Best In Region: East Tennessee Top 10 Prospects
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A new series here at Prep RedZone Tennessee, we will be looking at the top prospects from the three main regions in the state and how things look in recruiting for them headed into the summer camp season. 1. (T/G)…
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Continue ReadingA new series here at Prep RedZone Tennessee, we will be looking at the top prospects from the three main regions in the state and how things look in recruiting for them headed into the summer camp season.
1. (T/G) Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN (6’6 290) – Baylor School
– This Chattanooga area O-lineman is ranked by PRZTN as the #1 offensive line prospect in the state and soon he could be off the recruiting board. Sanders recently narrowed down his long offer list to a top four of LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Tennessee and soon he could be ready to announce his commitment. All four contenders have a great shot at landing this tackle prospect but I feel two schools may have a lead over the others and that’s LSU and Oklahoma. We shall see what happens but this guy is legit and someone with a possible NFL future.
2. (WR) Ayden Greene Ayden Greene 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2023 State TN (6’3 180) – Powell
– Greene is a wanted man on the recruiting trail as he has picked up several Power Five, D1 offers over the months but as of now, the Panthers wideout doesn’t appear close to making a decision. At this moment, Greene holds offers from the likes of Miss. State, Tennessee, Wake Forest, Va Tech and others. He currently hasn’t claimed a leader nor tipped his hand as to where he could be leaning but I would not be surprised to see him committed before the start of the Fall football season.
3. (OG) Lance Williams Lance Williams 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN (6’4 285) – Alcoa
– Williams recently took himself off the recruiting board as this East Tennessee mauler gave his college commitment to the Virginia Tech Hokies and I don’t see him backing off from that decision. The Tornadoes best college prospect and the 10th ranked recruit by PRZTN, Williams will have a great shot at competing for early playing time when he arrives in Blacksburg but before then, he plans to take his Alcoa team back to the 3A championship and defend their title from the 2021 season. This guy is also a state champion in wrestling, so the Hokies are getting a guy that knows how to compete and knows how to win.
4. (WR) Adarius Redmond Adarius Redmond 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2023 State TN (6’2 185) – Powell
– One of the more athletic prospects from the in-state 2023 class is Redmond and he holds the offers proving just that. Part of a two headed monster at receiver for Powell, Redmond has been on the recruiting scene for a while now and at this current point, he doesn’t appear close to making a decision. This Panthers wideout holds offers from the likes of Michigan St, Penn St., Tennessee, Va Tech and others but could soon add more as his profile continues to float around the recruiting trail.
5. (T/G) Tyler Jeffries Tyler Jeffries 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN (6’5 300) – Alcoa
– The winter and spring months have been good to Jeffries when it comes to recruiting as this burly and physical O-lineman has picked up several strong offers with possibly more to come. This process could come to an end for Jeffries before the summer is completed as several high profile programs are hot on his trail and could tip his hand towards a commitment. Among the suitors after Jeffries include Cincinnati, Indiana, Oregon, South Carolina, West Virginia and others. Several other high caliber football teams are showing interest with Jeffries and could soon be close to pulling the trigger on an offer, so watch out for this guy’s recruitment going forward.
6. (DL) Anthony Boggs Anthony Boggs 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL Baylor | 2023 State TN (6’5 255) – Baylor School
– This guy is one of the top hidden gems around the state and not just the East Tennessee region. Boggs is a big dude with tons of athletic traits that college coaches have started to notice but he still waits for those Power Five offers to arrive. Among his top choices right now includes Cincinnati, Memphis and Tulane but his talents warrant bigger looks and I think those options will come as Boggs is able to work and show off his talents in person in camps this summer.
7. (C/G) Cal Grubbs Cal Grubbs 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Maryville | 2023 State TN (6’4 285) – Maryville
– Grubbs has been a known name throughout this recruiting process for going on two years now but he isn’t any closer to making a decision. As of today, Grubbs is still wide open and kind of still under the radar when it comes to his abilities on the next level. The Rebels star center holds multiple strong offers from the likes of Cincinnati, ECU, Miami OH, Ole Miss, Virginia and others but is still holding out for a few more big programs to get involved and I think they will after working with Grubbs in camps this summer.
8. (RB) DeSean Bishop DeSean Bishop 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Karns | 2023 State TN (5’11 190) – Karns
– The best running back in the state for the ‘23 class hails from the East Tennessee region and Bishop sits in a good position right now when it comes to offers and making it to the next level. Holding strong offers already from Purdue, Tennessee and Virginia Tech, Bishop could be poised to add several more over the next few months, especially if and when college coaches see and work with him in person. I could see Bishop making his decision soon as he has strong interest in some schools that have offered but I could also see him waiting things out to see what new suitors come through.
9. (OT/DL) Trevor Duncan Trevor Duncan 6'5" | 270 lbs | DL Knox. Catholic | 2023 State TN (6’5 275) – Knox. Catholic
– This Fighting Irish two-way lineman is one of the more intriguing talents from the East Tennessee region and the state as Duncan has the physique and athletic tools to excel on either side of the ball in college. Power Five and D1 coaches have been active in their pursuit of Duncan and there is a possibility that he could be on the verge of making a commitment. Some of the schools in hot pursuit of Duncan are Kentucky, Purdue, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and few others. This actually may come down to an in-state battle for Duncan (UT, VU), so we shall see how things play out.
10. (LB/Edge) Desmond Lockett Desmond Lockett 6'5" | 230 lbs | LB Karns | 2023 State TN (6’5 220) – Karns
– Lockett has yet to pick up his first college offer and a lot of that is due to his grades but he’s working on that, however this guy is legit and sports the athletic traits that college coaches are looking for in their edge rushers. The Beavers rising senior is one of the best pure pass rushers in this class and is every bit of his 6’5 220 plus frame with room to grow. Lockett has the tools that warrant college offers and I think he will see those come after working with college coaches in person over the next few months.
Five Others to Know: (Ath) Elijah Rogers Elijah Rogers 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB Oak Ridge | 2023 State TN – Oak Ridge, (TE) Donivon Thomas Donivon Thomas 6'5" | 225 lbs | LB Brainerd | 2023 State TN – Brainerd, (RB) Noah Vaughn Noah Vaughn 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Maryville | 2023 State TN – Maryville, (WR) Donovan Smith Donovan Smith 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Chatt. Central | 2023 State TN – Chatt. Central, (OL) Joshua Wade Joshua Wade 6'3" | 300 lbs | OL Knox. Webb | 2023 State TN – King’s Academy