Scouting the Five Latest Knoxville Catholic Transfers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knoxville Catholic built a strong foundation last season centered around a youthful core, leading the team to a 6-5 record in arguably the toughest division in the entire state of Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This offseason has seen other top young standouts join what the program is building to elevate the floor of the team next season while offering plenty of upside in the long-term. They also added one of the most underrated secondary prospects in the state, strengthening one of the top units in Tennessee with a veteran presence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 Cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1260316' first='Loia' last='Valade']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1260316"],"_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-698ac6505da1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1260316' first='Loia' last='Valade'] is an electric player in the secondary that overcomes his slightly undersized frame with excellent explosiveness, athleticism, ball skills and physicality.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While limited in height, he has verified measurables that offer good length for the position and has the explosiveness to make that length very effective at disrupting plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has great break on the ball when it is in the air which can lead to big plays both in coverage or as a tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valade is a well-rounded cornerback with alignment versatility that has a high floor with his well-rounded skillset and measurements that scream even more upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Interior Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='2118712' first='Keagan' last='Covington']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2118712"],"_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-698ac6505da89"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2118712' first='Keagan' last='Covington'] is a young defensive line prospect that took a major leap forward during his sophomore season and will look to continue that momentum as a junior at Knoxville Catholic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has all the intangibles within a 6-foot-4 and 265 pound frame that features a wingspan of 78.5 inches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He thrives at working upfield with his natural athleticism and length, allowing him to get in the backfield and change the direction of the play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next step for him will feature him refining his skillset and improving in the initial second of each play with his short area burst and violence, something he should get more comfortable with as a junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2028 Running Back Ryheem Lee</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ryheem Lee","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Knoxville Catholic","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-698ac6505db3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ryheem Lee comes to Knoxville Catholic following an all-region season stepping into a more significant role as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While he is an undersized tailback, he thrives at working between the tackles and has enough burst to attack gaps his front five opens for him and work behind his pads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He showed a well-rounded skillset for a young running back last season and the next step will feature improving the breakaway speed to generate more explosive runs after getting through the blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2029 Interior Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1236042' first='Gabriel' last='Gonzalez']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1236042"],"_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-698ac6505db8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1236042' first='Gabriel' last='Gonzalez'] is one of the best prospects in the entire state of Tennessee for the 2029 recruiting cycle with a very intriguing skillset that can play at each spot along the interior offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has a strong frame with good size and impressive grip strength that makes it hard for opposing defensive lineman to disengage from his blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He measured in recently at a verified 6-foot-2.5 inches and 310 pounds with 10-inch hands. As he continues to grow, the raw measurables will be very favorable for the interior of the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next step for him includes getting better in the initial second of each snap with improved explosiveness next season, but he has the raw potential to be a stud center at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2029 Interior Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1537346' first='Brayden' last='Gonzalez']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1537346"],"_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-698ac6505dbcf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1537346' first='Brayden' last='Gonzalez'] is an exciting young interior offensive line prospect in the state of Tennessee with his raw violence and anchor that projects well for the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At center, he has experience snapping the football and can hold a strong anchor that allows for his 10-inch hands to manhandle defensive tackles. When he gains the leverage advantage, he can put opposing linemen on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He can get more explosive and better in space as he gets older, so that will be the primary things to watch him develop over the next season, but he has a lot of potential that he has already shown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->