#TN2023 Rankings: Offensive Breakdown
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The first annual Prep RedZone Tennessee ℅ 2023 prospect rankings were released recently and the initial thoughts about this class is how deep it is on both sides of the ball and how tons of evaluating is left to go. …
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Continue ReadingThe first annual Prep RedZone Tennessee ℅ 2023 prospect rankings were released recently and the initial thoughts about this class is how deep it is on both sides of the ball and how tons of evaluating is left to go.
Here we give you an overview on the overall look of the 2023 Top 100 and some of the top prospects you need to know and today we start with the offense.
Quarterbacks
– The 2023 crop of quarterbacks could be the deepest group that we have had at this position in a very long time and several guys have yet to break out or be known. Out of the 2023 Top 100, the quarterbacks are well represented with a total of 14 signal callers listed. The position is led by the 3rd overall prospect in MBA rising junior (#3) Marcel Reed Marcel Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB MBA | 2023 State TN . The 6’2 dual threat prospect is a heavily recruited guy that has just about every option in America right now for college football. Behind him are two heavily recruited guys with big upside. They are Kenny Minchey Kenny Minchey 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Pope Prep | 2023 State TN (#9) from JP2 and Brock Glenn Brock Glenn 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Lausanne | 2023 State TN (#21) from Lausanne. Both guys are already established as D1 level prospects with Glenn seeing his recruitment kick off recently with offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Memphis and Vanderbilt.
Coming from Texas to the Mid-state area, Ravenwood (QB) Chris Parson Chris Parson 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Ravenwood | 2023 State TN (#25) is a strong armed, athletic guy you will find on the D1 level in a few years. He already has multiple offers and will continue to pick them up as he performs in summer camps. Two guys of note who both have offers but really have yet to break out into the recruiting scene are Dickson Co. (QB) Colbey Lamberth Colbey Lamberth 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Dickson Co. | 2023 State TN (#40) and Henry Co. signal caller (#44) Ryan Damron Ryan Damron 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Henry Co. | 2023 State TN . Both guys are gunslingers with outstanding mechanics and leadership qualities. In due time, both Lamberth and Damron will see their stock rise with interest from many collegiate coaches.
Other Ranked QB’s: (#47) Braylen Ragland Braylen Ragland 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Bartlett | 2023 State TN – White Station, (#54) Jaylen Abston Jaylen Abston 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Lebanon | 2023 State TN – Lebanon, (#57) Jackson Cassidy Jackson Cassidy 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB McKenzie | 2023 State TN – McKenzie, (#61) Jordyn Potts Jordyn Potts 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Powell | 2023 State TN – Powell, (#64) Davin Garinger Davin Garinger 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Clarksville | 2023 TN – Clarksville, (#80) Peyton Sharpe Peyton Sharpe 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Oak Ridge | 2023 TN – Oak Ridge, (#86) Zach Lunsford Zach Lunsford 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Alcoa | 2023 State TN – Alcoa, (#97) Cassen Huffaker Cassen Huffaker 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Knox. Halls | 2023 TN – Karns
Running Backs
– It is a strong year at running back for the state and the 2023 crop of backs still have a ways to go before they are a finished product but there is some serious talent residing here. Leading the way for the backs in our initial Top 100 is Henry Co. rising junior (#23) Zamaryion Kendall Zamaryion Kendall 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB Lausanne | 2023 State TN . The big, physical and multi talented guy has been on the minds of college coaches going on two years now because of his size and versatility for the running back position. Karns (TN) back DeSean Bishop DeSean Bishop 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Karns | 2023 State TN (#33) is a name to know as just recently he added his 1st two college offers from Austin Peay and Tennessee. They won’t be his last offers as Bishop is an athletic ball carrier with good size and threat to score whenever he sees the open field.
Two big backs to learn about are Indy (RB) Tre Hartwell Tre Hartwell 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Independence | 2023 State TN and Briarcrest (RB) Ahmad Miller Ahmad Miller 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Whitehaven | 2023 State TN . Hartwell (#42) is already a marked man holding an offer from Tulane and he will continue to pick up offers as coaches figure out he is not just a big back but someone that plays well in the passing game too. Miller (#37) is a little known back that might have the biggest upside of all backs in the 2023 crop. Watch out for this going forward! Hailing out of the West Tennessee region, Lexington (RB) Isiah McClaine Isiah McClaine 5'8" | 200 lbs | RB Lexington | 2023 TN (#90) is an under the radar talent that I feel could become a wanted man as more coaches found out about the Tigers star back. He is small in height (5’8) but he is well built and can run. McClaine can lower the shoulder or run around you.
Other Ranked RB’s: (#72) Jai Hundley Jai Hundley 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB Oak Ridge | 2023 State TN – Knox. West, (#77) Stef Ponder Stef Ponder 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Father Ryan | 2023 State TN – Father Ryan, (#88) Trevon Barfield Trevon Barfield 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Station Camp | 2023 TN – Knox. West
Receivers
– The athleticism and overall skill level of the youthful athlete these days is something this state hasn’t seen in a long time, if not ever. All those traits bleed well into this group of receivers as we have some ultra talented guys you will see playing on the Power Five level very soon. The initial Top 100 has a total of 12 receivers listed which is quite strong for the state of Tennessee. It all starts with the #2 overall prospect in Ensworth wideout Shamar Porter Shamar Porter 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Ensworth | 2023 State TN . The Tigers star receiver has Power Five ability and NFL upside written all over him. Porter (#2 overall) could end up becoming one of the top overall receivers in the entire country for the ‘23 class when it’s all said and done.
Not to be out done by Porter, we have four other receivers with high level talents that sit inside the Top 20 overall prospects for the in-state ‘23 class. Those guys are Ayden Greene Ayden Greene 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2023 State TN – Powell (#11), Nate Spillman Nate Spillman 6'3" | 195 lbs | WR Lipscomb Academy | 2023 State TN – Lipscomb Acad. (#15), Adarius Redmond Adarius Redmond 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Powell | 2023 State TN – Powell (#15) and Chance Fitzgerald Chance Fitzgerald 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Nolensville | 2023 State TN (#20) from Nolensville. All four of these receivers are D1 prospects with a few already holding onto Power Five offers.
Franklin (WR) Dylan Wroblewski Dylan Wroblewski 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Lipscomb Academy | 2023 State TN (#51) is a guy many may not know about now but will by the time this summer is over. He missed his sophomore season due to injury but has already hit the camp scene hard and performed very well among other high cailber football competition. Expect offers to come his way sooner rather than later.
Other Ranked WR’s: (#41) Max Carroll Max Carroll 6'3" | 210 lbs | ATH Briarcrest Christian | 2023 State TN – Briarcrest, (#53) Colin Cook Colin Cook 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Pope John Paul | 2023 State TN – JP2, (#68) Marcellus Jackson Marcellus Jackson 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR Fulton | 2023 State TN – Fulton, (#84) Tahj Woods Tahj Woods 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH MBA | 2023 State TN – MBA, (#89) Adarion Patton Adarion Patton 6'3" | 180 lbs | DB Bearden Highschool | 2023 State TN – Karns, (#92) Hassan Al-Sultani Hassan Al-Sultani 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Carter | 2023 TN – Pigeon Forge
Tight Ends
– While the overall tight end position may not be deep for the 2023 class, well for now, one guy sits at the top and is one of the best recruits in the entire 2023 in-state class. Independence (TE) Ty Lockwood Ty Lockwood 6'5" | 225 lbs | TE Independence | 2023 State TN (#4) has become a household name already, even before the start of his junior season as he has more than 10 Power Five offers and is still collecting as the weeks go by. He is a big, physical target with soft hands and polished route running abilities that is also willing to block. Lockwood brings every skill you want in your tight end and the scary thing is, he is still developing.
Other Ranked TE’s: (#91) Trace Magro Trace Magro 6'3" | 215 lbs | TE Briarcrest | 2023 TN – Briarcrest, (#98) Mena Mannan Mena Mannan 6'4" | 225 lbs | TE Franklin | 2023 State TN – Franklin
Offensive Line
– This is the group I have been excited to talk about this entire article. The crop of offensive lineman that we have for the 2023 class could be the best collection lineman in state history and that’s saying something. The overall talent of the entire crop of lineman is very strong but especially at the top is where you find the best of the best. Two guys lead the way in the Top 10 with Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN (Baylor) 5th overall and Lance Williams Lance Williams 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN from Alcoa sitting at number ten. Sanders is the most versatile offensive lineman in the ‘23 class as he could play all five positions at a high level. Williams is a mauler that can move and play with powerful explosiveness. These are two plug and play, immediate possible starters when they step foot onto a college campus.
Rounding out the Top 10 are four offensive lineman that are not far behind Sanders or Williams and have their own stakes at being the best trench master in the state. Alcoa has a pair up front that should scare many D-linemen with Williams and his teammate Tyler Jeffries Tyler Jeffries 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Alcoa | 2023 State TN . The 6’5 burly monster (#12) in the middle plays with a mean streak and when he gets a head of steam behind him, it’s pancake city!
Behind Jeffries are three Power Five level talents that all bring size, smarts and physicality to the table. Henry Co. (OT/G) Luke Brown Luke Brown 6'6" | 305 lbs | OL Henry Co. | 2023 State TN checks in at 13th, followed by Maryville stud center Cal Grubbs (#17) and a massive tackle in FRA (TN) junior Joe Crocker Joe Crocker 6'6" | 310 lbs | OL FRA | 2023 State TN at 18th overall.
All three of these guys have already been on ACC and SEC college campuses this summer on visits, not just camps and that’s because all three are wanted young men by high level programs. Brown, Grubbs and Crocker all hold P5 offers and will keep adding them as the months roll by.
The next grouping of offensive linemen are either right there already holding a few big time offers or are on the verge of getting there. The lead guy here is Mt. Juliet (OT/G) Ayden Bussell Ayden Bussell 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL Mt. Juliet | 2023 State TN (#22) with the Golden Bears lineman holding current offers from Kentucky, Va Tech, Vanderbilt and a few others. Houston (OT/G) Luke Needham Luke Needham 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Houston | 2023 State TN (#29) and King’s Academy (OL) Joshua Wade Joshua Wade 6'3" | 300 lbs | OL Knox. Webb | 2023 State TN (#36) are two powerful young men that are already on the recruiting radar but have yet to really breakthrough. That will happen soon as both guys continue to perform during the college camp circuit.
Other Ranked O-linemen: (#43) Misan Sisk Misan Sisk 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL MASE | 2023 State TN – M.A.H.S., (#45) Tyler Bell Tyler Bell 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Lausanne | 2023 State TN – Lausanne, (#49) Eli Freeman Eli Freeman 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Lebanon | 2023 State TN – Lebanon, (#62) Nate Bledsoe Nate Bledsoe 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Briarcrest Christian | 2023 State TN – Briarcrest, (#67) Maxwell Hull Maxwell Hull 6'4" | 280 lbs | OL South Doyle | 2023 State TN – South Doyle, (#78) Dayton Jernigan Dayton Jernigan 6'5" | 275 lbs | OL Warren Co. | 2023 State TN – Warren Co., (#82) Devin Lively Devin Lively 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Friendship Chrst. | 2023 State TN – Knox. Catholic, (#95) Ethan Hatton Ethan Hatton 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL Lausanne | 2023 State TN – Lausanne