Scouting The Area: Bedford County

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A new series here at #PRZTN, we take a look at the counties here in the Volunteer State by breaking down the teams within. We provide each team's top players as well as an early outlook at how the 2025 season will go for each squad. </h2>     Bedford County (Mid-Tennessee)   Cascade Champions   Head Coach: Jared Carkuff    Top Returning Players   (OG) Joe Bailey (6'5 340): The Champions could have a solid O-line for the ‘25 season with Bailey being at the forefront of those efforts. This rising senior was a linchpin up front last season and I expect him to be a stalwart yet again while also competing for All-Region and potentially All-State.    (OL/DL) Will Benton (6'5 240): Benton could be the Champions breakthrough performer next Fall as he brings good size to the playing field along with the ability to dominate up front on both sides of the ball. If he could add on more weight this off-season, Benton could turn himself into a college prospect for the O-line.   (Ath) Andrew Dowell (6'0 170): Playmaking will be needed for the Champions to find success and Dowell could be the top guy on the team to bring that. His play on both sides of the ball will be key in the Fall and someone that could have a breakout year, especially if the QB position can be settled.    Underclassmen to Watch   ‘27 (WR/LB) Brett Huenik (6'0 180): Huenik should be stepping into a bigger role in 2025 as one of the team's top wideouts and playmakers from the linebacker position. The Champions need guys to step forward and become key contributors and Huenik looks to be one of those guys.    ‘27 (WR/DB) Braxtyn Burris (5'8 160): The Champions could have a solid receiving corps next season, especially if Burris steps into the limelight and excels. This rising junior fits the ball to play slot and provide some speed to the offensive side of the ball. He should also be a key player with the team's secondary as well.    ‘28 (LB) Blake White (5 '10 190): Opportunity is there for this incoming sophomore to become a key figure head on defense from his middle linebacker position. White has the frame to continue packing on more size and develop into a solid run stuffer for his Champions team.    ‘28 (WR/S) Garrett Caswell (6'2 165): This guy may have as much upside as anyone on the Champions roster for the 2025 season and beyond. Sporting good size and length, Caswell has an opportunity to establish himself as a key starter on both sides of the ball with his biggest potential coming at receiver.    Team Overview: Coming off a 1-9 season and winless within their region, the only way to go moving forward for the Champions is up and maybe an off-season of development from their youthful talent could make a big difference on the 2025 season. Finding a quarterback to run the show will be key and they will need to find one that can run the team and offense well as the Champions move to the 3A ranks and in a new region with the likes of Forrest, Giles Co., Sequatchie Co. and others.    Having Bailey and Benton up front helps the cause. The Champions should also have better skill for the 2025 season with Dowell, Huenik, Burris and Caswell taking on big roles. Early on, I'm not sure how good or bad this Cascade team will be, so watching them perform early in the 2025 year will show a lot on where the season could go. Their new region will present challenges, so the vets and rising youthful talent must be prepared and ready because the 2025 season looks like a tough road to pave through.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/jbailey.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-1635544" style="width:287px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -   Community Vikings   Head Coach: Chris Grooms    Top Returning Players   (WR/LB) Luis Butler (6'1 190): Butler heads into the 2025 season as possibly the team's best overall player. His play and performance next Fall will be key in the team's success as he will be asked to produce big plays on offense while also doing the same on defense from his linebacker position.    (DT/OL) Blaine Bowling (6'0 275): Everything in football starts up front in the trenches, so a guy like Bowling will need to step up and be a stalwart in the line for his Vikings team to find success. Bowling may be better suited with his upside on the D-line but his play on the O-line will be equally important in the 2025 season.    (WR/S) Severen Garman (5'11 170): I can see a scenario where Garman steps forward and becomes the team's top overall playmaker from both sides of the ball. If the Vikings can find a quarterback, Garman could see his game go to another level but it may be on defense where his biggest upside resides.    Underclassmen to Watch   ‘27 (QB) Nyles Barnett (6'0 170): A big opportunity sits in front of Barnett to become the face of the Vikings program with his development this off-season and emergence in the 2025 season. This guy is a natural athlete that could develop at several positions but his play at quarterback will be key and needed for the coming year.    ‘27 (RB/S) Bryce Blanton (5'9 160): There is much to learn about this rising junior two-way prospect. Blanton has a big opportunity to become one of the top team's top offensive players as well as develop into a key figure within the Vikings secondary.    Team Overview: The 2024 season wasn't the best for Community as they finished the year at 1-9 overall and winless within their region. All the team can do now is put that season in the past and move on. It's a new year for the Vikings and a new opportunity for players to step up and become starters in 2025 and help take this program to another level.    It's tough this early to know what the 2025 Vikings will be all about but I believe everything starts with Barnett and his emergence at quarterback. If the rising junior can take command behind center and produce positive plays, the Vikings could have more than one win for the 2025 season. Their region did get tougher with the addition of Forrest, Giles Co. and Sequatchie Co., so the path to playoffs will be hard. It could be another tough season in 2025 for Community but you never know what might happen, so stay tuned.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/nburnett.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1635546" style="width:289px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles    Head Coach: John Dryden   Top Returning Players   (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='834613' first='Robert' last='Bailey'] (5'11 220): Bailey returns for the 2025 season as one of the best RB's coming out of our #TN2026 recruiting class. He finished Top 10 in the state last year in rushing and is a prime candidate to contend for Mr. Football this Fall. Bailey holds an offer from EKU and could see that list expand before we kick off the season in August.    (LB) Chandler Jones (6'2 193): Last year was a semi breakout season for Jones, where he became a starter and produced very well. He now returns for his final year, looking to produce even more and turn himself into a legitimate college prospect.    (DL) Ellington Scott (5'8 190): Scott may be undersized to play on the D-line in college but he is an active ball player that provided strong play in the trenches last year for the Golden Eagles. His leadership and hard nosed competitive nature will be needed yet again in 2025 where Scott could All-Region yet again.    (Ath) Tiyon McAdoo (5'9 165): Keep an eye out for this athletic two-way product for Shelbyville in the Fall as I expect McAdoo to take on a bigger role and become one of the team's top overall playmakers. If this rising senior can step forward, he can become a nice compliment to Bailey and keep defenses honest due to his speed.    Underclassmen to Watch   ‘27 (WR/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1635440' first='Marjaveon' last='Whitelow'] (6'2 200): This rising junior might be the team's best overall college prospect but there is still much development to go before Whitelow becomes that guy. Sporting great size and natural athletic abilities, Whitelow has a chance to establish himself in a big way this Fall and help lead the Golden Eagles to a potential region title.    ‘27 (OL/DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1635143' first='Chandler' last='Cates'] (6'3 285): Going into the 2025 season, Cates looks to be the team's best lineman that will be going both ways and providing strong play in the trenches that will most definitely be needed. Playing on the college level is possible for Cates. He is a solid athlete that has grown into his body and is starting to definitely look the part.    ‘27 (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1635443' first='Nate' last='Zimmerman'] (5'11 200): I'm looking at a potential breakout year for Zimmerman with most of his work coming from the defensive side of the ball. When he becomes a senior, Zimmerman could take over at RB but for now, his play at linebacker will be critical towards his team's overall success.    ‘27 (WR/S) Stephen Bobo (5'10 165): The Bobo name is strong within the Golden Eagles program with this rising junior being the next one in line to make an impact. He should step into the role his brother had last year as one of the team's top wideouts and a potential athletic playmaker from the secondary.    ‘27 (LB) Jackson Themm (6'0 220): The 2024 season was a coming out party for Themm where he took on a starting role at middle linebacker and proceeded to earn All-Region honors for his play. He will now be asked to step up his game even further this Fall as a defensive team leader and high performing player versus the run.    ‘28 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1219525' first='Peyton' last='Wireman'] (6'0 175): Making the transfer over from Cascade to the Golden Eagles, Wireman has a prime opportunity to step into the starting role at quarterback this Fall and begin establishing himself as a potential college guy. I like how this guy spins the ball while also bringing nice athleticism to his position.    Team Overview: The Golden Eagles had a banner 2024 season where they won their region and finished the year at 12-2 overall. Now the returning players must replicate last year's results and continue building this program and I believe it's possible, especially with the return of Bailey in the backfield. He is a bell cow back the team can lean on but he has to receive strong play up front in the line from Cates and others to produce a big year and put Shelbyville in the mix for a potential run after another region title.     The team must replace several key seniors from last year, so it will be interesting to see how this Fall's squad forms together. The talent within the 2025 team should be solid with guys like Whitelow, Zimmerman, Themm, Cates and Wireman taking their games to another level and becoming stalwarts to depend upon each and every week. I do think the path will be tougher in 2025 for Shelbyville as they step up in classifications by joining the 6A level and join a region with the likes of Brentwood, Ravenwood and others. It will be interesting to see how the Golden Eagles compete with those teams but with some solid talent returning, I do expect another playoff appearance from this Mid-TN program.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/ccates.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1635547" style="width:292px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    Webb School Feet   Head Coach: Evan Gay   Top Returning Players   (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1281472' first='Joel' last='Wyatt'] (6'5 190): One of the top offensive prospects from our #TN2026 class, Wyatt is a game changer for his Feet team that can take over a game due to his size and freakish athletic abilities. Multiple Power Four programs are in pursuit of this Mid-TN talent, who could have a monster year and be a key catalyst behind a potential run after the D2-Class A state title.    (G/C) [player_tooltip player_id='1218536' first='Jeremy' last='George'] (6'4 290): George is a potential breakout star for the Feet for the 2025 season that already holds offers from MTSU and TN Tech but could expand that list with strong work this summer in camps. This is an athletic blocker that moves well to the 2nd level. He has potential to become a starting center in college or have the versatility to play all three interior O-line positions.    (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1532741' first='James' last='Pierre'] (5'9 180): A hard nosed runner with excellent vision, Pierre established himself very well in the Feet's backfield last year and I expect him to push his game even further this Fall. This rising senior heads into the 2025 season as a candidate for Mr. Football with the upside to take his game to the college level.    (DL/OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1218538' first='Issiaga' last='Yattara'] (6'5 270): Even though Yattara will go both ways in the line this year, I like his college potential best on defense where he has the size, length and developing athleticism that translates well to the next level. Lookout for a possible breakout senior season from this raw but talented lineman.    (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1150057' first='Ryan' last='Wirtzfeld'] (6'1 202): A lefty leader behind center, Wirtzfeld put together a strong junior campaign but I'm expecting an even better year this coming Fall. This native Canadian is well put together physically with solid arm strength and poise in the pocket. Wirtzfeld is also a good athlete that can pick up 1st downs with his legs.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/03/IMG_7616-rotated.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-731145" style="width:229px;height:auto" /></figure>   (OG) [player_tooltip player_id='1400952' first='Jonatan' last='Bezverhnii'] (6'5 300): The Feet have a strong O-line unit returning for the 2025 season with Bezverhnii being a key piece in the middle. A road grader that pushes guys to the 2nd level well, this rising senior big man does a good job of locking onto his opponent and driving him off the ball in the run game.    Tikum [player_tooltip player_id='1257132' first='Brian' last='Asongwe'] (5'11 170): An under the radar defender headed into the spring recruiting season, Asongwe is a talented guy that brings versatility to the Feet secondary, who could become a key defensive piece for the 2025 season. It's possible for this guy to develop at corner but at least, Asongwe has the athleticism to compete at nickel or field safety as well.    Underclassmen to Watch   ‘27 (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1142033' first='Sam' last='Bradley'] (6'1 190): The next quarterback in-line after Wirtzfeld leaves is this rising junior that has upside to get into the college game. He may have to continue biding his time but if Bradley was able to get some on the field this Fall, it would push his progression further down the road. I like the upside here, so I will definitely be following his work over the next two years.    Team Overview: There are a lot of pieces in place for the Feet to have a big year for the 2025 season that may end in Chattanooga with a shot at winning the D2-Class A state championship. This Mid-TN program did move down classifications and I think it was a good move. They immediately become a top contender and possibly the most talented team on this level. Having a guy like Wyatt is big time but I think it's their size in the trenches that makes them quite formidable for the 2025 football year.    Also having a veteran quarterback like Wirtzfeld behind center is big too. While I do think the offense will be balanced and explosive, for the Feet to compete for a state title, their defense must be top notch as well. The secondary will be solid with Asongwe back there joined by [player_tooltip player_id='1218539' first='Elom' last='Ametitovi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1646196' first='Jayden' last='Frazier'] and the front seven should be strong, led by Yattara. If everyone stays healthy and everybody performs like I think they will, the Feet could be in-store for a dream season that ends with a “Gold Ball” trophy.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/jpierre.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1622280" style="width:269px;height:auto" /></figure>