10 in 2028: TSSAA Week One Junior Report

<p>The high school football season has finally arrived in the state of Tennessee and it was filled with exciting matchups that showed the strong skillsets of talented prospects inside the state.</p>   <p>As players enter their junior season, it will be interesting to see the size of the step forward that certain recruits take this year, and these eight players delivered strong returns in the first week of the season.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ravenwood QB [player_tooltip player_id='2113901' first='Brooks' last='Brown']</h2>   <p>Both FBS quarterbacks from last year's Ravenwood team have graduated, leaving the program in the hands of junior [player_tooltip player_id='2113901' first='Brooks' last='Brown'].</p>   <p>In his starting debut, he delivered strong production as the team defeated Mississippi power Madison-Ridgeland Academy 29-14. Brown completed 83% of his passes, going 20-24 for 222 yards in the matchup against a top out-of-state program.</p>   <p>Ravenwood has a well-rounded roster this season and [player_tooltip player_id='2113901' first='Brooks' last='Brown'] showed that he can run the offense in his first start.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Page RB [player_tooltip player_id='1571091' first='Isaac' last='Otey']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1571091' first='Isaac' last='Otey'] has been anchoring the Patriots strong rushing attack since his first game and that was the case on Friday night as Page jumped out to a 48-14 victory over a good 3A program in Giles County.</p>   <p>During the game, the junior rushed the ball 19 times for 204 yards and a touchdown. The 10.7 yards per carry is a strong reflection of how effective he is between the tackles.</p>   <p>Otey has a very strong frame that makes it tough for defenders to bring him down and that was on full display in the season opener, consistently running through any arm tackle attempts.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/isaacOtey_8/status/2091561305568116949?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blackman RB [player_tooltip player_id='1029916' first='Micah' last='Nance']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1029916' first='Micah' last='Nance'] is another running back currently flying under the radar and he continued to show out in week one of the season in a 29-10 victory over Clarksville.</p>   <p>In the game, he carried the ball 14 times for 121 yards and a touchdown, rushing for 8.6 yards per carry with the touchdown rush coming from 39 yards out.</p>   <p>He has a strong skillset at his disposal and will be a player to know for the Blaze under new head coach Will Hester.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Knoxville Webb RB [player_tooltip player_id='1084814' first='Matthew' last='Rogers']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1084814' first='Matthew' last='Rogers'] transferred to Knoxville Webb this offseason and he shined in his debut for the program in an one-point loss.</p>   <p>He contributed in a variety of ways, ending the night with 14 rushes for 85 yards (6.1 ypc) as well as a pair of receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.</p>   <p>The Spartans will have a young team to start the George Quarles era, but Rogers will provide a reliable veteran that the team can rely on each week to anchor the offense.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Tyner RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1038480' first='Dee' last='McNealy']</h2>   <p>Tyner faced Silverdale in another great game to kick off the season this year and tailback D'Aerion McNealy was instrumental to the the Rams leaving this game with a victory.</p>   <p>He accounted for 150 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball, anchoring a very potent Tyner offense. McNealy showed his versatility, with one of the touchdowns came as a receiver downfield. He also had nearly 10 tackles against a talented opposing offense.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Dee_McNealy22/status/2091700060480250021?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lipscomb Academy WR [player_tooltip player_id='2143334' first='Jaxon' last='Spencer']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2143334' first='Jaxon' last='Spencer'] is a receiver prospect that is quietly on a lot of college radars right now and he turned his potential into production in week one against a strong McCallie team.</p>   <p>In the high-profile matchup, he hauled in four receptions for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns, instantly creating a strong connection with sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1633607' first='Turner' last='White'].</p>   <p>This Mustangs team has a lot of potential for the 2026 season and the emergence of Spencer will be a significant catalyst to help make the offense go on Friday nights.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAmustangFB/status/2091267459479130298?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Page WR [player_tooltip player_id='2141270' first='Dylan' last='Streeter']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2141270' first='Dylan' last='Streeter'] has the tangible skillset of a Division One receiver, but it was time to turn potential into production as he stepped into a prominent role out wide at Page.</p>   <p>He delivered upon that potential in the season opener, bringing in a pair of touchdown receptions as the Patriots blew out a strong 3A squad to kick off their season.</p>   <p>This is a prospect that could quickly gain a lot of attention with his combination of size, speed and ball skills.</p>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lipscomb Academy TE [player_tooltip player_id='2142230' first='Gregory' last='Kirwan']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2142230' first='Gregory' last='Kirwan'] is a new name to the state of Tennessee, but is a player that fans should quickly get familiar with.</p>   <p>He is a dynamic threat as a receiver from the tight end position, and that showed on the field in his Mustangs debut, bringing in five receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown.</p>   <p>He has a good frame and will be playing a more complete role while working the Lipscomb Academy staff, which should excite evaluators at college programs all over the country.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LAmustangFB/status/2091253816205132025?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Springfield DB/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1193376' first='Jermaine' last='Cobbins']</h2>   <p>It feels like there is beginning to be an elite talent for each cycle in the state of Tennessee and in the 2028 class that would be defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1193376' first='Jermaine' last='Cobbins']. It feels like he has every college program in the country recruiting him and he showed why in the first game of his junior season on Friday night in a big win.</p>   <p>He kicked off the season for Springfield with an 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown, finishing with three receptions for 142 yards and that score.</p>   <p>He is being recruited as a defensive back for the next level, and the defense held strong on Friday, allowing just three points.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SocialDweebs/status/2091009170543702224?s=20 </div></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brentwood Academy DB [player_tooltip player_id='648676' first='Braylen' last='Bedford']</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='648676' first='Braylen' last='Bedford'] made his debut for Brentwood Academy in a nationally-ranked matchup as the entire nation watched from their television screens on Thursday night, and he delivered a strong showing.</p>   <p>He plays safety at the high school level, but his exciting skillset that consists of twitch, versatility, ball skills and tackling ability, makes it hard to not envision a bright future ahead in the new-age slot position.</p>   <p>The Baylor rushing attack stole the spotlight during the game, but a large reason that David Gabriel Georges had to consistently produce those highlight plays was due to players such as Bedford constantly being in position to tackle him. Against any other team in the nation, he finishes with a plethora of tackles, but that did not deter him and he showed arguably the highest motor on the field throughout the game.</p>   <p>When dropping back in coverage, he almost intercepted a throw in the red zone that seemed to be destined for a long pick-six, but the receiver landed a timely hit to break up the pass. However, he did get a return opportunity later in the game on special teams, in which he took full advantage to set his offense up in prime position.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CalebSisk_/status/2090603892052459775?s=20 </div></figure>

The high school football season has finally arrived in the state of Tennessee and it was filled with exciting matchups that showed the strong skillsets of talented prospects inside the state.