to say that he never would’ve been in line for an honor like this if it wasn’t for his teammates, who worked so hard and tirelessly to open those holes and create running space.”
Craig joined three players from Class 2A state champion Trenton on the All State squad.
Class 2A
OFFENSE
QB – Cooper Baugus, Peabody, Jr.
QB – Aaron Swafford, Meigs County, Jr.
RB – Kaleb Craig, Union City, Sr.
RB – Terry Wilkins, Fairley, Jr.
WR – Jeremiah Batiste, Tyner Academy, Jr
WR – JD Dixon, Waverly, Sr.
WR – Heath Price, Watertown, Sr.
OL – JC Eubanks, Peabody, Sr.
OL – Gage Gardner, Meigs County, Jr.
OL – Alex Pell, Polk County, Sr.
OL – Preston Perdue, Lewis Co., Jr.
OL – Devin Mathis, Watertown, Sr.
ATH – Ethan Cobb, Eagleville, Sr.
K – Drew Logsdon, Columbia Academy, Sr.
DEFENSE
DL – Colby Boyatt, Oneida, Jr.
DL – Jake Gregory, Trousdale Co., Sr.
DL – Tyrique Henry, Tyner, Sr.
DL – Tucker Runions, Lewis Co., Sr.
LB – Hunter Barnhart, Oneida, Jr.
LB – Tarvaris Claiborne, Trousdale Co., Jr.
LB – Trace Corne, Meigs County, Sr.
LB – Jarel Dickson, Peabody, Jr.
DB – Keyvont Baines, Trousdale Co., Sr.
DB – Trevor Griffin, Eagleville, Jr.
DB – Rush Lansdell, Columbia Academy, Sr.
DB – Kendrick Hightower, Fairley, Sr.
ATH – Gavin Stanfield, Waverly, Sr.
P – Kolby Morgan, Oneida, So.
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