2025 Tennessee Future Stars – 8th Grade Defensive Back Selections

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's Tennessee Future Stars had four different tryout areas around the state, all in an effort to be selected for the prestigious football team. When the smoke settled, there were only four (4) 8th grade (class of 2029) prospects who are labeled specifically as a Defensive Backs on the roster, for the annual border war against Kentucky. This year's 2029 group will attempt to stop the recent Kentucky winning street, as the boys in blue have won the previous three years on the eighth-grade level. Without a further adieu, here are the four (4) prospects selected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1676349"],"_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-682b6b4b08b55"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li> First time selection for the Tennessee Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>One of two Gibbs Middle School prospects selected</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swift will be joining (literally) his Gibbs running mate, [player_tooltip player_id='1673117' first='Trevor' last='Nicely'], on the 2025 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars team. Swift is a chess piece of an athlete, then played primarily Wing Back and Wide Receiver this season. Watching his film, he was in motion a ton and his ability forced the defense to react and realign. Too quick for Linebackers, yet too physical for Defensive Backs. HIs selection as a Defensive Back likely speaks volumes about A) what TN thinks they have in the Wide Receiver and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/2025-tennessee-future-stars-8th-grade-running-back-selections/">Running Back position</a> and B) what they think he can do in the defensive secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1641651"],"_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-682b6b4b08bde"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Is now a two-time selection for the Tennessee Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Returning for first time since 2023 </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After making it as a sixth-grader, following a year of not participating, Hurd is back with the Tennessee Future Stars in 2025. He's listed at 5-foot-7 and 138-pounds at this point, and while he's not the biggest kid in the world, Hurd is an athletic kid that can effect the game on both sides of the ball. Following a good season with Rockvale, the Rutherford County native played with the Tennessee Thunder in some off-season tournaments. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1633788"],"_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-682b6b4b08c50"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>First time selection for the Tennessee Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Multi-sport athlete</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1633788' first='Kohbe' last='Ward'] is an athletically gifted kid who is simply waiting for size to kick in. He's extremely explosive prospect who gets the ATH distinction due to his overall athleticism. In the last year has played Wide Receiver, but is still repping hard at Quarterback. Defensively, he seems like a very clear Defensive Back. He's very quick, fast and twitchy. As of January, he had the second best indoor time in the 60m (7.58) and 200m (24.28) of any 2029 prospect in Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1676410"],"_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-682b6b4b08cb8"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>First time selection for the Tennessee Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Helped Bearden to a MAC Championship in 2024</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The younger brother of former 6A All-State Linebacker Sam Nicaud, little brother Zac is following suit. One of the key contributors on a Bearden team that won the MAC title this season. I last saw him play live at the Fire/Ice All-American Game in November and my biggest takeaway was that he cleans up plays very well. Doesn't have the Linebacker size (yet) but he's a solid-tackler that can come down hill and finish a tackle off. I expect him to play Strong Safety, but we'll see how the cards are dealt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->