Recruiting Weekly Recap (Mar. 1st-7th)
A new commitment and several new offers were sent out last week, so let’s recap it all ….
Lead Story
– There is no question on what the lead story this week would be as last Wednesday, Knox. Catholic (TN) two way star Kaden Martin Kaden Martin 6'1" | 210 lbs | QB McDonogh | 2022 MD gave his commitment to Miami. The East Tennessee product committed to the Canes as a baseball player, not football, however Martin will be given a spot in the quarterback room and given a chance to compete eventually for the starting role. A true two sport star that could excel in either one, Martin might have a brighter future on the baseball diamond compared to football but he is a dynamic guy that brings a big arm and big play abilities to the football field.
More than likely, Martin will be enrolling early at Miami in December then proceed to join the baseball squad for the 2022 spring season and then move right into football workouts that summer. It will be a heavy workload for Martin at “The U” but he is more than capable of handling it and succeeding in both sports.
Offer King of the Week
Yet another week where two prospects hold this honor (Several others had two offers a piece)
Haywood (DT) Camron Douglas Camron Douglas 6'3" | 300 lbs | DL Haywood | 2022 State TN – Illinois, Arkansas St, Austin Peay & MTSU
MBA (OT/G) Grayson Morgan Grayson Morgan 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL MBA | 2022 State TN – Kentucky, East Carolina, Army, UConn
– It was a big week for both Douglas and Morgan as both big guys are now established as marked men and high level college football prospects. Douglas is a massive young man that could excel on either side of the ball in college but to me shows the biggest upside at defensive tackle. The D-line is one of the weaker position groups in the state this cycle, so I could see Douglas obtain more than 30 college offers before it’s said and done, especially from several P5 programs.
Morgan is a breakout star right now as he has seen a serious influx of activity within his recruitment over the past several weeks and the ride is far from over. An athletic guy that sports a frame with tons of room for growth, Morgan has the tools, size and makeup for offensive tackle that college coaches like. Look for more Power Five schools to come after Morgan in the near future.
Underclassmen Spotlight
– It was a quiet week when it came to underclassmen and them receiving offers. Only three total offers went out last week to 2023 prospects and two of them went to Henry Co. (TN) O-linemen Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'6" | 305 lbs | OL Henry Co. | 2023 State TN . The Patriots rising junior is no doubt placing himself as one of the top recruited prospects for his recruiting class and maybe even the country. Georgia Tech and Miami Ohio are his latest two offers and expect a few more to come this week.
Etc. ……
– A recent offer from Auburn to Ravenwood (TN) DB Myles Pollard Myles Pollard 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Ravenwood | 2022 State TN could throw a wrench in his decision making but I feel a certain Big 10 school will end up with his commitment. The Middle Tennessee native recently named his Top schools with the idea of a commitment coming soon or at least in the coming months, so if that’s the case, which school could be in the lead? If I could lay down a crystal ball pick for Pollard it would be the Michigan Wolverines. The Big 10 power already has former Raptors linebacker Junior Colson Junior Colson 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Ravenwood | 2021 State TN on roster (teammate of Pollard) and has added commitments for the 2022 class from fellow Tennesseans Kody Jones Kody Jones 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Germantown | 2022 State TN and Taylor Groves Taylor Groves 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB East Robertson | 2022 State TN . The connections are too strong right now to not see Michigan as the leader in the clubhouse for the 4-star defensive back.
– A new name to the state that many should know about is Baylor School (DL) Bridger Knee. A recent transfer from Bowling Green high school in Kentucky, Knee is a versatile guy that can play multiple positions across the defensive line and college coaches have taken notice. Last week, Knee received offers from Utah St. and Columbia with several others very interested. Look for Knee to hit the camp scene soon and continue his upward trajectory in football recruiting and the continued development of his game.
– A name to know going forward is Huntingdon (TN) lineman Darius Gordon. The West Tennessee prospect received his 1st offer last week from MTSU and they certainly won’t be his last. Standing 6’3 290 pounds, Gordon has the size and body frame that translates to the next level. The only question will be what side of the ball does his potential fit the best and to me, that’s on the offensive line. Hopefully Gordon can put himself into a camp soon and film can be taken of the two way lineman and then his recruitment may really take off.