#TN2023 Rankings: Inside The TN Top 150
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Our new ℅ 2023 prospect rankings have been dropped and boy is this a deep class that will grow over the coming months and will be updated prior to the start of the Fall football season. This class is much…
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Continue ReadingOur new ℅ 2023 prospect rankings have been dropped and boy is this a deep class that will grow over the coming months and will be updated prior to the start of the Fall football season.
This class is much deeper compared to last year’s class where at this point, all the prospects ranked in the TN Top 150 are Power Five, D1 or FCS level guys that could all develop over the summer months and Fall season to a bigger status and bigger college opportunities.
What the in-state 2023 class brings to the table are a lot of prospects that sport great athleticism and size along with the skill set and upside that collegiate coaches want in their programs.
Looking at the very top of this list, three of the top five in-state prospects have already made college commitments to Power Five programs. The number two ranked prospect in Independence (TE) Ty Lockwood Ty Lockwood 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Independence | 2023 State TN has committed to Ohio St. while 4th ranked Ensworth standout in Shamar Porter Shamar Porter 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Ensworth | 2023 State TN and 5th ranked overall, Ravenwood quarterback Chris Parson Chris Parson 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Ravenwood | 2023 State TN have also made commitments to Kentucky and Florida St.
Several others behind the Top Five overall prospects (#1 – Caleb Herring Caleb Herring 6'6" | 215 lbs | LB Riverdale | 2023 State TN , #2 – Lockwood, #3 – Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN , #4 – Porter, #5 – Parson) are squarely on the Power Five, D1 radar with several others sitting on that cusp of joining that at the big boy table as well.
Diving into the position groups within this state, the top four in this cycle right now would be the Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers, Offensive and Defensive lines. All four of these groups not only provide P5, D1 talent at the top but have depth as well.
This is the best quarterback group that we have had in some time as it’s filled with talented gunslingers that bring a lot of different skill sets to the football field. Parson leads the way in this group but he is closely followed by Brock Glenn Brock Glenn 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Lausanne | 2023 State TN (Ranked 8th overall) from Lausanne, Kenny Minchey Kenny Minchey 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Pope Prep | 2023 State TN (13th overall) from Pope Prep and MBA’s Marcel Reed Marcel Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB MBA | 2023 State TN (Ranked 15th overall). All three of these guys have established themselves as Power Five offered guys.
The line of scrimmage is full of big men that not only have great size but the mobility and athleticism that big time college coaches look for. Headed into this cycle, the O-line already looked like the best position group in this entire class and right now, it remains that way!
Seven offensive linemen are ranked within the Top 25 with Sanders leading the way at 3rd overall. Sitting right behind the Baylor big man is Lance Williams Lance Williams 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN (10th overall) and Tyler Jeffries Tyler Jeffries 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN (Ranked 16th) from Alcoa, Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'6" | 305 lbs | OL Henry Co. | 2023 State TN (17th overall) from Henry County, FRA’s massive lineman Joe Crocker Joe Crocker 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL FRA | 2023 State TN (Ranked 19th), Lipscomb’s rising talent Brandon Solis Brandon Solis 6'8" | 275 lbs | OL Lipscomb Acad. | 2023 State TN (20th overall) and the best center in the state in Maryville’s Cal Grubbs Cal Grubbs 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Maryville | 2023 State TN (Ranked 25th overall).
Those aren’t the only talented big blockers up front that people need to know about. Behind the top seven and within the Top 100 overall, thirteen others made our initial rankings. Among some of the top names include Ayden Bussell Ayden Bussell 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN (29th overall/8th OL), Tyler Bell Tyler Bell 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Lausanne | 2023 State TN (39th overall/9th OL), Caleb Dorris Caleb Dorris 6'6" | 265 lbs | OL Ensworth | 2023 State TN (42nd overall/10th OL), Eli Freeman Eli Freeman 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Lebanon | 2023 State TN (51st overall/11th OL) and Nate Bledsoe Nate Bledsoe 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Briarcrest Christian | 2023 State TN (52nd overall/12th OL) from Briarcrest Christian.
The guys competing against those blockers up front are the D-linemen and the more I scouted this position group the more I continued to find talented guys that showed the upside to make it to the college level.
While this D-line group may not be front loaded with Power Five talent, the depth is strong with several guys that could develop further into D1 prospects. Some of the top names representing this group at the top includes the top rated D-lineman in Father Ryan’s Drake Carlson Drake Carlson 6'4" | 275 lbs | DL Father Ryan | 2023 State TN (14th overall) followed by Anthony Boggs Anthony Boggs 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL Baylor | 2023 State TN (24th overall/2nd DL) from Baylor, Nathan Robinson Nathan Robinson 6'5" | 245 lbs | DL Greenbrier | 2023 State TN from Greenbrier (28th overall/3rd DL), LaJairus Abernathy LaJairus Abernathy 6'2" | 285 lbs | DL Pearl Cohn | 2023 State TN (33rd overall/4th DL) from Pearl Cohn and Collierville’s Jaden McKinney Jaden McKinney 6'4" | 285 lbs | DL Collierville | 2023 State TN checking in at 41st overall and the 5th ranked D-lineman.
Those are the top guys at the moment but they have several guys right behind them that have the tools to develop and rise up the rankings over the coming months. A few names to watch going forward include Taeshawn Clark Taeshawn Clark 6'3" | 255 lbs | DL Kenwood | 2023 State TN (53rd overall/6th DL), Donovan Nevils Donovan Nevils 6'2" | 255 lbs | DL BGA | 2023 State TN (66th overall/7th DL), Caleb Graham Caleb Graham 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Maryville | 2023 State TN (69th overall/8th DL), Ethan Jones Ethan Jones 6'2" | 275 lbs | DL Lausanne | 2023 State TN (73rd overall/9th DL) and Marceo Collins, Jr Marceo Collins, Jr 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Baylor School | 2023 State TN (78th overall/10th DL) from Baylor School.
Moving back over to offense, we finish up our overview with the receivers and this group is ultra talented with multiple guys with Power Five and possible NFL talent.
When you look at the Top 50l, eight receivers crack the list with seven of them making up the Top 30. The top name on this list is Porter, who is headed to the SEC next season, followed by his Ensworth teammate in Jacob Page Jacob Page 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Blackman | 2023 State TN at 7th overall. Right behind the Tiger receivers is another pair of teammates from the East Tennessee region.
Tall and long Powell wideout Ayden Greene Ayden Greene 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2023 State TN places in at 9th overall with his teammate in Adarius Redmond Adarius Redmond 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2023 State TN right behind him ranked 12th. The four others within the Top 30 are Justin Brown Justin Brown 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Blackman | 2023 State TN from Blackman (18th overall/5th WR), London Humphreys London Humphreys 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR CPA | 2023 State TN (27th overall/6th WR) from CPA and another Blackman wideout in speedster Demitrius Bell Demitrius Bell 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR McGavock | 2023 State TN coming in at 30th overall.
The 2023 crop of receivers is not only top heavy but its very good depth as well. Looking down the receiver list, you will find multiple guys on that D1 fringe but definitely FCS level. Some of the top names to know about going forward are Donovan Smith Donovan Smith 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Chatt. Central | 2023 State TN (60th overall/9th WR) from Chatt. Central, Devin Johnson II Devin Johnson II 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Briarcrest | 2023 State TN (62nd overall/10th WR) from Briacrest, Jamari Person Jamari Person 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Haywood | 2023 State TN (64th overall/11th WR) from Haywood, Chance Fitzgerald Chance Fitzgerald 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Nolensville | 2023 State TN (65th overall/12th WR) from Nolensville, Adjatay Dabbs Adjatay Dabbs 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Greeneville | 2023 State TN (76th overall/13th WR) from Greeneville and Lebanon’s speedster Anthony Crowell Anthony Crowell 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Lebanon | 2023 State TN (81st overall/14th WR).
Over the next few weeks, we will continue go in-depth on the new #TN2023 prospect rankings with breakdowns on each position and more so stay tuned to PrepRedzoneTN!!
Other Top Positional Prospects
RB’s: #1 DeSean Bishop DeSean Bishop 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Karns | 2023 State TN (26th overall) – Karns, #2 Noah Vaughn Noah Vaughn 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Maryville | 2023 State TN (58th overall) – Maryville, #3 Bralyn Taylor Bralyn Taylor 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Dyer Co. | 2023 State TN (81st overall) – Dyer Co., #4 Juan Bullard Juan Bullard 6'1" | 205 lbs | RB East Hamilton | 2023 State TN (88th overall) – East Hamilton, #5 Arion Carter Arion Carter 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Smyrna | 2023 State TN (91st overall) – Smyrna
TE’s: #1 – Lockwood, #2 Ben Marshall Ben Marshall 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Blackman | 2023 State TN (23rd overall) – Blackman, #3 Braiden Staten Braiden Staten 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Green Hill | 2023 State TN (48th overall) – Green Hill, #4 Donivon Thomas Donivon Thomas 6'5" | 225 lbs | LB Brainerd | 2023 State TN (55th overall) – Brainerd, #5 Jahlin Osborne Jahlin Osborne 6'4" | 215 lbs | TE Coffee. Co. Central | 2023 State TN (86th overall) – Coffee Co.
LB’s: #1 – Herring, #2 Ethan Crisp Ethan Crisp 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN (6th overall) – Mt. Juliet, #3 Bryan Longwell Bryan Longwell 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Lipscomb Academy | 2023 State TN (34th overall) – Lipscomb, #4 Desmond Lockett Desmond Lockett 6'5" | 230 lbs | LB Karns | 2023 State TN (44th overall) – Karns, #5 Taylor Wein Taylor Wein 6'5" | 245 lbs | DL Nolensville | 2023 State TN (49th overall) – Nolensville
DB’s: #1 Syncere Safeeullah Syncere Safeeullah 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Hillsboro | 2023 FL (11th overall) – Hillsboro, #2 Jaxon Hammond Jaxon Hammond 5'11" | 160 lbs | DB Christian Brothers | 2023 State TN (36th overall) – Chrst. Brothers, #3 A.C. Mason-Young A.C. Mason-Young 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Covington | 2023 State TN (43rd overall) – Covington, #4 Tyson Edwards Tyson Edwards 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Overton | 2023 State TN (47th overall) – Overton, #5 Langston Rogers Langston Rogers 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Lausanne | 2023 State TN (59th overall) – Lausanne
Ath’s: #1 Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB McKenzie | 2023 State TN (21st overall) – McKenzie, #2 Bo Burklow Bo Burklow 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE CPA | 2023 State TN (22nd overall) – CPA, #3 Junior Sherrill Junior Sherrill 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Lipscomb Academy | 2023 State TN (31st overall) – Lipscomb, #4 Trevor Duncan Trevor Duncan 6'5" | 270 lbs | DL Knox. Catholic | 2023 State TN (32nd overall) – Knox. Catholic, #5 Courtland Simmons Courtland Simmons 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Davidson Academy | 2023 State TN (35th overall) – Davidson Academy