4A State Title Games: Prospect Preview

It is safe to say East Texas runs this state at the 4A classification, sorry, and no offense to the rest of the state. But when you have two title games and three out of the four teams hail from East Texas there really isn’t a solid argument against that fact. Lindale is making their first appearance in the championship game and is loaded with offensive firepower, spearheaded by their star RB. The other matchup is well, an epic heavyweight duel. The Gilmer Buckeyes (7 state title appearances with 3 Championships) will try to upset the powerhouse Carthage Bulldogs (9 state title appearances with 7 Championships) in an All-East Texas Showdown. Needless to say, we have prospects aplenty to look at here between the three East Texas teams fighting for state titles this weekend at the death star in Dallas. Carthage Bulldogs <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kai-horton/">[player_tooltip player_id="60403" first="Kai" last="Horton"]</a>, Carthage (2021 QB #29 ranked) Tall, strong-armed Pro-style QB does a great job facilitating the ball around the entire field. He makes the difficult throw look casual. Kia stands at 6’4 in the pocket and always looks poised, I have yet to seem him look rushed or jittery. Check this<a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EnXLc"> 73-yard strike to Mason Courtney</a> a few rounds back in the playoffs for a big TD. The confident and talented signal-caller has offers from McNeese State and SFA while getting serious looks from Houston, Baylor, North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Tulane, and Southern Miss. <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/montrell-smith/">[player_tooltip player_id="60342" first="Montrell" last="Smith"]</a>, Carthage (2021 TE #22 ranked) Love Smith’s size for the position, at 6’4, 220, he is a matchup nightmare for defenses at any level. He is not just a new age pass catching TE, he is a complete old school TE that will knock a DE back off the ball to help the running game as fast as he will scorch a LB in coverage. Last week Smith hauled in t<a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EjiRn">hree catches for 40 yards</a> and blocked his tail off to pave the way for Mason Courtney’s huge night. Smith has committed to the University of Central Arkansas. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EfxkS">http://www.hudl.com/v/2EfxkS</a> Mason Courtney, Carthage (2021 RB) The senior tailback helped stamp the Bulldogs ticket to state last week in the semifinals, rushing for <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Em75n">216 yards and four touchdowns</a>. Courtney is smooth in and out of breaks with great vision. He has been a three-year big-time contributor on a very talented team, which should tell you how special this kid is. Carthage has a skilled QB and Courtney knows how to pick up a blitz or slip our for a screen... needless to say, his damage is not limited to the run game. Mason has an offer from ETBU and getting a lot of attention from various other college programs.   Gilmer Buckeyes Brandon Tennison, Gilmer (2022 Dual-Treat QB) Tennison went off to push his team into the state championship game, throwing for 274 & 2 TDs and rushing for 119 yards with 2 more TDs. . This electric underclassman has set numerous records with his arms and legs this year passing for 3747 yards and rushing for 977 yards. He has accumulated 48 touchdowns and now leads his team into the title game against the monster Carthage, but with this dynamic QB, Gilmer has a punchers chance with ANYONE. Tennison currently has an offer from UTSA and is drawing interest from LA Tech, with no doubt more offers to come his way soon. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2En4xX">Semi Final Highlights.</a> [player_tooltip player_id="60606" first="Mason" last="Hurt"], Gilmer (2021 Athlete) Grabbed 3 catches for 29 yards v China Springs in the semis, and even though it was a statistically quiet night for the senior jack of all trades, Hunt is an all-around ballplayer who makes his presence felt. The former Gilmer QB has moved to WR this year and moved into the top 3 of this historic program’s all-purpose offensive records. This smart, versatile, hard-playing young man has a staggering 18.1 per catch average this season while accumulating 743 yards and 4 TDs receiving, Mason even found time to throw for 232 yards and a TD this season as well. Hunt has offers Harden Simmons University, Texas Southern University, and Louisiana College. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/6672293/Mason-Hurt">Highlighs</a> Dylan Fluellen, Gilmer (2021 Wide Reciever) Fluellen was solid for the Buckeyes in the semifinal contest hauling in <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2En3TV">5 catches for 103 receiving yards and a touchdown</a>. For the season Dylan has over a 1100 total, he is also responsible for 18 touchdowns in 2020. As you can see in <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EfGFe">this clip</a>, Fluellen has incredible ball skills, can catch in traffic, and knows how to high point the ball. Regardless of where this young man plays at the collegiate level, I would get used to hearing his name. He currently has offers from Lamar University, Pittsburg State, Northwestern State, Houston Baptist, and Texas Southern. Other larger programs such as LA Tech and the University of Houston are showing serious interest, with more schools to follow their lead. <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/luke-watson/">[player_tooltip player_id="60563" first="Luke" last="Watson"]</a> [PrepRedzone’s #46 LB], Gilmer (2021 LB) Luke is as solid as they come at a tough position and when you watch his tape you see a tough, technically sound player. Luke does a great job finishing plays by wrapping up and driving through the tackle, he is solid against the run and dangerous off the edge as a pass rusher. Watson plays slot WR on offense which helps his overall knowledge of the game and makes him a strong coverage LB as well. Watson has committed to Stephen F Austin University but still has unfinished business at Gilmer as their playoff run is not over yet. For the year Like has 87 tackles, with 17 of them being tackles for a loss, 4 sacks, one caused fumble, and one recovered fumble. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EJ3JQ">Highlights.</a> Lindale Eagles <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jaymond-jackson/">[player_tooltip player_id="60649" first="Jaymond" last="Jackson"]</a>, Lindale (2021 DE) The 6’3, 212lb DE has all the tools to make an impact at the next level, I love the violence he plays with, whether shredding a block or finishing a tackle. His upper body strength and quickness is what you notice quickly, he rarely allows an O-lineman to get to his body before shedding the block. Not a shock that there is a long line of suitors for his services at the next level, Jaymond currently has offers from; Tarleton State, Houston Baptist, SFA, Lamar, Louisiana-Monroe, SMU, Southern Miss, UTSA, Prairie View A&M, and an SEC offer from Arkansas. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Effg4">http://www.hudl.com/v/2Effg4</a> <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jordan-jenkins/">[player_tooltip player_id="60205" first="Jordan" last="Jenkins"]JORDANJENKINS6’0" | RBLindale | 2021TX</a> is the workhorse, every-down type back that gets stronger throughout the game. His large 6’2, 200-pound frame wears down opponents, and like most great backs, Jordan seems to find another gear late in games. The game looks easy to Jordan as he possesses great balance and vision, for being a larger back he is light on his feet. His speed doesn’t jump off the screen at you but it’s there, like I said earlier the smoothness in which he displays can make his straightaway speed deceptive. Jenkins can do it all. Check out this <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EPJNv">long TD</a> run earlier this year, despite the angles the defense had, they couldn’t catch Jordan. I cant wait to see how Jenkins caps his tear through the playoffs, last week he had 278 with two TDs, and earlier in the playoffs he had a 9 TD performance... what could he have in store for his final act? Jordan has 13 Division I offers but is a solid verbal commit to the Baylor Bears.