2024 8th Grade TN Future Stars: Quarterback Selection Preview
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Over 300 middle school athletes throughout the Volunteer State attended a tryout to make the 52-man roster of the 2024 Tennessee Future Stars. There were a ton of talented players from Knoxville to Chattanooga, and Nashville to Memphis, making the…
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Continue ReadingOver 300 middle school athletes throughout the Volunteer State attended a tryout to make the 52-man roster of the 2024 Tennessee Future Stars. There were a ton of talented players from Knoxville to Chattanooga, and Nashville to Memphis, making the selection process a difficult one for Tennessee Future Stars Director Josh Jones and his team. Nonetheless, the rosters have been set and the clash with the Kentucky Future Stars is on in June. Here’s a look at the Quarterbacks selected.
Cayden Dixon Cayden Dixon 5’8″ | 160 lbs | QB Briarcrest Christian | 2028 TN has been a very good Quarterback throughout his middle school career at Briarcrest Christian, but really started to separate himself from the pack over the last calendar year. Prep Redzone Next scouts got an opportunity to see him up close this past January at the Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp in Murfreesboro, where he went on to become a 1st Team All-Camp selection. While still lacking ideal size and being the shortest of the three QBs selected, he’s now up to 5-foot-8 and muscular 160-pounds. Looking at the roster a bit more, Dixon is also 1 or 1A when it comes to the mobility of the three Quarterbacks selected. All-Star games are bound to have miscommunication and stakes, so having the ability to scramble may serve him well.
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When looking for stability and leadership in terms of having been on big stages before, Gavin Strang Gavin Strang 6’4″ | 170 lbs | QB Lausanne Collegiate School | 2028 TN is a blessing to have behind center. This will be Strang’s third go around with the Tennessee Future Stars, as the west Tennessee native has been selected all three years of his middle school career. In addition to his annual summer run with the White and Tennessee Orange, he was also on the varsity roster (as an eighth-grader) this past fall season at Lausanne Collegiate High School. Speaking of the fall, Strang has somehow grown even taller and put on a solid 15-pounds, now up to 6-foot-4 and 170-pounds. The multi-sport athlete (basketball) has been busy this off-season, training religiously and playing 7v7 for Cheetah University. This could be a coming out party for the huge righty.
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Rounding out the trio at Quarterback for the 2024 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars will be the super-talented Garrett King Garrett King 6’0″ | 160 lbs | QB Knoxville Catholic | 2028 TN . King is a really impressive righty with really advanced fundamentals for the position. He’s now listed at 6-foot and 160-pounds, which is up 10-pounds from this past fall season. Both on film and statistically, King was one of the top QBs in East Tennessee this past season, which led to an East TN All-Star selection. He’s leaving Northview Academy as a two-year starter and a magnificent 2023 campaign that saw him tally 1,303 of total offense (784-passing, 516-rushing) and 22 total touchdowns. King has announced that he and his brother (Gage King, a DB on this Future Stars Team) will be headed to Knoxville Catholic for high school. Look for him to be the most balanced of the three QBs selected, as he’s a threat both running and passing.