#TNHSFB: 2024 Breakout Stars

The football season is literally weeks away and that means new talent will be uncovered and prospects will begin making a name for themselves as a possible future college recruit. Here we look at some top talent from the 2024 class that looks poised for a breakout sophomore season. 1. (DE) [player_tooltip player_id="149290" first="Trevor" last="Anthony"] (6'4 215) - Lausanne - Anthony is an exciting talent that will be on full display this season for the first time on varsity as a pass rushing defensive end on a highly talented Lynx defense. This rising sophomore has the traits that college coaches look for in an edge rusher. Anthony is tall and long with a slender frame that can take on more weight and he has the quick get-off to play in the backfield all day long. This is a future star in the making! 2. (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="150269" first="Izaiah" last="Hall"] (6'2 175) - Jefferson Co. - Buzz has already started to build for this East Tennessee product and he appears to be the main guy under center for the Patriots for the upcoming season and beyond. Hall is an athletic guy with good size that shows the arm talent and mechanics to make it into college football one day. This coming Fall season will be his 1st big opportunity at leading his team and offense, displaying his upside as one of the top possible QB's from the 2024 class. 3. (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="149381" first="Elijah" last="Cannon"] (6'0 205) - Alcoa - Fierce and athletic with a nose for the ball. That's what you see when you Cannon on film and perform in person. The Tornadoes rising sophomore has all the makings of one of the next high producing linebackers from the Alcoa family and possibly one of the best in the state by the time he is a senior. Cannon will be given a bigger role this year and is expected to help solidify a Tornadoes defense that is looking to replace key performers from last year's team. 4. (OT) [player_tooltip player_id="149171" first="Ronan" last="O'Connell"] (6'6 265) - Page - O'Connell could easily be taken off this list as he already holds an offer from Western Ky but the Patriots stud sophomore is on the verge of becoming the #1 in-state offensive lineman for the 2024 class. O'Connell has the exact size and frame that Power Five, D1 coaches look for in a tackle and he trains with some of the best talent weekly from the Mid-TN region. Watch this 6'6 O-lineman take a big step in his game and recruitment this coming Fall season. 5. (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="148838" first="Jordan" last="Bell"] (6'3 180) - Munford - This summer was a little bit of a coming out party for Bell as he attended multiple offseason camps and impressed scouts in attendance. The Cougars sophomore quarterback has excellent size with athleticism and a great work ethic that should be on display full time this coming season. The one thing to see is how much Bell can develop at the quarterback position and an overall prospect over the next few years to see where his college future resides. 6. (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="149158" first="Jeremiah" last="Reed"] (6'1 175) - Bartlett - The Panthers are looking to replace several stud players from last year's team and they need a few guys to step up. One of the prospects who will be looked upon to play a bigger role this year will be Reed. The 6'1 wideout has competed and trained against high level talent over the past few years, so he should be ready for the spotlight. Reed is a long, sure handed receiver that is still developing but has the upside for a big career at Bartlett. 7. (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="149291" first="Keilyn" last="Smith"] (6'2 220) - Knox. Catholic - Headed into the Fall season, the Fighting Irish will be returning a lot of key veterans this year but need to plug some holes in particular areas. Finding an edge rusher that can get after the quarterback is one of those positions and Smith fits the bill. He is still young and growing but Smith shows traits of being an excellent defensive end prospect that can equally play vs. the run and the pass. He does need more experience but the upside looks strong for this East Tennessee product. 8. (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="150281" first="Ty" last="Clark III"] (5'11 180) - Franklin Road Academy - The 2021 Panthers will be leaning heavily on their defense and a solid line of scrimmage but they will need Clark to step up and become a playmaker on both sides of the ball for their postseason hopes to become true. Clark is a dynamic, athletic wideout and defensive back that can create and make plays wherever he is on the field. His game works best in the slot but you can place him anywhere on the field and he has the talents to produce. This sophomore season could definitely put Clark on the recruiting map. 9. (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="150272" first="Omarion" last="Mills"] (5'11 195) - Jefferson Co. - The path for Mills to be the bell cow back for the Patriots was made true earlier this summer when senior to be [player_tooltip player_id="150836" first="Ayden" last="Houston"] transferred down to Nashville. Mills is now the guy and looks poised to not only put on clamp on the lead role but produce a big season as well. Mills is a strong, powerful guy with deceptive speed that is tough for defenders to tackle. Mills has the talents to become one of the top backs in-state by the time his high school days are over. 10. (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="149841" first="Brian" last="Rager"] (6'2 180) - Beech - Rager was already a guy on my radar as a talent to watch but with the recent transfer of [player_tooltip player_id="148874" first="Jackson" last="Ford"] down to Texas, this 2024 gunslinger looks to be the guy behind center now. Rager is a two sport guy that has the traits, size and arm talent to man the quarterback position for the Bucs over the next three years and develop into one of the best from the Middle Tennessee region. Others to Know: (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="149382" first="Jack" last="Alley"] - Farragut, (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="148875" first="Corbin" last="Cannon"] - Greeneville, (OL) [player_tooltip player_id="149172" first="Seth" last="Corum"] - Knox. Central, (RB) Jalyric Cullum - Upperman, , (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="149318" first="Cortez" last="Chambers, Jr"] - St. Benedict's, (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="149391" first="Turelle" last="Williams, Jr"] - Bradley Cent., (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="149845" first="Kaleb" last="Martin"] - Rhea Co., (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="150288" first="Jaylen" last="Mosby"] - Cane Ridge, (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="149163" first="Carlos" last="Orr"] - Gatlinburg-Pittman, (OL) [player_tooltip player_id="149181" first="Andrew" last="Pederson"] - BA, (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="149393" first="Devin" last="Rutherford"] - Bartlett, (TE) [player_tooltip player_id="149169" first="Andy" last="Smith"] - Lipscomb Academy, (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="149377" first="Tyrin" last="Watkins"] - Lipscomb Academy