Knoxville Catholic beats Riverdale: Which Prospects Shined?

Last week, the high school football season in the state of Tennessee kicked off, and one of the premier matchups was between Knoxville Catholic and Riverdale. The game was considered a toss-up by many, but the visiting Irish pulled away for a commanding 20-6 victory on Friday night.   In a game featuring several exciting young prospects in the state, there were countless moments of evidence that those prospects had reached an entirely new level.    [player_tooltip player_id='284149' first='Tyreek' last='King'] might lack top-end length, but he is versatile enough to move around the formation, and his acceleration is a massive weapon in his game. His explosiveness was on full display when he ran right by a defensive back untouched for an 85+ yard touchdown. He could have the opportunity to shine in a Tennessee offense that creates a lot of one-on-one situations in space.     [player_tooltip player_id='402532' first='Chaston' last='Smith'] is healthy and he made that known with a pair of interceptions in the game. Both plays came off deflections, one by his teammate and one by the opponent, and the Notre Dame commit was prepared to make a play on the ball and continue with a strong return. He gives Knoxville Catholic a veteran cornerback that can play tight coverage with hand discipline that the team has needed for a bit of time.     Perhaps the biggest example of a young prospect taking a step forward in their development was sophomore safety [player_tooltip player_id='1031949' first='Brooks' last='Johnston']. He has added bulk to his long frame which plays well for his downhill hard-hitting style. His initial burst has improved which allows him to accurately time up plays on the ball when coming downhill. Being an agressive strong safety, he did overshoot a couple of tackle opportunities and that will be something for him to work to be more consistent with over the course of the season.     Another sophomore standout, [player_tooltip player_id='1031890' first='Braylen' last='Gibbs'] has added a lot more length and size and that meant his primary focus is now at receiver. He boasts a strong combination of size and athleticsm now that could make him a tough cover as he continues to develop on the offensive side of the ball. The newfound length was evident when he extended for an errant throw and hauled in the catch along the sideline. He will be an intriguing prospect to watch over the course of this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1287058' first='Gavin' last='Hampton'] certainly looks the part with a big frame that already holds good weight. He had an up-and-down outing, showing flashes of his arm talent, but also the franticness one might expect with someone making their first career start. When he is able to get the ball out quickly, he was able to locate the ball, even if his targets did not help him much. However, while one or two might have come on a tipped pass, Hampton was never comfortable in the pocket and ended the night with four interceptions. As he works to reach his full potential, he is going to have to become comfortable taking ownership of the pocket.     [player_tooltip player_id='1029798' first='Xavier' last='Bowman'] has added some length and grown into his frame some as he begins his sophmore season. He is a physical corner that is best at playing tight coverage from the second the ball is snapped. He did have a couple holding penalities and will need to limit the lapses with his hands and trust his recovery ability more, but the potential he holds is high if he can consistently play with positive hand placement.

Last week, the high school football season in the state of Tennessee kicked off, and one of the premier matchups was between Knoxville Catholic and Riverdale. The game was considered a toss-up by many, but the visiting Irish pulled away for a commanding 20-6 victory on Friday night.