Recruiting Weekly Recap
New weekly series that recaps the week of recruiting within the great state of Tennessee …..
Lead Story
– The top news of the week has to be the commitment of 3-star tight end Karson Gay Karson Gay 6'6" | 225 lbs | TE Boyd Buchanan | 2022 State TN to the Virginia Cavaliers. Announcing his decision on a quiet Saturday morning, Gay choose the Wahoos over several other high quality programs including Arkansas, BYU, Ga Tech, Indiana, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Tennessee, USC, Va Tech and others.
Gay is an athletic, pass catching tight end that has yet to reach his maximum abilities, which in turn is a scary concept for defenders on the college level. The Chattanooga area prospect is one of the hardest workers you will find and he is also highly intelligent. He is a mismatch nightmare for the opposition as Gay can line up in a variety of roles while also being a home run, deep threat.
This was a great pickup by Virginia. Gay has tons of upside along with NFL traits that can be developed in Charlottesville as a potential All-conference player and prospect playing on Sunday’s.
Offer King of the Week
– This honor is shared this week by three different prospects as all three received five college offers.
Haywood (TN) DB Jaylen Lewis Jaylen Lewis 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Haywood | 2022 State TN – Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Tennessee St. & West Virginia
Re-classified ‘22 (S) D’Arco Perkins – LSU, Mississippi St, Penn St., Tennessee & Virginia Tech
‘23 Henry Co. (TN) OL Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'6" | 305 lbs | OL Henry Co. | 2023 State TN – Indiana, Memphis, MTSU, UCF & Vanderbilt
Lewis is considered an elite level talent within the state of Tennessee that now has over 20 college offers with several more yet to come. Perkins is a new prospect to the 2022 class as he re-classified recently and making that decision has put a serious uptick into his recruitment. The former Stratford Spartan has officially blown up and will continue to see the offers roll in. Brown has burst onto the scene in a big way adding two SEC offers and opening the eyes of many others around the country. The Patriots rising junior is positioning himself to be one of the top in-state recruits for the 2023 class.
Underclassmen Spotlight
– ‘23 Independence (TN) TE Ty Lockwood Ty Lockwood 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Independence | 2023 State TN received some big news this week when National Title runner-up, the Ohio St. Buckeyes extended an official offer to the Eagles rising junior and it’s an offer that will carry weight with Lockwood going forward. A big, physical guy with soft hands, Lockwood fits the mold of what the Buckeyes look for in their tight ends. The Eagles star offensive prospect is still learning and developing but already has a polished game that would fit nicely with Ohio St. or just about any other Power Five program.
Etc ……
– Two underrated 2021 commitments were made this week. Ravenwood (TN) LB Damon Owens Damon Owens 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Ravenwood | 2021 State TN committed to Louisiana Monroe and Hardin Co. (TN) QB Rivers Hunt committed to Austin Peay. Both prospects are underrated talents that should fit nicely within both their college programs. Owens at one time held multiple Power Five offers and Hunt was a two time Class 4A Mr. Football finalist.
– A week after making the transfer from the Lone Star State to Tennessee and Ravenwood high school, ‘23 (QB) Chris Parson added a new offer from Eastern Kentucky. This won’t be the last offer Parson receives after the recent move east. He already holds offers from the likes of Iowa, Kansas, Oregon St, TCU and Virginia Tech. This is an athletic guy with sound mechanics that should break out into even more offers in the near future.
– Another underclassmen to know and watch going forward is ‘23 McKenzie (TN) athlete Marquez Taylor Marquez Taylor 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB McKenzie | 2023 State TN . College coaches are already becoming aware of this West Tennessee product as last week Taylor earned offers from both MTSU and Eastern Kentucky. Taylor already holds three official offers and before the spring and summer seasons are over, expect the Rebels rising junior to sport more than ten. This could be one of the top 20 overall in-state prospects for 2023 class, so watch out for this guy!