#PRZTN POTW: Week Two Top Performers

Chris Smith August 30, 2023 @ 04:49 PM

Two junior prospects, one from the Chattanooga area and the other from the Mid-Tennessee region, earned our Players of the Week but who took home the positional awards? Find out below w/ our Week Two Top Performers.

Week Two ...#TNHSFB

Offensive Player of the Week

E.J. Carter

HEIGHT 5'10"

WEIGHT 175

POS RB

CLASS 2025

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Was this the breakout game Carter needed to place himself on the recruiting map? It very well could be as this Chattanooga area running back thrashed the Signal Mountain defense for 350 plus yards as well as displayed exceptional explosion and speed that translates well to the next level. Carter has stepped into the lead role at running back for the Irish this season and with performances like last Friday, he not only solidified himself to remain the starter but also a talent to watch the remainder of the year as a possible future college recruit. Game Stats: 17 carr. for 354 yds & 4 TD’s

Highlights

Defensive Player of the Week

Jay Smitherman

HEIGHT 5'9"

WEIGHT 165

POS ATH

CLASS 2025

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Jay Smitherman

State: Tennessee

School: Ravenwood

Stepping into a lead role on defense this year as a junior, Smitherman asserted himself big time in the Raptors win over Cane Ridge last Friday. He was a force that couldn’t be stopped as Smitherman was everywhere on the field and being the kind of secondary playmaker that collegiate coaches look for. The Raptors junior defender was around the ball all night, whether that be making tackles, breaking up passes or producing touchdowns both by way of an interception and a recovered fumble. This was “the” best performance yet from Smitherman and a game that can take his stock to another level, forcing college coaches to look at him harder. Game Stats: 5 tcks, 4 PBU, 1 pick 6 (Int) & 1 FR for a TD

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Positional POTW

QB: ‘25 Jayden Neal Jayden Neal 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Knoxville Catholic | 2025 State TN - Knox. Catholic: 18-31 passing for 413 yds & 4 TD's

- The Irish have started their season at 2-0 and Neal has been a big reason why. He put together a stellar game last Friday by putting up over 400 yards through the air, producing 4 TD's and leading his team to victory.

RB: Tyson Wolcott - Friendship Chrst.: 31 carr. for 305 yds & 4 TD's

- Week in and week out, all Wolcott does is produce and last week in the Commanders win over DCA, this senior back tore up the Wildcats defense, running at will towards producing four scores on the night and pushing his FCS team to a 2-0 start.

WR/TE: Jade Kneeland Jade Kneeland 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Bartlett | 2024 State TN - Bartlett: 8 rec. for 206 yds & 3 TD's

- This was the breakout performance the Panthers coaching staff and Kneeland himself has been waiting for as this senior wideout displayed a variety of talents against Lausanne where he showed off his explosiveness and breakaway speed along with his increased physicality and strength.

OL: East Nashville Eagles

Ath: Trey Wilhite Trey Wilhite 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Lenoir City | 2024 State TN - Lenoir City: 7 tcks, 1 FR & 2 blocked FG's (26 carr. for 137 yds & 2 TD's; 79 yds passing & 1 TD)

- The Panthers fell short in their rivalry game last week against Loudon but it wasn't because of a lack of effort or production from Wilhite. This senior two-way player put up some big numbers last Friday, doing so in three different ways (Off. Def. ST's).

DL: Paul Marie-Dogui Paul Marie-Dogui 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL McCallie | 2024 State TN - McCallie: 3 tcks, 3 TFL & 3 sacks

- Marie-Dogui was a force in last week's win over Woodward Academy (Ga), where this Blue Tornado edge rusher was near unblockable as he played in the opposition's backfield all night while producing at a high level.

LB: Preston Lewis - Scotts Hill: 7 tcks, 3 TFL, 2 sacks & 1 Int

- The Lions defense had a banner evening in their 20-0 win over Humboldt, led by Lewis, who produced in multiple ways. His play on the defensive side of the ball was key in slowing down the Vikings run game.

DB: ‘25 Antonio Purvis - White Co.: 3 tcks & 2 Int's (3 rec. for 24 yds & 1 TD)

- Last Friday in the Warriors 35-6 win over Warren Co., Purvis had his breakthrough game as he played the ball hawk role to perfection, picking off two passes then moving over to offense and producing a touchdown at receiver.