Five Game-Changing 2029 Tennessee Tight Ends

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's crazy to believe that 2024 seasons throughout Tennessee have already concluded, with it just being the middle of October. While it's sad to see football season go, that means that many of the top kids have already started to separate themselves from the pack as they get ready to head into high school. Below are five Tight Ends from the Volunteer State that caught my eye this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1529972"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670e93c8b9a7b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A two-way starter at Defensive End and Tight End for Oneida Middle School this season, Keeton and the Indians closed out their regular season last week with a 20-0 victory over Burchfield--OMS' third shutout on the year. Keeton has had some great moments on both sides of the ball thus far, using his 6-foot-3 and 170-pound frame to his advantage. Offensively, he's a mismatch with his height and has shown great body control and spacial awareness when going up for a pass. Defensively he has great forward lean as he comes out of his three-point stance and loves going hunting for Quarterbacks. If he pick up his speed and fill his long frame out, he'll be a nice prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1305177"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1530015,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670e93c8b9b36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After getting my first look at Payne this past summer, when he took the field as a member of the 7th Grade Tennessee Future Stars, I was very interested to see how he would progress during the 2024 regular season. Standing 6-foot-1 and 195-pounds, he lined up primarily as an H-Back this season and did his fair share of setting up shop in the backfield, as opposed to on the line of scrimmage. He's a thick kid with Offensive Line size at this point and did a great job blocking on the year. On top of that, getting a chance to watch him play Defensive End this season was also a treat. On both sides of the ball he used a powerful lower body to do his job at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1466735"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670e93c8b9b82"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To call [player_tooltip player_id='1466735' first='Kylan' last='White'] "just a Tight End" is almost a disservice to the athleticism and versatility he brings to the field. Listed at 6-foot and 180-pounds, the Trinity Christian Academy prospect brings an excellent combination of size, speed and agility. While he does line up as an H-Back at times, White took his fair share of snaps as a Running Back this season for the Lions. At this size, he's a load when he turns the corner and starts to make his way upfield. On the defensive side of the ball he plays Linebacker and is unquestionably talented enough to play both Inside and Outside Linebacker at this stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1530106"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670e93c8b9bc5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Including [player_tooltip player_id='1530106' first='John' last='Thearp'] in this article about Tight Ends in October 2024 could be a stroke of genius in due time, because he currently does not play the position. We have him listed as an Athlete because he played both Quarterback and Wide Receiver this past season for JFK Middle School. The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder is an impressive looking prospect. Also a top basketball player in the state, Thearp leaned on that athleticism to tally 11 touchdowns this season. Now, the argument for Tight End comes in when looking at his frame and what it could become. He already has a strong, muscular build and brings physicality to the field as receiver--likely from the all the banging to grab rebounds on the basketball court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1530133"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-670e93c8b9c04"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What [player_tooltip player_id='1530133' first='Cooper' last='Seeley'] and his T.W. Hunter Middle School teammates have accomplished over the last three years can simply be called a Dynasty. Seeley, a very good looking 6-foot-2, 175-pound Tight End/Edge prospect has been a major contributor to a Buccaneers program that wrapped up its third consecutive Sumner County championship this season. Now a two-time All-County selection, Seeley proved his worth on both sides of the ball the ball with a number of big grabs as an in-line Tight End and countless tackles coming off the edge. This 2029 class put an exclamation point on a pre-high school career that saw them go 29-0 from 6th-8th grade.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->