Rocky Top 7v7 Classic Top Performers
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Up on the Mountain in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we had a bevy of talented in-state football prospects who competed against each other, striving to out shine each other and push towards a tourney title. Out of all the ultra talented guys…
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Continue ReadingUp on the Mountain in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we had a bevy of talented in-state football prospects who competed against each other, striving to out shine each other and push towards a tourney title.
Out of all the ultra talented guys in attendance, these ten below stood out the most, becoming the “Top Performer” from the 2022 Rocky Top 7v7 Classic.
1. (TE) Ty Lockwood Ty Lockwood 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Independence | 2023 State TN – Independence
– The most consistent performer from last weekend’s 7v7 tourney in Gatlinburg had to be Lockwood as he was his team’s go to receiver and hauled in just about every pass thrown his way. The future Ohio St. Buckeye was too much to handle for defense’s on the Mountain as he used his big body and football smarts to haul in passes, including producing several touchdown scores. He also showed off his ability to run which is very deceptive when looking at his big frame. Performances like the one he had in Gatlinburg last weekend will just continue to raise his stock and push towards becoming one of the top players in the country.
2. (WR) Demitrius Bell Demitrius Bell 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR McGavock | 2023 State TN – Blackman
– Up on the Mountain in East Tennessee, Bell continued to raise his recruiting stock by putting on a stellar performance at the Rocky Top 7v7 Classic as he displayed his blazing speed and athletic abilities along with producing 6 total touchdowns. The Blaze senior wideout continues to develop his craft by enhancing his route running and ability to find the open spots in the defense. Opposing defenders had a hard time keeping Bell in front and once he got past them, it was lights out. This guy is not only one of the best athletes in the state of Tennessee but also the entire country.
Quick clip from Rocky Top! @DzikNoah @recruit4TN @CSmithScout @ELammers_Rivals @LoyaltyPerform pic.twitter.com/g4wPk5t8GQ
— Demitrius Bell Demitrius Bell 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR McGavock | 2023 State TN (@db1_1o) February 27, 2022
3. (TE/DE)
Bo Burklow
Bo
Burklow
6'4" | 235 lbs | TE
CPA | 2023
State
TN
– CPA
– Burklow had an impressive showing in Gatlinburg last weekend and opened my eyes towards him becoming a formidable tight end prospect on the college gridiron. I had an up close look at Burklow, coaching against him and man did he torch my defense. The Lions senior two way talent sports a big, wide radius along with long arms and soft hands. He uses his body well to shield off defenders while also having the deceptive speed to break loose from them. Burlow is a well put together young man that already looks the part of a college football player, so I see a bright future for this Middle Tennessee product.
4. (CB) Syncere Safeeullah Syncere Safeeullah 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Hillsboro | 2023 FL – Hillsboro
– Ranked currently as the #1 defensive back prospect for the in-state ‘23 class, Safeeullah had yet another consistent performance last weekend in Gatlinburg where he did not allow a catch and locked down receivers all day long. This Middle Tennessee product continued to show off why he is a hot college prospect right now and that’s due to his size, length, smarts and consistent game play. Receivers have a hard time getting past Safeeullah because he is a patient guy that trusts his skills and speed to keep on path and shut them down. As far as I’m concerned, Safeeullah is still vastly underrated and one of the better cornerback recruits from the 2023 class.
5. (WR) Anthony Crowell Anthony Crowell 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Lebanon | 2023 State TN – Lebanon
– Crowell was one of the bigger standouts from the action on the Mountain last weekend in Gatlinburg where he was his team’s go to guy, producing 4 total touchdowns and catching several other clutch receptions. Coming off a big junior season at Lebanon, Crowell has put together a strong offseason thus far where it continued at the Rocky Top 7v7 Classic as one of the best receivers in attendance. This dude is fast, elusive and extremely smart. Crowell knows how to get open and once he catches the ball, he explodes towards the end zone. At this current time, Crowell sits offer-less but that should definitely change soon as more coaches dive deeper into his junior film.
6. (QB) Thomas Vaccaro Thomas Vaccaro 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB CPA | 2023 State TN – CPA
– Last weekend in Gatlinburg was the first time for me to see Vaccaro perform in person and let me say this guy is talented and has the abilities to push himself inside the Top 10 quarterbacks for the in-state ‘23 class. Vaccaro showed off strong accuracy and arm strength last weekend while also having a calm demeanor, leading his team to scores. He also has good size and carries himself very well, maneuvering around the pocket, keeping his eyes down field. Vaccaro is a talented passer that proved his worth in Gatlinburg last weekend and should jump on the college radar soon.
Awesome first weekend with my boys @TGH7v7. Came into the 32 team tournament and finished in second. Clutch plays all around, here are two decisive touchdowns in tournament play:@CSmithScout @CPAFootball @OndreEvans @Bo_Burklow17 @d1westnashville pic.twitter.com/WRBlmZDPqf
— Thomas Vaccaro Thomas Vaccaro 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB CPA | 2023 State TN (@ThomasCVaccaro) February 28, 2022
7. (WR)
Triston Lurry
Triston
Lurry
5'10" | 165 lbs | WR
Houston | 2023
TN
– Houston
– The 901 Phenom team out of Memphis sports several highly talented young men but it was Lurry who stood the most to me on the Mountain last weekend. Seeing him for the 2nd time in person this offseason, Lurry impressed with his playmaking abilities and speed to burn by defenders. Opposing defenses had a hard time keeping Lurry in front and definitely could not stop him once he blazed by them. Lurry is lightning in a bottle and could find the end zone from anywhere on the field. I expect him to impress many coaches this summer when he performs during camp season.
8. ‘24 (S) Stephen Ellison Stephen Ellison 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Oakland | 2024 State TN – Oakland
– Already holding multiple college offers in hand, Ellison lived up to those offers last Saturday in Gatlinburg by having his best offseason performance yet. Manning to back end at safety, Ellison was everywhere on the field, making calls and using his closing speed to chase up on the ball. The biggest thing that stood out to me about Ellison at the Rocky Top Classic was his attention to detail and continued aggression throughout the duration of the tournament. If Ellison keeps developing on this trajectory, Power Five schools may soon get involved with his recruitment.
9. ‘24 (QB) Cody Pagach Cody Pagach 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Alcoa | 2024 State TN – Independence
– NPA BallHawkU and Team Flight was the best performing team from their faction last Saturday and efforts were led by this Indy quarterback who had a stellar day throwing the ball. Pagach is a big armed passer that slung it all around the yard last weekend, consistently completing passes and developing good chemistry with his receivers. This Middle Tennessee product looks the part and definitely spins very well. He has a high ceiling as a guy who could throw it anywhere on the field but also move around the pocket, finding open receivers. Look for Pagach’s strong offseason to continue over the coming months.
10. ‘24 (WR) Ondre Evans Ondre Evans 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB CPA | 2024 State TN – CPA
– There isn’t much to say about this guy as Evans is 1000% legit and set to place himself on the Power Five football level in two years. He straight dominated his position at the Rocky Top Classic, hauling in just about every pass thrown his way and sometimes speeding off for the score. Evans was also a key red zone threat for Team Grind Hard as he helped push his team towards the tourney championship game. The Lions junior wideout has all the tools college coaches look for in a Division 1 receiver and he is still developing, which is scary for his upside on the next level.
Other Top Performers: (QB) Isaiah Tate – Germantown, (QB) Connor Swann – Ravenwood, (RB) Jamarion Dowell Jamarion Dowell 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Covington | 2023 State TN – Covington, (RB) Reggie Goodloe, Jr – Cane Ridge, ‘24 (WR) D’Arious Reed – Pearl Cohn, (WR) Daniel Morales – Indy, ‘24 (WR) Brock Montgomery Brock Montgomery 6'3" | 205 lbs | WR Riverdale | 2024 State TN – FCS, ‘24 (WR) Shawne Jones – Houston, (LB) Ethan Crisp Ethan Crisp 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN – Mt. Juliet, (DB) Byron Davis Byron Davis 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Cane Ridge | 2023 State TN – Cane Ridge, (DB) Zach Clark – Owensboro (Ky), (DB) A.C. Mason-Young A.C. Mason-Young 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Covington | 2023 State TN – Covington, ‘25 (Ath) A.J. Wallace A.J. Wallace 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH South Pittsburg | 2025 State TN – Chatt. Christian
Gatlinburg tournament went 5-1. Flew around and competed. 🏴☠️@scoop1914 @CSmithScout @NatlPlaymkrsAca @NCEC_Recruiting @beyond_grind @WRHitList @MartelsJr pic.twitter.com/YxoABvSZ83
— AJ Wallace🥷🏿 (@AjWallace16) February 27, 2022