The Five: #TN2023 Rankings Superlatives

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Wrapping our deep dive into our final senior rankings for the #TN2023 class, here we look at some of the biggest stories inside the rankings, including which schools had the most players ranked and which position group was represented the best. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2023-rankings/">#TN2023 Senior Rankings</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1. Most Ranked Players by Position - Offensive Line (50)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The position that ended with the most players ranked by #PRZTN was the Offensive Line, who saw 50 prospects land inside the Top 300 with most of those 50 signed to play college ball, starting in the Fall. This was the deepest, most talented crop of offensive linemen that we have ever had in this state as 21 trench monsters ended up signing with D1 programs and many others went to lower level programs. This position is a big reason why many college coaches came to this state to recruit and it shows in our final rankings.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some notable names sitting inside our #PRZTN Top 100 include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102315' first='Brycen' last='Sanders'] </strong>(1st ranked OL/Signed w/ Ole Miss), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102185' first='Luke' last='Brown'] </strong>(10 overall/Signed w/ Arkansas), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='276788' first='Brandon' last='Solis'] </strong>(22nd overall/Signed w/ Missouri), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='118718' first='Cal' last='Grubbs'] </strong>(29th overall/Signed w/ Liberty), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102277' first='Barrett' last='Maddox'] </strong>(31st overall/Signed w/ Vanderbilt), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102231' first='Eli' last='Freeman'] </strong>(41st overall/Signed w/ Ball St.), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102290' first='Luke' last='Needham'] </strong>(44th overall/Signed w/ Rice), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='305266' first='Elijah' last='Prather'] </strong>(51st overall/Signed w/ Troy), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='317187' first='Ty' last='Williams'] </strong>(77th overall/Signed w/ Austin Peay), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150333' first='Ethan' last='Hatton'] </strong>(93rd overall/Signed w/ SEMO) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102331' first='Misan' last='Sisk'] </strong>(94th overall/Signed w/ Murray St.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few sleepers inside our Top 300 to know about moving forward are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='228149' first='Derrick' last='Keith'] </strong>(Signed w/ Troy (PWO)/107th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102273' first='Devin' last='Lively'] </strong>(Signed w/ Air Force/127th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153479' first='Zach' last='Turk'] </strong>(Signed w/ Carson-Newman/Ranked 191st), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102258' first='Dayton' last='Jernigan'] </strong>(Signed w/ Carson-Newman/210th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196985' first='Hayden' last='Edge'] </strong>(Signed w/ Stetson/Ranked 219th), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='317190' first='Myles' last='Houston'] </strong>(Signed w/ Cumberland/258th overall) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='258683' first='Jamison' last='Johnson'] </strong>from Chatt. Central (Ranked 283rd), who signed with The Cumberlands.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":517211,"width":344,"height":344,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/dkeith.jpg?w=399" alt="" class="wp-image-517211" width="344" height="344" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>---------------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. Most Ranked Players by School&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- It was a close battle to see which school would land the most players inside our #PRZTN Top 300 but in the end, it was Lipscomb Academy who had the most ranked players at ten. The Mustangs had a banner year where they took home their 2nd straight state title while seeing several players sign with college programs both in December and in early February. Lipscomb placed six players within the Top 100 (Sherrill, Solis, Longwell, Vandiver, Brown, Spillman) and five of the six signed with Power Five programs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming in behind the Mustangs was the Baylor Red Raiders. The D2-Class AAA state champs saw eight players ranked inside the Top 300 with six of them coming within the Top 100. Baylor had one of the best teams in the state for the 2022 season and you can see that success inside the rankings and the players who signed to play on the next level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lausanne tied the Red Raiders with eight players ranked inside the Top 300, sporting the top ranked quarterback in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102233' first='Brock' last='Glenn']</strong> and several under the radar talented players headed to the FCS and D2 ranks in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102311' first='Langston' last='Rogers']</strong>,<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='102261' first='Ethan' last='Jones']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102265' first='Zamaryion' last='Kendall']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102318' first='Drew' last='Scott']&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are the schools who had the most players ranked inside our final senior rankings&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lipscomb Academy</strong>- J. Sherrill, B.Solis, B. Longwell, C.Vandiver, H.Brown, N.Spillman, B.Loving, D.Wroblewski, D.Steele, J.Rubin (10)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Baylor </strong>- B.Sanders, A.Boggs, D.Restelli, C.Hampton, M.Collins, E.Haynie, A.Skyles, N.Gravel (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lausanne</strong> - B.Glenn, T.Bell, L.Rogers, E.Hatton, E.Jones, Z.Kendall, D.Scott, J.Wyatt (8)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MBA</strong> - M.Reed, E.George, J.Moore, G.Fisher, C.Richards, T.Woods, A.Young (7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alcoa</strong> - L.Williams, T.Jeffries, J.Harris, Z.Lunsford, A.Davis, R.Long (6)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Briarcrest Christian </strong>- M.Carroll, N.Bledsoe, J.Sherrod, R.Linder, D.Johnson (5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maryville</strong> - C.Grubbs, N.Vaughn, C.Graham, J.Manaker, P.Cooper (5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nolensville</strong> - C.Fitzgerald, T.Wein, C.Walton, D.Burroughs (4)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>----------------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. Best QB Class Ever!&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- It was a banner year for the gunslingers here in the state of Tennessee as we saw five quarterbacks sign with Power Five schools and six others ink with Division 1 football programs. We are saw 28 total signal callers ranked by #PRZTN inside the final senior rankings. This was easily the best crop of quarterbacks we have ever had in this state, so the bar has been set high moving forward for the rest of the future classes to live up to the 2023 group.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lausanne's senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102233' first='Brock' last='Glenn'] </strong>ended up as the top ranked QB by #PRZTN (6th overall) with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150305' first='Kenny' last='Minchey'] </strong>(Ranked 7th/Signed w/ Notre Dame), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102308' first='Marcel' last='Reed'] </strong>(Ranked 8th/Signed w/ Texas A&amp;M) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='60841' first='Chris' last='Parson'] </strong>rounding out the QB's in the Top 20 with the Ravenwood passer coming in at 14th overall and the 4th ranked quarterback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few sleepers to know about headed into the college game include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102304' first='Braylen' last='Ragland'] </strong>(56th overall/Signed w/ Georgia St.), <strong>J.D. Sherrod </strong>(61st overall/Signed w/ Troy), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295457' first='Coby' last='Walton'] </strong>(64th overall/Signed w/ Ga Southern), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102302' first='Jordyn' last='Potts'] </strong>(85th overall/Signed w/ Tn Tech), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='250834' first='Charles' last='Robinson'], Jr </strong>(86th overall/Signed w/ Navy) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150308' first='Jack' last='Risner']</strong>, who is headed to Tulane on a Preferred Walk-On.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":325363,"width":378,"height":378,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/04/jdsherrod.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-325363" width="378" height="378" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-------------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. Elite Receiver Class Ranks High&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- It wasn't just the offensive line and the quarterbacks who placed well in our final senior rankings but the receivers did as well due to some elite talent at the top and some depth that vastly improved throughout the 2022 season. Everything remained the same at the top with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='151256' first='Demitrius' last='Bell'] </strong>(4th overall) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102301' first='Shamar' last='Porter'] </strong>(5th overall) leading the way but right behind them were some big risers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102226' first='Chance' last='Fitzgerald'] </strong>(3rd ranked WR/12th overall) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='185565' first='Junior' last='Sherrill'] </strong>(4th ranked WR/13th overall), who signed with Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102238' first='Ayden' last='Greene'] </strong>from Powell (Signed w/ Va Tech/17th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='207352' first='London' last='Humphreys'] </strong>from CPA (Signed w/ Vanderbilt/18th overall) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102184' first='Justin' last='Brown'] </strong>from Blackman (Signed w/ Miss. State/20th overall) round things out making it seven wideouts ranked inside the Top 20.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beyond those four are a bunch of talented wideouts who all show potential one way or another that could blossom on the collegiate gridiron. Out of the Top 100 prospects, the receivers saw a total of 15 players ranked with nine of them signing with Power Five programs but it's much deeper than that as 37 pass catchers ended up being ranked within our final Top 300.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some notable receivers who are placed inside that Top 300 that could shine on the next level includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='197134' first='Kaleb' last='Carver'] </strong>(Signed w/ Indianapolis/96th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102209' first='Adjatay' last='Dabbs'] </strong>(Signed w/ Mercer/97th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150317' first='Marcellus' last='Jackson'] </strong>(Signed w/ Tn Tech/108th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102271' first='Reed' last='Linder'] </strong>(Signed w/ Arkansas St (PWO)/132nd overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232819' first='Na'Zaiyah' last='Holman'] </strong>(Signed w/ Cumberland/195th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='273380' first='Claiborne' last='Richards'] </strong>(Signed w/ Virginia (PWO)/241st overall) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='599522' first='Ethan' last='Lisman']</strong> from Page, who signed with Lindsey Wilson (Ranked 244th overall).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":291758,"width":330,"height":330,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/02/jubrown.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-291758" width="330" height="330" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-------------</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5. FCS Schools Load Up on #PRZTN Top 300 Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Many fans and football nuts will always gravitate to the Power Five, D1 prospects and teams but you can't sleep on the FCS level as you have some strong programs down there that certainly loaded up on some #TN2023 talent. A few teams in particular eyed the state of Tennessee as a recruiting hotbed for them and several squads signed multiple players that are spread throughout our #PRZTN Top 300.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No school recruited the state of Tennessee better from the FCS level other than Austin Peay. The Govs coaching staff did a great job of diagnosing top talent, recruiting them heavily throughout the process and landing them on signing day. Austin Peay ended up with three of the most athletic playmakers from the #TN2023 class in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102344' first='Marquez' last='Taylor'] </strong>(McKenzie/40th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201098' first='Courtland' last='Simmons'] </strong>(Davidson Acad./52nd overall) and the state's leading rusher at 3,000 yards plus in White County's star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102219' first='Malaki' last='Dowell'] </strong>(Ranked 49th overall).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Govs also signed a strong in-state O-line class as well with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='317187' first='Ty' last='Williams'] </strong>(77th ranked) from Greeneville leading the way, followed by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='157394' first='Leo' last='Gonzalez'] </strong>(Lenoir City/101st overall) and 6'10 monster <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='234956' first='Dane' last='Woodard'] </strong>(Smith Co./104th overall) closing things out.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another team who recruited the in-state #TN2023 class very well was Tennessee Tech. The Golden Eagles, led by head coach <strong>DeWayne Alexander</strong>, targeted multiple key guys from this year's senior class and did a good job of sealing the deal and signing one of the best recruiting classes on the FCS level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>According to our #PRZTN rankings, the top Tech signee coming this Fall is Alcoa running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302319' first='Jordan' last='Harris']</strong>, who is a steal for the Golden Eagles. Tennessee Tech also landed a top tier quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='102302' first='Jordyn' last='Potts'], who could see the field early during his time in Cookeville.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Golden Eagles signed a stellar defensive class that could see multiple Tennesseans crack the field early as freshmen and become All-Conference contenders before their careers are over.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beech senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155800' first='Tyler' last='Nix'] </strong>comes in ranked 78th overall and is headed to Tech as a tight end but he could easily stay on defense as he works with the Golden Eagles throughout camp. His teammate in linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102242' first='Bronco' last='Hanks']</strong> (Ranked 145th) will be joining Nix in Cookeville as well. Another linebacker signed by Tech to keep an eye on is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102202' first='Jamar' last='Carnell']</strong> from Clarksville, who burst up the final rankings to come in at 126th overall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Possibly the best defensive signee by Tennessee Tech was Nolensville defensive <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='323158' first='Derrick' last='Burroughs']</strong>, who led the Mid-Tennessee area in interceptions at six. Ranked 82nd overall, Burroughs is a consistent ball player that could carve out a secondary role this Fall for the Golden Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few other FCS players of note ranked high in our final #PRZTN senior rankings are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='201093' first='Dalton' last='Restelli'] </strong>from Baylor (Signed w/ Chattanooga/53rd overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225961' first='Jaden' last='McKinney'] </strong>from Collierville (Signed w/ Austin Peay/65th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102352' first='Joshua' last='Wade'] </strong>from Knox. Webb (Signed w/ ETSU/67th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153513' first='Garrett' last='Hawkins'] </strong>from Sevier Co. (Signed w/ Austin Peay/70th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='153948' first='Bryson' last='Vowell'] </strong>from Anderson Co. (Signed w/ Murray St./72nd overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='102361' first='Braxton' last='Wilson'] </strong>from Fayetteville (Signed w/ ETSU/75th overall), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242086' first='Tanner' last='Schuck'] </strong>from Ravenwood (Signed w/ Furman/79th overall) and <strong>Mean Mannan </strong>from Franklin, who signed w/ Eastern Ky (80th overall).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2023-rankings/">#TN2023 Top 300</a></strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->