Gibbs, Huntsman Lead Active Tennessee Future Stars 2029 Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The annual border war between the Kentucky Future Stars and Tennessee Future Stars went down this past weekend on the beautiful, scenic campus of UT-Martin. While both states featured plenty of future college prospects–some with verbal offers already–the home team would come away with the victory on all three grade levels. Call it a <strong><em>Tenne-sweep</em></strong>. Below are the Tennessee prospects that shined on the defensive side of the ball, in the eighth-grade (2029) Tennessee vs. Kentucky Future Stars Game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552697"],"_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-685ee17aee078"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An All-Rutherford County selection this past season, Bass was a big piece on both sides of the ball and helped Oakland Middle School win another County Title. As a member of the Tennessee Future Stars last weekend, Bass got the start at Free Safety and had an excellent game. He wasted little time making an impact, as he was (unofficially) in on three tackles on the opening drive of the game. In perhaps his most impressive set of plays, he recorded PBUs on back-to-back plays, on Kentuckys final drive of the first half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1698723"],"_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-685ee17aee100"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With all the big time talent on the field earning an MVP award in the Tennessee vs. Kentucky Future Stars Game is a huge accomplishment. Doing it twice? That's extremely impressive, and exactly what [player_tooltip player_id='1698723' first='Antonio' last='Huntsman'] did this past weekend. Huntsman started at Middle Linebacker for the 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars and was (unofficially) tied for the team lead in tackles, including a pair on Special Teams and one for a loss. On top of the stats, he was also a very visible, emotional leader for the Big Orange defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1305173"],"_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-685ee17aee156"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Along with [player_tooltip player_id='1698723' first='Antonio' last='Huntsman'] (listed above), the other half of the co-Defensive MVP for the 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars was [player_tooltip player_id='1305173' first='Trenton' last='Gibbs']. Gibbs was a standout a year ago as a seventh-grader on the Offensive Line and came back this year on the opposite side of the ball, as an Edge. Gibbs spearheaded a very disruptive Defensive Line, as the Oakland High School prospect unofficially finished the day tied for the team lead in tackles (8), had three TFLs and recorded a sack. He was one of the big reason that the Tennessee defense didn't allow a touchdown until the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1698793"],"_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-685ee17aee1b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perhaps the biggest, literally and figuratively, surprise to me on the afternoon was the play of Defensive Tackle Renterrio Hardaway. I don't have specifics on size, but he's no-taller than 5-foot-7 and has to be pushing 300 pounds, by my eye. Being as short, thick and stout as he is, I could make an argument that Hardaway was the most disruptive defensive prospect on the 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars this year. He finished the game (unofficially) with five tackles, three of which were behind the line of scrimmage. Moreover, there was nearly half a dozen plays where Hardaway didn't make the tackle, but his penetration messed up the Kentucky play before fellow Volunteers came and cleaned it up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1305637"],"_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-685ee17aee20c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The other interior Defensive Lineman opposite Renterrio Hardaway (listed above), was the versatile [player_tooltip player_id='1305637' first='Braxton' last='Logan'], who actually did take snaps as an Edge rusher too. Logan showed off his excellent athleticism for a prospect of his size and made it a long day for the Kentucky offense. The (unofficial) stat line isn't as flashy as some of the other prospects, as he finished with three tackles, 1 TFL and a pair of QB Hurries. However, like Hardaway, his ability to penetrate the Kentucky O-Line threw off the timing of several plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1305177"],"_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-685ee17aee276"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like [player_tooltip player_id='1305173' first='Trenton' last='Gibbs'] (listed above), I named [player_tooltip player_id='1305177' first='Jimmy' last='Payne'] a top performer last year on the offensive side of the ball because of his physical he was as a blocking Tight End. This year, Payne returned as the Edge, opposite Gibbs. The duo made an excellent pair of bookend defenders. The future Knoxville Catholic Irish prospect (unofficially) finished with five tackles, two of which for loss. Payne played the role of finisher on nearly all of his stops, bringing the ball carrier to the ground after one of his teammates made initial contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1547500"],"_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-685ee17aee2d9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The combination of the 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars Defensive Line dominating like it did, mixed with the Kentucky Future Stars playing from behind the entire game and needing to throw, didn't leave many scraps for the Linebackers to feast on. However, [player_tooltip player_id='1547500' first='Davin' last='Morton'], an All-Upper Cumberland Conference selection this past season for Avery Trace Middle School, had an active day for the Big Orange. Morton finished (unofficially) second in tackles for the Linebacker core with four, one of which was for a loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Additional Notable Performances</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1698828' first='Vance' last='Hurley'] | Linebacker | Briarcrest Christian - A starter at Outside Linebacker for Tennessee, Hurley showed range and the ability to make plays against the run and pass. He (unofficially) finished with three tackles and a TFL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1676349' first='Braxton' last='Swift'] | Defensive Back | Gibbs High School - The Gunner on Kick-Off and a reserve Defensive Back, Swift finished the day with three total tackles (two on Special Teams) and one of two Tennessee Future Stars interceptions. He also recovered an Onside Kick to seal the deal for Tennessee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1673560' first='Collin' last='Simpson'] | Edge | St. George's - Simpson rotated in at Edge for the 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars and finished the day with a pair of tackles. What won't show up in the stats is the number of times he kept contain and forced Kentucky RBs back inside for his teammates to clean up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1676410' first='Zac' last='Nicaud'] | Defensive Back | Bearden High School - The second and final interception of the afternoon for the Tennessee Future Stars came from Nicaud in the third quarter. He also played on Special Teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->