The Film Room: #TN2025 Evals (Part VI)
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This time around in the #PRZTN lab, we looked at five senior prospects that all hold college offers at the moment but are still a little under the radar. We like these guys below and feel all five could be…
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Continue ReadingThis time around in the #PRZTN lab, we looked at five senior prospects that all hold college offers at the moment but are still a little under the radar. We like these guys below and feel all five could be steals for their future college teams.
Strengths: Returning for the 2024 season as one of the top productive backs in the state, Crudup is a well balanced and athletic ball carrier that brings a variety of skills to the backfield that translate well to the college game. Sporting good size (5’11 190) with a nice looking physique, Crudup has the physical abilities and looks for a college backfield along with room for continued growth. He sports the build to run up the middle, break through tacklers and continue making his way down field. The Golden Bears ball carrier is also a good athlete that runs well when he gets into open space, showing easy feet along with the vision to find positive yards. Crudup brings a good mix of power and speed to the playing field but can also contribute in the passing game as well. This guy is an excellent pass catcher, both in the intermediate routes as well as down the field. Crudup has some of the best hands of all the running backs from our #TN2025 class, which makes this guy a valuable weapon that can play all three downs.
Development – Biggest areas of improvement for this Mid-Tennessee talent would be his lower base agility and overall speed. If Crudup can enhance his explosion, it would make him an even more desirable recruit. The physical tools are there along with the natural feel for running the ball but added agility and speed would certainly boost his game and his recruiting stock.
Overview – There may be other running backs ranked higher than Crudup but there aren’t too many in this state for the #TN2025 class that brings the combination of balance, power, size and speed to the gridiron along with the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. The Golden Bears senior ball carrier has developed nicely this off-season, playing 7v7 ball with the Mid-TN Wolfpack, working on his agility in open space as well as his hands and route running. So far throughout his recruitment, Crudup has received interest from multiple programs across the country but no one has pulled the trigger. Camp season will be big for this Mid-Tennessee product and I think he is well equipped to go into those events and excel. This is a good football player that has produced for multiple seasons at Mt. Juliet with possibly his best season yet coming this Fall. Crudup is a sleeper Mr. Football candidate this year that I feel could be a steal for whichever college program goes all-in on this Wilson County running back.
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Strengths – Agile and explosive are the first two traits that stand out the moment you flip on this guy’s film, which are two key areas that college coaches look for in their offensive linemen. Boyd is an athletic blocker that moves well, showing good hip and lateral movements along with the bend to get under his opponent and drive them to the second level. He fires off the snap very well, which allows him to climb up into the defender quickly and displace him off the line. The Rebels senior O-lineman has enough athleticism to handle right tackle if needed but his best upside resides inside at guard or center where he can use his explosiveness to dominate in the run game. One area I really like about this guy is his ability to pick up the rush or the extra man in his vicinity. Boyd shows great awareness along with the quickness to move where he needs to for the block. His athleticism, football smarts and ability to bend shows potential at center and the upside to become a multi-year starter in college.
Development – The room for improvement with Boyd needs to be in the weight room where he needs to add more power and weight along with adding the pounds that will allow to sustain health and physicality on the collegiate level. Adding in that upper power strength is definitely needed between now and the start of his college career.
Overview – Boyd has good size at 6’4 280 pounds, sporting a nice frame to pack on additional weight once he moves on from Maryville. That destination for college will be Air Force as this East Tennessee talent recently committed to the Falcons. Even though Boyd has chosen to go out West, don’t be surprised to see bigger schools show interest or get involved sooner rather than later. This guy has some of the best upside in the #TN2025 class due to his versatility to play multiple positions across the offensive line. Boyd is currently committed to a D1 school, which automatically makes him a Top 100 in-state recruit but I think this guy is Top 50 worthy and someone that could peak the interest of several other D1 and possibly Power Four level coaches somewhere down the road.
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Strengths – Coming out of a small area and 4A program in the West Tennessee region, Lovorn hasn’t received the hype as others at his defensive line position but this guy can play and with further development, D1 might be his destination. Over the last year, Lovorn has grown into his body nicely, packing on more weight while increasing his speed to power combo off the edge. The Hornets senior defender has experience playing both linebacker positions, so he understands how to play in space but his work on the end is what will get him to college. Lovorn does a nice job getting off the snap quickly then using his hands to work around the blocker and on his way towards the ball. His motor is strong while showing solid bend and lower base agility that has room for improvement. This is an aggressive competitor that doesn’t mind being physical. Lovorn can play finesse or power off the edge while also supplying enough athleticism to drop into open space when called upon. Besides rushing the passer, Lovorn shows good work on film against the run as he sheds blocks well then pursues the ball with great haste.
Development – Lovorn could be viewed as a tweener as he only stands 6 ‘3 and almost 240 pounds, so he will have to continue developing his work off the edge as that is where he is destined to play. Staying on the end, the Hornets edge linebacker needs to continue improving his agility and bend as well as getting faster off the line. Adjusting to the college game may take some time but the long term potential is certainly there.
Overview – This West Tennessee talent is a fringe Top 50 prospect headed into our new #TN2025 rankings but someone that could turn out to be a big payout down the road. Lovorn is a talented ball player and his film shows it. The Hornets linebacker works as hard as any you will find and someone dedicated towards becoming the best player he can be. Lovorn’s best football is definitely ahead of him. This summer camp season as well as his senior campaign will be critical towards which level of college football he will land. I think he will impress and earn those much awaited offers somewhere over the coming months. Either way, Lovorn will at least make it to the FCS level where he can continue building his stock and developing while possibly building him into a D1 portal option down the road.
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Strengths – East Nashville has been producing some talented defensive backs over the past 10 to 15 years and Morton is the next one in line with some skills that definitely translate to the college level. Aggressive with a nose for the ball, Morton is a well versed defender that shows a natural feel for “coverage” along with strong instincts and the ability to play multiple positions within the secondary. For his Eagles team, Morton handles the corner role and that’s somewhere he could stick in college with increased work with his speed and agility. His ability to read the pass, read his player and make a quick reaction to the ball is tremendous. Morton just has a good feel for covering the pass, making him a “Ball Hawk” that could translate to nickelback or safety, if playing corner doesn’t work out. The Eagles senior defender also shows good work on film at stopping the run as Morton is willing to be physical and come up to tackle.
Development – Morton has received interest and picked up some offers from some D1 programs and if he plans to stick on that level, his body weight and overall speed will need to increase. Morton is a strong competitor but to sustain his play on field, the Eagles senior defensive back will need to pack on more weight to keep away from being injured. His speed will need to be enhanced as well. It’s solid as of now but to remain on the outside, Morton will need to get faster, especially covering deep down the field.
Overview – When you turn on his junior film, you can see why Morton has the offers he does. This is a good football player that competes hard every down, providing tone setting play and leadership. His ability to compete on the outside is strong as well but it’s his versatility to handle multiple roles in the secondary that makes him a valuable piece to college coaches. Camp season this summer will be big for Morton to prove his worth while trying to get on the radar of some bigger programs. His competitive nature and ball skills I think will impress coaches both in camp and this Fall football season where I think Morton can position himself as a potential Top 10 defensive back in this state for the #TN2025 class.
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Strengths – Natural athleticism and straight line speed are the first two traits that stand out to you when you turn on this East Tennessee talents film. Davis is a multi-year starter for his Cleveland team that has developed and grown into a legitimate two-way talent that could excel in college at either running back or defensive back. Davis is a track guy, so the speed is there but it’s been about adding in more weight to fill out his body and becoming the kind of talent he can be. On offense, the Blue Raiders senior is a big play threat that can find the end zone quickly once he finds the open field. He shows good vision and a shifty lower base to go along with that straight line speed. Over on the defensive side of the ball, Davis is a rangy guy with ball hawk tendencies that is also a good tackler in open space. He doesn’t mind being physical and that shows with his added muscle and weight. Playing on defense is where this East Tennessee talent could excel the most as I feel his athleticism and versatility fit very well in the secondary. Where Davis could also become a strong contributor is on special teams as a gunner or potential return man.
Development – Depending on what side of the ball Davis lands at in the college, continuing to add more weight is key but also increasing his hip flexibility and lower base agility will be needed as well. Davis is strong athletically but developing his lower half much further would add more explosion and speed into an already dangerous arsenal.
Overview – This coming Fall season will be big for Davis as I feel he is on the threshold of breaking through into a legitimate D1 guy. His work this off-season both on the field and inside the weight room will be critical towards his development and hopes of making it to the big stage of college ball. His natural athletic abilities should appeal to several coaches across the country as someone that brings value to either side of the ball. What’s exciting is his upside on defense as most of his career, Davis has been focused on offense but the more he is on the tackling side of the ball, the more his talent begins to shine. I like this player and what he can become on the college level as I feel his best football days are definitely ahead of him.