#PRZTN Spring Showcase Preview
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The first annual Prep RedZone Tennessee “Spring Showcase” will be taking place this weekend from Murfreesboro, TN and Oakland high school where a bevy of talented prospects will gather to compete and place themselves on the recruiting map. Several players…
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Continue ReadingThe first annual Prep RedZone Tennessee “Spring Showcase” will be taking place this weekend from Murfreesboro, TN and Oakland high school where a bevy of talented prospects will gather to compete and place themselves on the recruiting map.
Several players are coming to compete from out of state but the vast majority of the talent on hand will be in-state prospects and we have some guys that are on the threshold of attaining college offers.
Below is a list of some guys to follow this weekend and a quick rundown of what to expect
Offense
QB: ‘23 Jackson Cassidy Jackson Cassidy 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB McKenzie | 2023 State TN (McKenzie), Ashun Motley (Hunters Lane), Stephen Swoner Stephen Swoner 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Mt.Juliet | 2022 TN (Mt. Juliet), Garrison Barrett Garrison Barrett 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Volunteer | 2022 State TN (Volunteer), Emmett Hegland Emmett Hegland 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Midway | 2022 TN (Midway), ‘23 Cassen Huffaker Cassen Huffaker 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Knox. Halls | 2023 TN (Karns), ‘23 Kade Hewitt (Oakland), Logan Carroll Logan Carroll 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Meigs Co. | 2022 TN (Meigs Co.)
RB: Tyrik Pirtle Tyrik Pirtle 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Jackson North-Side | 2022 TN (Jackson NS), ‘23 Keion Irby Keion Irby 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Mt Juliet | 2023 TN (Wilson Central), ‘24 JaLyric Cullum (Upperman), Demari Braden Demari Braden 5'8" | 185 lbs | RB Marshall County | 2023 TN (Marshall Co.), Jeffrey Vercher, Jr Jeffrey Vercher, Jr 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB FRA | 2022 State TN (FRA)
WR: Ahmani Davis Nelson Ahmani Davis Nelson 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Bartlett | 2022 State TN (Bartlett), ‘24 Jack Massengile (Cookeville), ‘24 Mason Taylor Mason Taylor 6'1" | 190 lbs | ATH Cookeville | 2024 TN (Cookeville)
OL: Devin Lively Devin Lively 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Friendship Chrst. | 2023 State TN (Knox. Catholic), John Pastore (Erie, CO), Ryan Hacker Ryan Hacker 6'4" | 270 lbs | OL IMG Academy | 2022 TN (Beech), Luke Moore Luke Moore 6'2" | 275 lbs | OL First Assembly Christian | 2022 TN (FACS), Mason Richardson (Summit), ‘23 Cal Grubbs Cal Grubbs 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Maryville | 2023 State TN (Maryville), ‘23 Aaron Knueven Aaron Knueven 6'6" | 295 lbs | OL Wilson Central | 2023 TN (Wilson Central), Ryan Wright Ryan Wright 6'5" | 295 lbs | OL Northview Academy | 2022 State TN (Northview Acad.), Ben Caviness Ben Caviness 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Christian Brothers | 2022 State TN (Chrst. Brothers)
– The quarterback and offensive line position groups immediately stand out when you look over the roster. A good mix of senior and underclassmen talent at quarterback will be in attendance. A few of these guys I have seen already this offseason but the guys I’m really eager to see are Cassidy, Motley, Barrett and Carroll. The offensive line may be even more talented than the passers. Two underclassmen stand out in Grubbs and Knueven but this is a senior heavy group with several guys on the verge of breaking out in their recruitments. Richardson, Hacker and Moore have been consistent performers this offseason but Caviness, Wright and Lively are three highly talented in-state big men that I’m very interested to watch compete. One guy of note is Pastore who stands 6’6 275 lbs and is coming to the Boro all the way from Colorado to help put himself on the map.
The skill positions aren’t as deep but there are a few guys to know about. Senior to be running backs Pirtle and Vercher, Jr are two undersized guys that play fast and have the toughness to lower the shoulder. Irby is one underclassmen that I’m very curious to see. He is a big guy at 5’10 195 lbs and if he shows that he can move, the Wildcats junior back could establish himself as a guy to watch. For the receivers, Davis is the main prospect to know about. Right now, the Panthers senior pass catcher could be the top wideout from the Memphis area in the 2022 class and Saturday could go a long way towards making that statement true.
Defense
DL: Austyn Keen Austyn Keen 6'4" | 210 lbs | DL Beech | 2022 TN (Beech), Clay Barrett Clay Barrett 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Cookeville | 2022 State TN (Cookeville), Aiden Lehner Aiden Lehner 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL Page | 2022 TN (Page), ‘24 Ryan Robinson Ryan Robinson 6'2" | 220 lbs | DL Father Ryan | 2024 TN (Father Ryan), ‘23 Raleigh Seals Raleigh Seals 6'4" | 225 lbs | TE USJ | 2023 TN (USJ), ‘23 Nehemiah Storey Nehemiah Storey 6'1" | 285 lbs | OL Rockwood | 2023 State TN (Rockwood), ‘24 Antori Hamilton Antori Hamilton 6'0" | 280 lbs | DL Knoxville Catholic | 2024 TN (Knox. Catholic)
LB: Aaron Crowder (McCallie), Brayden Hoy Brayden Hoy 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Maryville | 2022 TN (Maryville), ‘23 Ethan Crisp Ethan Crisp 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN (Mt. Juliet), ‘23 Stryker Aitken Stryker Aitken 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB MUS | 2023 TN (MUS), Cade Apple Cade Apple 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Cookeville | 2022 State TN (Cookeville), Seth Carter Seth Carter 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Brentwood | 2022 State TN (Brentwood)
DB: Alex Ford Alex Ford 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Father Ryan | 2022 State TN (Father Ryan), Deangelo Davenport (Bob Jones, AL), Jalen Fayne Jalen Fayne 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Covington | 2022 State TN (Covington), Kayden Phillips Kayden Phillips 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Soddy Daisy | 2022 TN (Soddy Daisy)
– Looking through the talent we will have on defense, what jumps out first is the guys up front in the defensive line and the young talent residing with the linebackers. The guy who is quietly making a name for himself is Keen and he is looking to put on another show to stretch his recruitment out even further. The youth is strong too with guys like Storey, Seals, Robinson and Hamilton. This is a talented group that should give the O-linemen some trouble during 1 on 1 competitions.
The main guy of note at linebacker has to be Crisp. The 2023 Golden Bears star prospect holds a Vanderbilt offer and has been a non stop, consistent performer at camps this offseason. Crowder and Hoy are two senior linebackers that too have put in strong work this offseason and are looking to keep it going on Saturday. One senior to know that has been down due to injury is Apple. Back healthy now, the Cavs leading tackler is one of the top inside backer prospects in the Mid-State area and this could be a good coming out party. The defensive backs are a bit of an unknown going into this weekend but one guy that is not is Ford. The Fighting Irish senior versatile defensive back is a budding star that has yet to break through with offers but that is soon to change. Two guys I am interested in checking out are Davenport from Alabama and Fayne who is coming from West Tennessee to establish himself as a name to know.