Top 2027 RB Brayden Maples transfers to Sevier County (TN)

Maples, a standout junior at Gatlinburg Pittman, will join the Smoky Bears for his senior season.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Brayden Maples, one of the top running back prospects in the Class of 2027, has transferred from Gatlinburg Pittman (TN) to Sevier County (TN) for his senior season. Maples was a standout junior in 2025, rushing for 1,271 yards and 27 touchdowns to help lead Gatlinburg Pittman to the TSSAA Class 3A state championship game.

Why it matters

Maples' transfer is a major boost for the Sevier County Smoky Bears, who came close to winning the Class 5A state title last season. His addition to the backfield, paired with 2027 three-star QB Cooper Newman, makes Sevier County an even more formidable opponent in Tennessee high school football.

The details

Maples, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound running back, is coming off back-to-back 1,271-yard seasons at Gatlinburg Pittman. He will now join a Sevier County team that went 13-2 last year and was ranked 21st in the state. The Smoky Bears fell just short of the Class 5A state championship, losing 21-14 in the title game.

  • Maples transferred from Gatlinburg Pittman to Sevier County for the 2026 season.
  • In 2025, Maples rushed for 1,271 yards and 27 touchdowns at Gatlinburg Pittman.

The players

Brayden Maples

A 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior running back who was one of the top rushers in Tennessee high school football in 2025.

Cooper Newman

A 2027 three-star quarterback who threw for 3,705 yards and 45 touchdowns for Sevier County in 2025.

Sevier County Smoky Bears

The high school football team in Sevierville, Tennessee that finished 13-2 in 2025 and reached the Class 5A state championship game.

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What they’re saying

“Maples was one of the state's leading rushers and helped lead the Highlanders to the TSSAA Class 3A state championship game back in December.”

— Shayne Pickering, Reporter (The Hoosier)

What’s next

Maples will look to help lead Sevier County to a state championship in his senior season, after the Smoky Bears came up just short in 2025.

The takeaway

Brayden Maples' transfer to Sevier County is a major coup for the Smoky Bears, as they add one of the top running back prospects in Tennessee to an already talented roster. This move could propel Sevier County to a state title in 2026.