Jayla Blue, a senior forward from Bearden High School in Knoxville, has been honored as the Gatorade Player of the Year for Tennessee, capping a season that combined athletic dominance with academic excellence.
A season of historic milestones
During the 2025 campaign she guided the Lady Bulldogs to a 20‑2‑1 record and secured the program’s fourth TSSAA Class AAA state championship in five years, while establishing herself as the school’s all‑time leading goal scorer with 135 goals and setting a single‑season record of 45 goals.
Her impact extended beyond the pitch; she recorded 33 goals and 17 assists, earned a 3.44 GPA, and was recognized as the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Tennessee Player of the Year, underscoring a blend of skill and scholarship.
Blue will continue her career at the University of Tennessee, where she joins a storied program, and she does so alongside her sister Nyla Blue, a junior defender, under the guidance of their father, former Tennessee basketball star Ace Clement Blue.
The accolades also include being named a four‑time All‑State performer, a testament to consistent excellence that has placed her among the most decorated players in recent state history.