#CSS/#PRZTN Recruiting Insider

The 2023 recruiting cycle is officially open! This past weekend many prospects from across the country were able to get back on the road to visit college campuses, including several key talents from our great state of Tennessee. Here we have some recaps from some of the top prospects in the state, including a few big names! - One of the top overall prospects from the 2023 in-state class is Baylor (OT/G) [player_tooltip player_id="102315" first="Brycen" last="Sanders"] and he has become a national name at this point that may see his star status grow in the very future. Part of that growth is continued interest and offers from top level programs, like the LSU Tigers, who this Chattanooga area O-lineman visited this past weekend. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Amazing day in Baton Rouge! Pretty special 👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GeauxTigers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GeauxTigers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachbraddavis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachbraddavis</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBrianKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBrianKelly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LSUCoachJancek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LSUCoachJancek</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/theyoungcoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@theyoungcoach</a> <a href="https://t.co/jgHL2JiRbO">pic.twitter.com/jgHL2JiRbO</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="102315" first="Brycen" last="Sanders"] (@BrycenSanders1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrycenSanders1/status/1500270926138597384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> According to Sanders, his LSU visit was one of the best visits he has had to date and he has been to check out other top football programs. He thoroughly enjoyed every second of his visit, including his time with the coaching staff and especially Tigers O-line coach Brad Davis. Sanders really connected with Coach Davis and enjoyed the way he talked and sold the Tigers program. The NPA Leverage Lineman also loved the stadium and atmosphere on LSU’s campus. He did not say the Tigers were a top contender yet but I got the feeling that LSU could become a major player for this 4-star versatile lineman. Sanders has several visits upcoming over the next few months, including a big one later this month to Oklahoma. Knowing and talking with Sanders multiple times, I expect to see a commitment from him sometime before the start of his senior year, so whoever isn’t on board better do so very soon. - Tennessee picked up their 2nd in-state commitment on Sunday night when Lipscomb Academy (TN) wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="102336" first="Nate" last="Spillman"] committed to the Volunteers. The Mustangs big and physical wideout committed to the Vols after visiting last weekend and joined fellow in-state prospect [player_tooltip player_id="102188" first="Ayden" last="Bussell"] in the 2022 Tennessee recruiting class. Spillman is a strong pickup for the Vols and a player that has yet to reach his maximum capabilities. The Mustangs wideout sports nice size (6’3 195) along with a big, wide radius that makes it hard for defensive backs to handle. He also shows on the film the ability to breakaway from defenders with his speed and develop into a strong red zone threat. The Vols coaching staff may need some time with Spillman to continue developing his route running and overall skill set but they landed themselves a strong pass catcher that fits within their offense very well. - This West Tennessee product could be on the verge of exploding with his recruitment, especially after landing an offer from Memphis last week. Briarcrest (G/C) [player_tooltip player_id="102179" first="Nate" last="Bledsoe"] has emerged as one of top interior O-lineman for the in-state 2023 class and a lot of that is due to his balance, football smarts and explosive traits. The great thing about Bledsoe is the fact that he still has some growing to do with his body along with continued development with his lower base balance, so his best football is certainly ahead of him. Prior to his offer from Memphis, Bledsoe took an unofficial visit with the Tigers last week and according to the Saints O-lineman, it was an excellent visit that certainly put his hometown school at the top of his recruiting list. Bledsoe loved his visit with Memphis and plans to return to campus in the very near future. Before going back to see Memphis, Bledsoe has other visits on deck over the coming weeks, starting with Rice on March 26th, followed by Yale (Apr. 1st), Princeton (Apr.2nd) and Navy on April 4th. Look for Bledsoe to take several more visits in the next months prior to hitting the college camp scene this summer. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-262567" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/nbledsoe3-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /> - One of the more underrated talents from the 2023 in-state class right now is Alcoa (TN) athlete [player_tooltip player_id="302319" first="Jordan" last="Harris"]. This East Tennessee product has been dormant on the football recruiting scene through these early months of the 2022 year and a lot of that is due to him being on the hardwood with his Tornadoes basketball team. Harris and his basketball teammates are still playing and quite good too with a shot at a state title, so I can understand where his focus has been over these last few months. While Harris has been zeroed in on basketball, he still keeps a keen eye towards football and his recruitment on the gridiron. He has yet to receive his 1st college offer but according to the Tornadoes dynamic two way athlete, several D1 programs are showing interest. Among those schools staying in touch and showing interest include Gardner Webb, Marshall, Memphis, Miami Ohio, MTSU and Vanderbilt. Look for Harris to create more buzz for himself as he gets out of basketball season and starts hitting the camp scene, especially this summer on collegiate campuses. - The best college visit yet might have taken place last weekend for Henry Co. (TN) O-lineman [player_tooltip player_id="102185" first="Luke" last="Brown"] as he traveled slightly West to check out the Arkansas Razorbacks. This Middle Tennessee big and burly lineman spent a lot of quality time with Hogs head coach Sam Pittman as well as O-line coach Cody Kennedy talking about Brown’s fit within the Razorbacks program and how he can be developed into an All-SEC lineman in Fayetteville. According to the Patriots star lineman, Brown loved his visit with Arkansas and didn’t say in too many words but the Hogs may be the leader in the clubhouse now. While Arkansas made a major impression on Brown, they won’t be the only big player for his services. Sometime this spring as dates haven’t been set yet, look for Brown to also take visits to three other SEC programs in Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt. Those are not an official top four for Brown but I would say those SEC programs have the best shot at landing one of the best O-linemen from the in-state ‘23 class. - Ensworth (TN) receiver [player_tooltip player_id="150474" first="Jacob" last="Page"] went all the way out to the Pacific Northwest last weekend to unofficially visit the University of Washington and the trip paid off as the Middle Tennessee wideout landed a Huskies offer. Some may not see this as a big deal or a big offer for Page but it is as this wideout had been quiet on the recruiting trail of late. Page is a talented guy that added several big offers early but it all went dark for a while until this Huskies offer but now others may finally decide to get on board with one of the top talents overall in this state for the ‘23 class. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Blessed to announce that I have earned an offer from the University of Washington ☔️☔️<a href="https://twitter.com/UW_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UW_Football</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachShephard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachShephard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachRocBatten?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRocBatten</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTBarr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTBarr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TNSelectRecr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TNSelectRecr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/d1highlights?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@d1highlights</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Rivals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Rivals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/247Sports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@247Sports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNSelect7v7?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TNSelect7v7</a> <a href="https://t.co/ozsN89i93w">pic.twitter.com/ozsN89i93w</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="150474" first="Jacob" last="Page"] (@Jacobpage_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jacobpage_/status/1500625371343032323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> - It has been a long and grueling process for Briarcrest Chrst. (TN) QB [player_tooltip player_id="185570" first="J.D." last="Sherrod"] as he continues to work and strive after his college goals but at this juncture, he has yet to receive his 1st official offer. That could be changing soon as this West Tennessee product is beginning to pick up steam on the recruiting front with several college programs across the country increasing their interest. This is a talented passer and athlete behind center that should already sport several offers but that’s how this recruiting game goes,however I think things change for the better over the coming weeks. Already this offseason, Sherrod has taken an unofficial visit to Toledo and he has several others set up this month including stops to Arkansas St and Ball State. Sherrod plans to check other programs over this spring period but it depends on what happens with his recruitment in the next few weeks. This is a vastly underrated talent right now that will be a steal for whoever pulls the trigger on adding this dual threat, strong armed passer. Among other schools showing interest with Sherrod right now include Austin Peay, Bucknell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Delaware, Fla Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Georgetown,Harvard, Lindenwood, Murray St., Penn, Princeton, SEMO and Yale. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Excited to go sit in on QB meetings and see a day of Red Wolves Football! <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachHeck_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachHeck_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AStateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AStateFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nexgenscouting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nexgenscouting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CSmithScout?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CSmithScout</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/QBC_Memphis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QBC_Memphis</a> <a href="https://t.co/mrKpI1wJA7">pic.twitter.com/mrKpI1wJA7</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="250829" first="JD" last="Sherrod"] (@JDSherrod12) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDSherrod12/status/1500904588710490115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>