TSSAA Playoffs Round Three: Intriguing Prospect Matchups

<p><br>As the third round of the TSSAA playoffs are upon us, there are intriguing matchups in every classification, including several individual prospect matchups that could generate added excitement surrounding the postseason matchup.</p>   <p>This is where it begins to vary in round depending on public and private school classifications, as private schools enter semifinals week and public schools will be preparing for the quarterfinals.</p>   <p>These individual matchups will be among the biggest inside the state to watch in the second round of the bracket this week</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1181026' first='Zaydyn' last='Anderson'] (Greeneville) vs 2026 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1159812' first='Deameion' last='Leavell'] (Anderson County)</h2>   <p>In a game that should pick up a good amount of hype in the week leading up to the game, a pair of versatile playmakers will help decide the outcome of the game for both Greeneville and Anderson County.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1181026' first='Zaydyn' last='Anderson'], a Tennessee defensive back commit, is an explosive playmaker who can handle business on either side of the ball, getting college interest at both positions before choosing the Vols. He has rewrote some of the school record book this season and he will need to keep that momentum going against one of the title favorites.</p>   <p>Anderson County has relied on [player_tooltip player_id='1159812' first='Deameion' last='Leavell'] to fill in where needed this season in a variety of roles and the Bearden transfer will have his hands full dealing with Anderson. It will be important for him to show up ready to play in this matchup.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JDVaughn91/status/1984053213402918967?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 OT [player_tooltip player_id='1114738' first='Jack' last='Fuchs'] (Beech) vs 2026 EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='1178947' first='Cohen' last='Grissom'] (Page)</h2>   <p>One of the best offensive lineman in the state is Beech standout left tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1114738' first='Jack' last='Fuchs'], who towers off opponents, yet remains athletic enough to block in space and at the second level.</p>   <p>Page has an elite linebacker core and can mix up defensive fronts, but the best edge rusher this season is Air Force commit [player_tooltip player_id='1178947' first='Cohen' last='Grissom'], who is a wrecking ball off the edge.</p>   <p>Fuchs, the Northwestern commit, will have his hands full during the entire game, and Grissom will be priority number one to limit as the offensive line looks to set the tone early with a strong rushing attack.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shaynep_media/status/1989521781552509142?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 RB [player_tooltip player_id='856867' first='Craig' last='Tutt'] (Oakland) vs 2026 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1610497' first='Omeiza' last='Daniyan'] (Green Hill)</h2>   <p>Mr. Football candidate [player_tooltip player_id='856867' first='Craig' last='Tutt'] is the soul of the Oakland football team and his violent downhill rushing abilities help give the Patriots likely the best shot to win the state championship in 6A this season.</p>   <p>As Oakland will look to run the ball first and foremost, the front seven for Green Hill will have to show up ready and with their best game, and that all starts with Army commit [player_tooltip player_id='1610497' first='Omeiza' last='Daniyan'], who is a a violent downhill force in his own right.</p>   <p>If the underdog wants to make an upset in this game, it will start with Daniyan and the rest of his team limiting the effectiveness of the Ole Miss commit from the first snap of the game to the last.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/davidmwilson14/status/1969217822044639691?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 WR [player_tooltip player_id='824736' first='Owen' last='Cabell'] (CPA) vs 2027 CB Romel Koon Jr (Brentwood Academy)</h2>   <p>CPA has begun to create some playoff momentum magic here and they have the talent plus coaching staff to beat anyone in the state this season. They will look to prove that against a dynamic Brentwood Academy team, especially on the perimeter.</p>   <p>The Lions will have some success running the ball in this game, but Alabama receiver commit [player_tooltip player_id='824736' first='Owen' last='Cabell'] is going to have come up massive for his offense to match the explosivity of the opposing offense.</p>   <p>Tasked with stopping him for Brentwood Academy will likely be junior corner Romel Koon Jr., who has been electric in his first year playing for the program. He is long, athletic, and quick and can disrupt passing attacks on his own. This will need to be one of those nights for the rising prospect.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jackgwilliams/status/1986993141715517635?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 RB Xavier Fillion (McCallie) vs 2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1512542' first='Khori' last='Faulkner'] (Baylor)</h2>   <p>McCallie vs Baylor will no doubt be the most-hyped game of the entire postseason to this point, especially with a trip to the state championship game on the line.</p>   <p>In the previous matchup, McCallie stayed in the game due to some explosive plays, primarily on the ground from their junior tailback Xavier Fillion who has the size and speed to make a big play happen anytime he touches the ball.</p>   <p>However, Baylor middle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1512542' first='Khori' last='Faulkner'] has been a force to be reckoned with this season from the second level and as he settled in to the game, he just made play after play when the biggest moments presented themselves. He will need to keep the gains that a powerful McCallie rushing attack gets in this game to the bare minimum and force them to throw the ball for the entire game.</p>   <p>Whoever wins the battle on the rushing front in terms of McCallie offense vs Baylor defense should win this game, and it all starts with these two players when the biggest plays are needed.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/StephenHargis/status/1974263744650723813?s=20 </div></figure>

As the third round of the TSSAA playoffs are upon us, there are intriguing matchups in every classification, including several individual prospect matchups that could generate added excitement surrounding the postseason matchup.