#TN2026 Stockrisers to Watch in Week 6
In this article:
As another week of high school football action is set to kickoff tomorrow, it’s time to visit the state of Tennessee to highlight some intriguing playmakers on both sides of the ball that should be seeing their stock rise as…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs another week of high school football action is set to kickoff tomorrow, it’s time to visit the state of Tennessee to highlight some intriguing playmakers on both sides of the ball that should be seeing their stock rise as the season continues. Without any further ado, here’s my list of some 2026 stockrisers in the Volunteer State that are worth keeping an eye on in week 6 of competition.
Highlights
At the top of my list of notable performers is Briggs Cherry Briggs Cherry 6'4" | 205 lbs | QB Baylor | 2026 State TN , a 6-foot-4, 195-pound quarterback at Baylor High School. Cherry and the Red Raiders are nearly flawless on the season, recently defeating Christian Brothers 48-9. What stands out about Cherry is his footwork and execution off the snap, showcasing his ability to quickly get the ball out of his hands under pressure. Cherry also impresses with his excellent arm strength and pin-point accurate passing. Cherry additionally makes a difference due to his versatile edge and ability to stay on his feet under pressure.
Highlights
I am additionally impressed with Gabe Abercrombie Gabe Abercrombie 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB McCallie | 2026 State TN , a 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back at McCallie High School. Abercrombie and the Blue Tornado recently earned a 29-15 win over Brentwood Academy. Abercrombie impresses me with his ability to quickly attack the offense as well as his consistent performance in the backfield. I like how Abercrombie utilizes his footwork and physicality to overwhelm receivers and disrupt the passing game. Abercrombie also stands out with his ability to stun receivers upon contact and keep himself in front of the ball to close down the passing lane.
Highlights
Claiming the number three spot on my list is Jared Bafford Jared Bafford 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Oak Ridge | 2026 State TN , a 6-foot-3, 260-pound offensive lineman at Oak Ridge High School. Bafford and the Wildcats are coming off a 14-3 victory over Concord Christian last week. In addition to outstanding size, speed and physicality, what stands out about Bafford is his ability to stay locked in, exerting his strength off the snap as he blasts the defense and absorbs pressure in the pocket. I also like how Bafford utilizes his footwork to secure his stance and push the defense back behind the line of scrimmage.
Another skilled playmaker to keep an eye on is Jared Curtis Jared Curtis 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Nash. Christian | 2026 State TN , a 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback at Nashville Christian High School. Curtis and the Eagles recently claimed a 55-0 blowout win over Mount Juliet last week. What impresses me about Curtis is his overall athleticism and ability to stay locked in offensively with his excellent footwork and ability to launch deep passes down the field. Another aspect of Curtis that makes a difference is his ability to stay on his feet, break tackles and utilize his speed to beat the defense on the ground.
Highlights
Coming in at number five on my list is Jayzon Thompson Jayzon Thompson 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Bearden | 2026 State TN , a 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back at Bearden High School. Thompson and the Bulldogs recently defeated Hardin Valley Academy 41-9. In addition to great size and speed, what makes Thompson so dangerous on the ground is his ability to find openings in the pocket and stay on his feet under pressure. I’m additionally fond of Thompson’s physical edge and ability to break tackles. Thompson has also shown off his ability to breakaway from the defense and take it all the way to the house more than a few times this season.
Also worth watching for is Kyrin Coleman Kyrin Coleman 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL Pope John Paul II | 2026 TN , a 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive lineman at Pope John Paul II High School. Coleman and the Knights were victorious last week, handing Goodpasture Christian a 41-14 loss. What impresses me the most about Coleman’s playstyle is his execution off the snap, his overall strength and his ability to both counter and outplay the offensive line. On top of his great versatility, I like Coleman’s explosiveness, ability to create disruption in the pocket and his ability to quickly apply pressure on the quarterback.