Trench Battle: Big Men Rumble on Rocky Top
It wasn’t just the skills guys who took center stage in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on Saturday but the big men in the trenches were on display as well, taking part in the Rocky Top Classic Big Man Challenge.
Multiple organizations from Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan and Kentucky took part in the big man battle with the boys from Detroit and Sound Mind Sound Body winning the day, coming away as the challenge champions.
The SMSB group of big men came ready to compete and that attitude could be completely seen in the play and trench work done by 2023 (OL) Johnathan Slack.
The rising junior is a punishing guy that brings versatility to the line and a nasty demeanor. Not to be overshadowed by Slack, ‘22 (OL) Cameron Roetherford had a strong day as well. The Michigan Collegiate (MI) product is mauler with a wide body and a powerful lower base. He is hard to move off his spot and defensive linemen saw exactly that on Saturday.
On defense, edge rusher Joey Klunder was an impressive guy showing off his bend and ability to get into the backfield on a consistent basis. He already holds multiple D1 offers but has yet to see those Power Five programs get in the mix.
Coming in second place behind the guys from Michigan, were the Dream Team/NPA big men that sports a lot of high caliber, Power Five and Division 1 talent.
Leading the way from Dream Team Red was Jacob Hood Jacob Hood 6'8" | 330 lbs | OL Hillsboro | 2022 TN , Fisher Anderson Fisher Anderson 6'7" | 275 lbs | OL Franklin | 2022 State TN , Owen Sacks Owen Sacks 6'2" | 295 lbs | OL Page | 2022 State TN , Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN and Christian Sheron.
These are four elite level linemen that all had bright moments throughout the day. Hood in particular had dominating reps where he completely owned his opponent.
Anderson is a mobile, athletic guy that is still growing into his body (He has been wrestling this winter and you can tell that work is translating over to football.)
Sacks is an interior mauler with football smarts while Sanders is chalk full of potential and like Hood, put together several dominating reps. Sheron is a versatile D-lineman that gives his all on everything he does and had flashes throughout the challenge that warrants bigger college looks.
Not to be out done by the Red team, the Dream Team/NPA Black squad put on a show as well led up front by big time prospects Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'6" | 305 lbs | OL Henry Co. | 2023 State TN , Cal Grubbs, Joe Crocker Joe Crocker 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL FRA | 2023 State TN , Trevor Duncan Trevor Duncan 6'5" | 270 lbs | DL Knox. Catholic | 2023 State TN and Cade Huber.
Brown was a beast all day and showed off why he has added recent offers from Florida St, Georgia, Vanderbilt and others. Grubbs might have had one of the top individual performances of any linemen on the day. The Maryville product was dominating. He displayed his balance, strength and overall mobility handling just about anyone he went up against.
Crocker, Duncan and Huber are all 2023 prospects that provide tons of upside. Duncan and Huber are defensive linemen with size and an active motor while Crocker is a bear on the offensive line that plays an ultimate brand of physical football.
A prospect to know about going forward is 2022 Norcross (Ga) defensive end Terrell Springer.
This edge rusher traveled up from the Peach State and by the end of the day, the 6’3 220 pound rising senior was one of the top defensive end performers throughout the challenge.
Springer sports a quick get-off along with an active motor that doesn’t seem to have an off switch. He showed enough versatility and athleticism to where he could stand up and play outside linebacker on the next level.
Overall, this was a great event that was able to put the big men in a spotlight that showcases their abilities and give everyone top level work against high caliber talent.
The next location is yet to be determined but the Big Man Challenge will continue at 7v7 events this offseason.