Tennessee Future Stars Breakdown: 8th Grade Running Back (2027)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since 2010 the Kentucky/Tennessee Future Stars Game has been an institution in the middle school football space, where many of the best kids from the bordering states have put an exclamation point on their pre-high school careers. Countless numbers of Tennessee and Kentucky Future Stars have gone on to big time college careers at major programs and some have gone even further. This event is certainly a special one and is a staple in my summer travels. The evaluators and coaching staff that put together the Tennessee Future Stars do a great job of balancing skill sets and showcasing what the future of football will look like. Here's a look at the Running Back's on this year's eighth grade (class of 2027) Tennessee Future Stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378859"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of only two returners at the Running Back position a year ago, Scraggs has put together a tremendous pre-high school career at CAK. Highlighted by wins, championships, MVPs and Future Stars Team selections, he's certainly one of the more decorated athletes on the team. Up to 5-foot-7, 155-pounds and running a 4.78 in the forty, look for him to be the leader of this group.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["378893"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Hailing from Kate Bond Middle School in Memphis, [player_tooltip player_id='378893' first='Larry' last='Johnson'] is the reigning Tennessee Middle School Athletic Association 2A State Champion in both the 100M (11.47) and 200M (23.04). He also returns to the Tennessee Future Stars Running Back group an inch taller and nearly 20 pounds heavier, of nearly all muscle. Standing 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, he's the most next-level ready of the gifted stable of backs. He and Scraggs were both standouts a year ago, as seventh graders.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646d0fed505d2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tandem of Scraggs and Johnson may be the only returners at running back, The 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars do return <em>one more</em> player who was on the roster last year, just as a defensive back: <strong>Jayden McKnight</strong>. I've never seen McKnight play live nor do I know anything about him as a young man, but he's the type of kid that I really hope grows over the next few years because he's absolutely electric. He's on the roster at only 5-foot-4 and 140 pounds, but when you watch the Ezell-Harding Christian prospect his agility and twitch are next-level. Whether it be as a running back, a cornerback or even in special teams, he's too shifty to <em>not</em> pop off at some point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A newcomer to the Tennessee Future Stars this year, the prestigious event will be a great opportunity for running back <strong>Anthony</strong> <strong>Gibbs</strong> to show what he's got. The potential for Gibbs is seemingly through the roof, as this eighth-grade season at South Pittsburg Academy was only his second year ever playing running back. His film shows the ability to really kick it into another gear when he finds open real estate beyond the first level. Like McKnight, he can also come up with big plays in the defensive secondary too. At 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, he's a prospect that could catapult himself on to the 2027 PRZ Next National Watchlist with a good showing amongst other talents at the Tennessee/Kentucky Future Stars Game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last but certainly not least, Tennessee will also have the services of 5-foot-7, 130-pound <strong>Carsen Carter</strong> out of Unity School in Petersburg. Sitting in the heart of southern Tennessee, all Carter did this year was help lead the Unity Lions to its first Elk Valley Conference Championship in school history. The Conference MVP shined on both sides of the ball this past season, tallying 1,225 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns, in addition to a team-high 91 tackles and seven sacks on defense. It will be his first taste of the Tennessee/Kentucky rivalry, but I look for him to rise to the occasion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->