By Steve Williams

Garrett Brady was willing to make the move to center three years ago to help his team. Travis Mozingo, the head football coach at Christian Academy of Knoxville, has never forgotten that.

"The best example of Careacter that I can give you is putting others before yourself," said Mozingo. "Garrett Brady did just that."

According to the CAK coach, Brady switched positions three years ago to play center, became a 3-year starter and never missed a game.

"His coaches selected him as our 2021 Offensive MVP – a first in my 22 years of coaching that an offensive lineman received this honor."

Mozingo recalled that story when The Focus asked local head coaches to point out examples of "good careacter" their Careacter Star Athletes showed last season.

Brady's unselfish move didn't just end up helping the team. He flourished at his new position. In addition to being chosen the offense's MVP, the 5-7, 170-pounder also was selected the TSSAA Division II-AA East Region Lineman of the Year.

There's more to this story, too. Brady has an unusual highlight play posted online on MaxPreps that shows him getting knocked on his fanny in a game against rival Grace Christian. Why would he go with a highlight play like that? Perhaps he just thought it was funny.

"Yes," replied Coach Mozingo, "and he had a reputation for flopping. He would always tumble backward, lie on the ground and make everyone laugh, similar to a soccer player or NBA player flopping and it was quite comical."

After watching Brady's highlight clip online, this reporter felt it didn't appear to be a flop and it looked like the GCA player actually knocked Brady over.

"I'm pretty sure it was a flop," countered Mozingo, who had background knowledge to support his viewpoint. "Garrett also is the star performer in CAK's Musical Theater – so he's great at acting!"

Coach Mozingo said Garrett plans to go into the ministry and attend Samford University.

Three others from the list of 216 Careacter Star Athletes also received special praise from their head coach, including Halls junior linebacker Caden Earle.

Scott Cummings, who left Halls to take the Oak Ridge job when it came open after last season, said Earle is a "great" Careacter Star Athlete for the Red Devils.

"Caden is a current junior linebacker that was our emotional leader and voted a team captain," said Cummings last week. "His work ethic in the weight room is tremendous. Through adversity Caden always stands strong and supports his teammates while also leading them in a positive way."

Gibbs Coach Brad Turner showed senior running back and linebacker Tarice McKinney some love. "He is a great leader, great student and comes from a great family. He is everything you want in a football player, student and young man.

"Tarice is always willing to help others with school work and maintained a job during the season."

Matt Lowe at Powell couldn't overlook Carson Whitehead, an All-State defensive back on the Panthers' Class 5A state championship team.

In addition to football last fall, Whitehead was honored as an Eagle Scout and chosen the "Great Smoky Mountain Scout of the Year," proudly said Coach Lowe.

"His high willingness to help others and lead by example and attitude helps to make him someone who others naturally follow."

Dave Moore, founder of the Careacter Star Athlete program, said: "I'm very proud of all our honorees this school year. We can learn a lot from our young people when they are doing the right things in life."

Careacter Star Athletes in girls and boys basketball will be announced in the May 2 and May 9 issues of The Focus.

The announcement of the CSAs for sports in the 2021-22 school year was delayed due to "Covid still reeling," said Moore. "We plan to get back on track next year and release the football honorees in January and the girls' and boys' basketball honorees soon after the state tournaments."

In addition to Knox County, the Careacter Star program honors student-athletes in neighboring counties and other parts of East Tennessee.

2021 FOOTBALL SEASON

The award is based on Attitude, Careacter, Grades, Community Service and Performance as a person.

AUSTIN-EAST

Savannah Kendrick

Keenan Turner

Michael Gladney

Quinton Calhoun

Corey Brown

Dimere Ligon

Anthony McGee

Ty McNabb

TJ Martin

ChoQuies Duncan

BEARDEN

Keaton Overton

Elijah Bowman

Davis Taylor

Owen Johnson

Sam Tummins

Ozzy Partin

Timyathus Spikes

Isaac Taylor

Andrea Wynter

Knockia Wynter

CAK

Malachi Harrison

Garrett Brady

Austin Delp

Grant Sterchi

Thomas Simpson

Jacob Dunn

Dario Love

Lane Roberts

Weston Parker

Ethan Fulford

Caleb Hoke

Eli Etherton

CARTER

Chandler Wilson

Kaleb Harper

Brody Blankenship

Beaux Sharpe

Judd Taylor

Zayne Sharpe

Jackson Steel

Presean Brown

Isaiah Webb

Roman Webb

Nick Corum

CATHOLIC

Sam O'Leary

Javaree Roebuck

Keondre Jarmon

Braylon Harman

Javis Mynatt

Eli Jones

Trevor Duncan

Tommy Winton

RaaPhell Mayes

CENTRAL

Ryan Bolton

Cole Ballenger

Donovan Washington

James Dendrinos

Dylan Greer

Brandon Ridner

Samuel Long

Almani Rembert

Frank Johnson

Kolby Long

Nathan Hurley

Caleb Johnson

Quisean Jackson

FARRAGUT

John Duncan

Luke Johnson

Barrett Smith

Chance Vann

Jackson Fisher

Andrew Celeste

Aiden Enters

Daniel Williams

Brice Fontenot

Thomas Witthauer

Andrew Mee

Hayden Mann

Elijah Gibbs

FULTON

Kashawn Banks

Wousamy Bates

Jerrison Gibson

Cameron Stokes

Seth Vaughn

Marcellus Jackson

Keenan Vaughn

Hayden Daugherty

Daymien McDowell

Dexter Lewis

Dre Peebles

Will Sims

GIBBS

Cam Norman

Sabe Smith

Quez Sharp

Luke Tidwell

Brayden Clapp

Billy Pratt

Isaac Godfrey

Caleb Beach

Eli Hubbs

Tarice McKinney

GCA

Ben Francisco

Noah Bruhin

Jackson Eller

Bobby Lewis

Weston Edmondson

Braden Ray

Jake Boudreaux

Drew Irick

Jake Harper

HALLS

Josh Ludwig

Jake Marcantel

Simon Williams

Caden Cummings

Zack Plunk

Caden Stephens

Bradon Beal

Caden Earle

Karter Elliott

Ryan Kearney

Kameron Bates

HVA

Reggie Johnson

Daniel Kasulis

Eric Rodriquez

Ethan Blaylock

Josiah Zimmerman

Allan Hovey

Elijah Zimmerman

Carlos Parker

Tyler Mann

Roger Garner

KARNS

De'Sean Bishop

Tyson Taylor

Tim Robbins

Drew McMillan

Caleb Clifton

Zach Pugh

Walker Lockhart

Cassen Huffaker

Darius Huckleby

JJ Ramirez

POWELL

Jarvis Stockton

Jervis Brown

Brian Belcher

Carson Whitehead

Owen Peterson

Kaleb Sanders

Cannon Lusby

Jayden Collins

Daniel Stanford

Walter Nolen

Camron Gann

Anthony Preece

Jason Foust

Gianni Magdos

Jordyn Potts

SEYMOUR

Eli Funck

Brooks Crowder

Braylon Oliver

Bennett Cain

Colten Oldham

Ronald Swauncy

Coye Connell

Cameron Bozzone

Stan Pennington, Jr.

Kaden Fowlkes

Austyn Fraser

SOUTH-DOYLE

Curtis Young

Hunter Simpson

Jamichael Ham

Ty'Quan Stewart

Dalyn Swaggerty

Nick Martin

Cameron Monday

Shawn Gary

Levi Herald

Brandon Smith

Grant Bush

TSD

Elijah Echols

Cassady Mead

Garrett Burns

Gage Conger

Jordan Grimes

TKA

Na'Kelin McAfee

Malik Sholanke

Isaque Pinerho

Joao Nascimento

Riley Webber

Zeke Connatser

Nick Donato

Tanner Norris

Connor Wallis

Alex Critselous

WEBB

Knox Foss

Bradee McCoy

Garrett Webb

Phillip Lund

Ben Pensky

Otto Niendorff

Dominic Vance

Garrett Carnathan

Ford Wagner

Leo Bonifacio

WEST

Cooper Shymlock

Shannon Blair

Mason Adams

Brayden Latham

Cayden Latham

Aiden Vaughn

Kwan Nelson

Ja'Qurrius Wrenn

Stokes John

Quandarius Hayes

Thad Sterling

Syxx Hoard

Jameiyes Mills

Ryan Scott

The post Unselfish"]Unselfish Beavers run past Giants 74-27 - The Knoxville Focus[/url] move helped team and Brady, too appeared first on The Knoxville Focus.