Underclassmen Stock Watch (Week Four)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Who were the top junior and sophomore performers from last week's action here in the Volunteer State? Find out below in our latest "Stock Watch" that looks at ten new prospects that show skill sets worthy of making it one day into the college game. </h2>     #TN2027/#TN2028 Stock Risers   ‘27 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1535793' first='Colton' last='Overbey'] - Station Camp   - Even though his Bison team took a loss to Springfield last week, I thought Overbey performed very well and displayed a gamer-like mentality that I could see working on the college level. This junior signal caller is undersized with height but he's a fearless performer that simply has a great feel for the game along with the knack to create big plays when nothing is there. Overbey is a pass first dual threat quarterback that is helping grow his stock so far this season with cerebral-like performances. Looking at the rest of the season and into the off-season, if Overbey can increase his arm strength, his zip along with adding more weight, bigger college programs may start to take a longer look at him.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/54-Colton-Overbey-rotated-e1736533063103.jpg?w=928" alt="" class="wp-image-1598722" style="width:229px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    ‘27 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1659259' first='Jaheim' last='Smith'] - Covington   - Smith is coming off his best performance of the season where this junior running back ran for 218 yards and three touchdowns in his team's shutout victory over Brighton. The Chargers athletic playmaker is dynamic with the ball in his hands along with some of the best quickness and sudden movements coming out of our #TN2027 class. Smith looks bigger, stronger this year with more football nuance and feel for the game. His vision is exceptional and the Chargers back is tough to deal with in short spaces due to his quick feet. So far through his recruitment, Smith has yet to receive a lot of interest and that's simply coaches missing the boat because this guy is legit and a D1 talent that could flourish into a Power Four prospect one day.    - - - - -    ‘28 (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1585458' first='Tay' last='Starks'] - Munford   - Last season was a breakout year for Starks and so far this 2025 season, the Cougars running back has pushed his game to another level with his performance this year coming last week in the team's road win in Kentucky. Starks went off in “Week Four” as he ran for 307 yards on 24 carries along with four touchdowns and was a singular force the opposition could not slow down. The Cougars sophomore has done nothing but produce big games since he stepped onto the field last year. We have a ways to go before Starks has to worry about recruiting but he should become a much wanted young man in time because this West Tennessee prospect can run the ball and do so at a high level.    - - - - -    ‘27 (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1893028' first='Luke' last='Hayden'] - Walker Valley   - Walker Valley has a trio of college level receivers on their roster this Fall with Hayden jumping forward last week as someone to follow moving forward after his strong performance last Friday. This 6 '4 tall and long pass catcher had his best game to date by catching four passes for 114 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Mustangs win over Chatt. Central. Hayden has the size wanted for the college game along with a frame that can pack on more weight. Looking over some of his clips, I see potential with Hayden. He is a true “X” or “Y” receiver that shows good speed with room to improve further. He isn't ready for the college level yet but the upside is certainly there for Hayden to get there with continued development.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/lhayden.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1896661" style="width:254px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    ‘27 (TE/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1679806' first='Colton' last='Johnson'] - Upperman   - One of the better two-way prospects coming out of our junior class is this Mid-Tennessee talent that made his presence known last week in the Bees win over region foe Stone Memorial. Johnson produced on both sides of the ball in the win with four receptions for 49 yards along with 11 tackles and two of them for loss on defense. This is an athletic ball player with college size that could be developed at several positions with maybe his best upside coming at tight end. That's where most college coaches like Johnson is for offense but I like his potential as well on defense as a possible edge linebacker. Either way, Johnson is legit and someone that should see his stock rise over the next few months and into the off-season.    - - - - -    ‘27 (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='866736' first='Max' last='Paschall'] - South Gibson   - Paschall is a massive human being that is showing vast improvement this year with his bend and lower half mobility, which is helping his cause for making it to the next level. The Hornets junior big man is putting forth a strong campaign thus far and barring injuries, I expect him to continue improving throughout the season. Paschall is a wide based blocker that eats up space but moves well coming off the snap. He is a natural people mover with great strength that can develop into a potential “Top 20” O-lineman for the junior class with enhancement with his athleticism and agility. His work last week was one of his best performances to date and more like it will put Paschall on the college radar.    - - - - -    ‘27 (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1896649' first='Djay' last='Denton'] - Antioch   - Last week might have been the coming out game for this Mid-Tennessee product that goes both ways but his future in college should be on defense in the trenches. Denton is a compact, powerful young man that displayed good work at defensive tackle last week where he played in the McGavock backfield all night making stops versus the run while also getting after the quarterback. Watching his film, I see an athletic interior lineman that shows quick handwork and deceptive athleticism that should improve further with maturation. Denton has the makeup to possibly handle the 3-tech and grow into a nose tackle at the next level but more work is needed to get on the college radar but last week was certainly a move in the right direction.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/ddenton.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1896668" style="width:213px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    ‘27 (Edge) [player_tooltip player_id='1357924' first='Hans' last='Emery Julien'] - Baylor   - New to the state of Tennessee, Emery Julien is making an early impact for his Baylor team as an athletic pass rusher that opposing O-linemen are having a hard time getting hands on. This Canadian native has some of the best upside of all the prospects within the Red Raiders roster due to his natural athletic abilities and speed around the edge. Last week in the Baylor win, Emery Julien was a force that consistently got into the backfield and made the opposition deviate from their plan. If you look at his early film, you have a very agile pass rusher here with great footwork, quick hands and closing speed that translates very well to the college game. Emery Julien does need to get bigger and add more mass to his frame but I see traits in this guy that could make him the top pass rusher coming out of the #TN2027 class.    - - - - -    ‘28 (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1704649' first='Jayden' last='Lanier'] - Mt. Pleasant   - New to my radar but someone I will certainly be following over the next three years is this Mid-Tennessee product that displays traits that should appeal to collegiate coaches. Lanier is coming off his best game of the year where he produced four tackles, broke up multiple passes and picked one off in the team's victory over Summertown. The Tigers sophomore defensive back is very intriguing when it comes to talking about the next level. Lanier brings great size (6'2 175) and length to the secondary along with natural athletic abilities that allows him to develop at multiple positions on the back end, including cover corner. There is still a lot of learning to go for Lanier but the raw tools are in place to work himself into the “Top 100” for our in-state sophomore class.    - - - - -     ‘28 (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1691522' first='Quincy' last='Mills'] - Marion Co.    - Transferring over to Marion Co. in the off-season, Mills has made a strong impression so far this early season with his best game in a Warriors uniform coming last week. This sophomore defensive back had a strong showing in “Week Four” where Mills produced three tackles with three passes defended, two interceptions and one pick six in the team's 16-0 win over Sequatchie Co. last week. His addition to the Warriors secondary has been huge as it's made the defense more balanced and the defensive backfield one of the best units coming out of the 2A ranks. Mills is still growing into his body with much to learn but he can run and he has a great feel for the game. His versatility should appeal to college coaches, so I'm interested to watch Mills continue his progression over the current season.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/09/hejulien-crop-516x339-1758297854.jpg?w=516" alt="" class="wp-image-1896676" style="width:356px;height:auto" /></figure>