TSSAA Playoffs Round Two: Intriguing Prospect Matchups

<p>As the second 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>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 [player_tooltip player_id='284149' first='Tyreek' last='King'] (Knoxville Catholic) vs 2026 CB [player_tooltip player_id='958217' first='Jamyan' last='Theodore'] (Baylor)</h2>   <p>As Knoxville Catholic heads to Baylor in an east Tennessee matchup filled with talent, there is one individual matchup that will be a crucial part of this game for both teams, and should be fun for Tennessee Volunteers fans to watch with both being committed to the program under Josh Heupel.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='284149' first='Tyreek' last='King'] is a massive part of the Irish offense and adds an explosive element to what they can do, no matter where he is on the field. Baylor cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='958217' first='Jamyan' last='Theodore'] has experience shutting down opposing teams top receivers and if he can limit King on Friday night, things could go very well for the home Baylor team.</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/1959068248734904768?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='1674006' first='Luke' last='Burger'] (Silverdale) vs 2027 OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] (FRA)</h2>   <p>Silverdale Baptist Academy junior offensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1674006' first='Luke' last='Burger'] has put forth a breakthrough season this year, putting his elite length and athleticism to use on the field, and adding several offers in the process.</p>   <p>However, Franklin Road Academy junior two-way lineman [player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] has shown against top programs such as Battle Ground Academy he can attack high-profile tackles with great length and athleticism, generating pressure and causing havoc in the backfield all night long.</p>   <p>Burger will have a very full plate on his hands when it comes to protecting his quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1535798' first='Connor' last='Jenne'] and he will need to put together a strong performance if the Seahawks hope to get the road playoff upset.</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/connersmith04/status/1971926473696334038?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 WR/DB Tae Walden Jr (Collierville) vs 2026 WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='966033' first='Brandon' last='Goliday'] (Antioch)</h2>   <p>When Antioch travels to Collierville, there should be plenty of points and exciting matchups in one of the projected best games of the second round in any classification.</p>   <p>Tae Walden Jr and [player_tooltip player_id='966033' first='Brandon' last='Goliday'] have been dominant receivers for their respective programs and have been among the best playmakers in the entire state this season. As each is the focal point of the offensive gameplan for their team and will need to make big things happen as they should be constantly targeted in a game that has the potential to be a dynamic shootout coming down to the very end of the game.</p>   <p>This should be an exciting game and these two playmaking receivers will be a large reason to the success of both teams.</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/1976453182399332686?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Houston backfield vs 2026 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1373099' first='Matthew' last='Anderson'] (Ravenwood)</h2>   <p>Houston has an intriguing backfield with a dual-threat quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1091453' first='Canon' last='Day'] along with tailbacks Raderius Roberson and Kennesaw State commit Celley Davis, creating a real three-headed monster for a potential deep playoff push, but they will be facing a tough middle linebacker in this game.</p>   <p>Ravenwood senior [player_tooltip player_id='1373099' first='Matthew' last='Anderson'] has been unstoppable this season and then some and had a case for being a Mr. Football semifinalist. He is a menace at the second level of their defense and it is impossible to land a clean block on him, which allows him to tack on big tackle after big tackle.</p>   <p>Houston will need the run game to make some big plays if they hope to earn an upset on the road and [player_tooltip player_id='1373099' first='Matthew' last='Anderson'] will look to stop that from even getting started as he leads the defense for Ravenwood.</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/wcsRHSfootball/status/1983254720249541038?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1585458' first='Tay' last='Starks'] (Munford) vs 2027 LB [player_tooltip player_id='903534' first='DK' last='Williams'] (Beech)</h2>   <p>Munford has continued to rise up the ranks of the state and a large reason why is stellar sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1585458' first='Tay' last='Starks'], who has ran through every single defense that has lined up against him, no matter the level of competition.</p>   <p>Beech will be the latest marquee matchup for Munford and the defense is led by the energetic junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='903534' first='DK' last='Williams'], who is a fiery competitor and his explosiveness allows him to fly around the field and make splash plays. In a game that will be filled with running the ball, Starks vs Williams will be pivotal to who leaves this premier playoff matchup with the victory.</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/MunfordCougarFB/status/1986810009598988513?s=20 </div></figure>

As the second 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.