#TN2023: “Best Of The City” - Chattanooga

A new series here at Prep RedZone Tennessee, we dive deep into the biggest cities here in the Volunteer State and figure who is the best of the best! “Best of the City” looks at the top talent from each of the biggest cities here in Tennessee and how their talents stack up headed into summer camp season and the ‘22 Fall football year. Offense (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="273367" first="Lake" last="Clark"] (6’2 185) - East Hamilton (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="201074" first="Josh" last="Jackson"] (6’4 215) - Tyner Academy (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="185569" first="Hugues" last="Picard"] (5’11 195) - Baylor (QB) [player_tooltip player_id="215064" first="Brett" last="Rogers"] (6’1 175) - Silverdale Academy - Clark put up strong numbers his junior season & sits in great position to lead the city of Chattanooga in passing as a senior. This Canes quarterback sports college size & skill set that should appeal to many collegiate coaches; Tyner Academy had a solid 2021 season and a lot of that was helped by the arm of Jackson. A big, burly passer Jackson is a strong athlete that could make it to the next as a passer but could develop at other positions as well; The reins at quarterback should be given over to Picard for the ‘22 season & it will be his lone year to prove his college worth. Picard has a strong right arm and poise in the pocket. He needs a big summer camp season to help generate college interest. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-294417" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/jjackson-crop-1024x673-1645816655-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="259585" first="Juan" last="Bullard"] (6’0 200) - East Hamilton (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="241997" first="A.D." last="Crutcher"] (5’10 175) - Red Bank (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="200429" first="Caleb" last="Hampton"] (6’0 200) - Baylor (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="102247" first="Javoris" last="Havis"] (6’1 205) - Chatt. Christian (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="185576" first="Ontario" last="Price"] (6’0 205) - McCallie (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="102263" first="Takoda" last="Jones"] (6’0 170) - Ooltewah (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="102337" first="Matthew" last="Stone"] (5’10 185) - Boyd Buchanan - East Hamilton has a stud at running back in Bullard & if all goes according to plan, this big, physical runner should be in consideration for Mr. Football comes season’s end. Bullard is a talented back that is generating solid college interest right now; Crutcher is a versatile & athletic back that brings a variety of tools to the backfield. Much like Bullard, the Lions running back is a Mr. Football candidate as well; Committed to So. Carolina for baseball, Hampton is also a solid college prospect on the football gridiron as well. Hampton is one of the better power back prospects that we have for the ‘23 class. A two way talent with size & physicality, Havis is a load to handle at running back but also talented enough at linebacker to be recruited to the next level for either side of the ball; I expect a big breakout season for Havis & his Chargers teams; Price is one of the leading returning statistical ball carriers from not just Chattanooga but the entire state as well for the ‘22 season. The Blue Tornado running back is a physical load that defense’s have a hard time slowing down or stopping; Ooltewah will be leaning heavily on Jones this season as their go to guy & a back that can find the end zone in a hurry; Many outside of Chattanooga may not know about Stone but this is a talented back that runs with strong balance and has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.   (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="277664" first="Donovan" last="Smith"] (6’2 190) - Chatt. Central (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="284477" first="Jaden" last="Baccus"] (5’11 170) - Red Bank (WR) [player_tooltip player_id="185574" first="Louis" last="Vincent"] (6’1 180) - Baylor (TE) [player_tooltip player_id="102346" first="Donivon" last="Thomas"] (6’5 225) - Brainerd (TE) [player_tooltip player_id="201093" first="Dalton" last="Restelli"] (6’4 215) - Baylor - One of the better overall talents from the greater Chattanooga area is Smith & this is a prospect that could explode on the national recruiting scene very soon; The Pounders senior wideout has the size, athleticism and big play abilities that appeals very strongly to collegiate coaches; Baccus is a quick & elusive receiver that can be plugged into a variety of roles at wideout or even switch over to defense & excel at defensive back; Vincent is one guy listed in this article that really could be recruited to college at two different position. He is listed here with receivers but Vincent could very well be a better prospect on defense for the college game; Looking at tight end, Thomas is one of the top overall prospects from the Chattanooga area but his recruitment has yet to explode. I expect that to change very soon as Thomas is uber talented with high college upside; An under the radar talent that may need see his stock take upward direction till the season starts is Restelli; The Red Raiders tight end is coming off an injury that may keep him out of camp season but this is a talented pass catcher with a skill set and size that fits in the college game. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-294419" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/jbaccus-300x224.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="224" />   (T/G) [player_tooltip player_id="102315" first="Brycen" last="Sanders"] (6’6 285) - Baylor (G/C) [player_tooltip player_id="258683" first="Jamison" last="Johnson"] (6’2 280) - Chatt. Central (T/G) [player_tooltip player_id="102330" first="Jacob" last="Shockley"] (6’5 250) - Boyd Buchanan (OL) [player_tooltip player_id="207350" first="Asher" last="Sykes"] (6’4 250) - Baylor (G) [player_tooltip player_id="102333" first="E.J." last="Smith"] (6’1 340) - McCallie - Out of all the prospects listed in this article, Sanders is the most well known and a national recruit that will be signing with a Power Five program come signing day 2022. The Red Raiders O-lineman is an elite prospect that can play a variety of roles across the offensive line; Chatt. Central has a steady & solid interior blocker in Johnson that could play up on the next level at center or guard; College coaches might like what Shockley brings to the football field as he has the size, length and frame that can grow and be developed on the next level at tackle. He still has a ways to go but Shockley shows solid upside for the college game; Another Red Raiders O-lineman to know about is Sykes. Playing alongside Sanders up front for Baylor, Sykes is a guy that has upside to play on the college game as he could play multiple roles with his biggest upside possibly inside at center; Smith is an intriguing prospect that is listed here for O-line but could very well be recruited to the other side by college coaches for defensive tackle. Best College Prospect: (T/G) [player_tooltip player_id="102315" first="Brycen" last="Sanders"] - Baylor Most Underrated: (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="259585" first="Juan" last="Bullard"] - East Hamilton/(WR) [player_tooltip player_id="277664" first="Donovan" last="Smith"] - Chatt. Central Top Playmaker: (RB) [player_tooltip player_id="241997" first="A.D." last="Crutcher"] - Red Bank   Defense (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="205281" first="Anthony" last="Boggs"] (6’5 255) - Baylor (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="153183" first="Marceo" last="Collins, Jr"] (6’3 255) - Baylor (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="257169" first="Malik" last="Aljack"] (6’3 255) - Signal Mountain (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="207351" first="Nisaiah" last="Fredrick"] (6’5 230) - Hixson (DT) [player_tooltip player_id="102274" first="Demetrius" last="Locklin"] (6’2 295) - Brainerd (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="294064" first="Chris" last="Nichols"] (6’2 240) - Chatt. Central (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="196989" first="Journe" last="Norwood"] (6’4 280) - Tyner Academy - The D-line for the greater Chattanooga area may be the most talented group there is for the upcoming ‘22 season and everything starts with Boggs at Baylor; Already holding an offer from Cincinnati, Boggs is an ultra talented big man that has as much upside as anybody listed in this article. Watch this guy explode on the recruiting scene very soon; His teammate is equally as talented as Collins, Jr is a load for offensive linemen to handle at times due to his explosive play and physical strength at the point of attack; Many don’t know much about Aljack but this is a talented prospect that is still developing and growing into his body but brings a physical aspect and the versatility to the line that plays up on the next level; From a size & potential point of view, Fredrick is an imposing presence on the line that may have college football in his future if he starts to grow into his upside. Fredrick is a big man that brings a lot of value to a college 3-4 defense. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-294421" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/aboggs-crop-351x230-1645816918-300x196.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="196" /> The lone D-Tackle prospect on this list is Locklin & he may be a guy that college coaches look at & recruit for both sides of the ball. The Rams lineman has the beef, power and lower body agility to stay at D-Tackle in college but of course more work must be done; A versatile defender with a nice motor, Nichols is an under the radar D-lineman that can play multiple roles on the line but must stand out with his pass rush to earn a spot inside the college game; Possibly one of the more underrated prospects in this state is Norwood & if he attends college camps this summer and performs well, look for this D-lineman to pick up steam on the recruiting trail. Norwood is a big dude that can move & shows the upside to play on the college stage.   (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="201082" first="Noah" last="Gravel"] (6’0 210) - Baylor (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="185567" first="Etienne" last="Delisle"] (6’2 200) - McCallie (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="219243" first="John" last="Emendorfer"] (6’0 195) - Baylor (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="150374" first="Cameron" last="Jackson"] (6’0 225) - Red Bank (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="150373" first="Chase" last="Manning"] (6’1 195) - Silverdale Academy (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="222266" first="Londen" last="Martin"] (6’0 200) - Chatt. Central (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="273456" first="Thaddeus" last="Ballinger"] (5’11 195) - Boyd Buchanan (LB) [player_tooltip player_id="284507" first="Zion" last="Irvin"] (5’11 195) - Chatt. Central - A physical, fierce & aggressive tackler, Gravel is a mean dude that enjoys hitting people & shows on film the range to chase down the ball carrier from sideline to sideline. Gravel may be a tad undersized but he plays much bigger with a fearless attitude; McCallie has themselves a talented backer in Delius that still has yet to reach his maximum capabilities which could be a scary thing for opponents, especially if this Blue Tornado linebacker takes a step up with his game over these offseason months; Emendorfer is a tackling machine that brings a steady, consistent game play to the field that the Red Raiders defense can depend on game in & game out; A true middle backer, Jackson is a run plugger with a strong, stout lower body that allows him to hold his ground & finish the play with violence. Jackson is a physical load that is hard to block when he gets a full steam ahead of speed towards the ball. The leading returning tackler for his Seahawks team, Manning is a talented backer that sports nice size along with a good frame that can take on more weight. A smart, heady player, Manning is looking for a big offseason that could help open up his college recruitment; Chatt. Central has a pair of linebackers in both Martin & Irvin that fit the middle backer roles perfectly & could be in contention for the city’s leading tackler by season’s end; Ballinger is an undersized backer that may be as physical & violent as any linebacker listed above; He will be a key factor on the Buccaneers defense that is looking to bounce back from a sub par 2021 season. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-294422" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/zirvin-200x300.jpeg" alt="" width="200" height="300" />   (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="102248" first="Evan" last="Haynie"] (6’0 175) - Baylor (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="222269" first="Ollie" last="Carter"] (6’0 180) - McCallie (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="242095" first="Terrence" last="Holland"] (5’10 165) - Chatt. Christian (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="284468" first="Marcus" last="Lewis"] (5’11 165) - Tyner Academy - The defensive back group listed here isn’t that deep right now but it can certainly grow over the coming months but the list will always start no matter who is added with Haynie; This dynamic playmaker who excels all over the field, Haynie fits best at defensive back on the college level due to his instincts, athleticism & secondary versatility; Carter is one of the top returning production leaders with stats coming back for the ‘22 season & I expect him to have yet another big year, which could hopefully land him on the college radar; Holland is a interesting talent that is picking up steam with me in scouting based on his ability to play outside at cover corner on the next level. The Chargers defender is versatile enough to swing back to free safety or slide over to nickelback; Watching his aggressive play on film, Lewis can work his way into the college game with a strong camp season this summer & a highly productive senior year this Fall; His play in the secondary will be key for the Rams defense & their hopeful success for the ‘22 season. (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="215067" first="Andre" last="Delinois"] (6’2 200) - McCallie (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="208673" first="ZaShun" last="Hubbard"] (5’10 170) - Tyner Academy (Ath) [player_tooltip player_id="242078" first="Tyler" last="Wright"] (5’10 170) - Red Bank - The Blue Tornado have yet another thick, physical competitor that looks like a linebacker but lines up on offense at receiver. Delinois is an intriguing talent based on his size and skill set that could be utilized on either side of the ball. These offseason months will be key for him when it comes to seeing what position Delinois lands at on the college level; Hubbard is one of the more athletic prospects from the greater Chattanooga area & he is the kind of talent that could have a breakout senior season that puts on him on the college radar; Wright is almost build in the same way as Hubbard. The Lions two way talent is a versatile, natural athlete that could grow & develop on either side of the ball; He is positioned to be one of the Red Bank’s top playmakers for the ‘22 season. Best College Prospect: (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="205281" first="Anthony" last="Boggs"] - Baylor Most Underrated: (DL) [player_tooltip player_id="196989" first="Journe" last="Norwood"] - Tyner Acad. Top Playmaker: (DB) [player_tooltip player_id="102248" first="Evan" last="Haynie"] - Baylor <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-285325" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/02/ehaynie-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />