#PRZTN Showcase: Top Offensive Performers
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Our first showcase of the 2022 offseason kicked off last Sunday where a strong collection of talent was on hand, including some high profile offensive prospects who took advantage of the combine. These ten listed below had breakout camps and…
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Continue ReadingOur first showcase of the 2022 offseason kicked off last Sunday where a strong collection of talent was on hand, including some high profile offensive prospects who took advantage of the combine.
These ten listed below had breakout camps and earned their place here on the Top performers list.
1. (QB) Charles Robinson Charles Robinson 6'1" | 165 lbs | QB Webb | 2023 TN , Jr – Knox. Webb
C/o the cannon & ball location from Knox. Webb (QB) @ChxrlesR
The Spartans junior quarterback was highly impressive today! Robinson is a legit college prospect! @PrepRedzoneTN @Lemmingscouting @KnoxWebbSpartan @PrepRedzone #CSS pic.twitter.com/VJ4heimzJf
— Chris Smith (@CSmithScout) December 13, 2021
– This was a breakout performance for Robinson, Jr and a great start to his long offseason ahead. The Spartans junior quarterback was impressive the moment he arrived, displaying politeness, a great attitude and the willingness to work. When he got on the field, Robinson, Jr was a star. He has a powerful right arm that can drive it down the field while also throwing a pretty spiral that was placed on time. The East Tennessee product also ran a 4.56 forty, which was the top time of all quarterbacks in attendance. Robinson, Jr has legit D1 skills and as a talent that could rise up the in-state and national quarterback rankings over the coming months.
2. (OT/G) Eli Freeman Eli Freeman 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Lebanon | 2023 State TN – Lebanon
– Coming off a long playoff run with his Blue Devils team, Freeman looked fresh and in great shape for this combine and performed at a very high level. He was easily the most dominating and technique sound offensive linemen in attendance, eventually winning the O-line MVP. Freeman has shed some weight and leaned up while also working on his upper body strength. This transformation of his body was evident on Sunday where he showed nice lower body movements, including outstanding feet. The Blue Devils junior lineman showed that he could stay out at tackle on the next level, which should appeal much more to the collegiate coaches already looking in his direction.
3. (WR) Reed Linder Reed Linder 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR Briarcrest Christian | 2023 State TN – Briarcrest Christian
– Linder came to Nashville to compete at the Showcase, coming off a breakthrough junior season where he was one of the top statistical receivers in the state and he backed up those abilities on Sunday. The Saints junior wideout is in outstanding shape, well built and ready to compete on the next level based on his physicality alone. He can also move very well too. Linder displayed excellent quickness, working out of the slot as well as showing quick, sudden breaks in his routes. Linder also showed a strong vertical, so this is an athletic guy that could do a variety of things on offense. This Memphis area wideout is still under the radar a bit but is building a strong stock for himself, so expect to hear the Linder name much more going forward.
4. (RB) Isiah McClaine Isiah McClaine 5'8" | 200 lbs | RB Lexington | 2023 TN – Lexington
– We had a solid group of backs show up on Sunday but nobody impressed me more than McClaine. Others might have shown a little more speed or athleticism but nobody was as well balanced as this Tigers running back. McClaine is well built with a powerful lower base and has good feet that pushes him into the open field quickly. He took to direction very well then performed at a high level in just about every drill he went through. McClaine then proceeded to look strong during 1 on 1’s where he showed the ability to catch passes as well as run it. He produced strong numbers as a junior and will be poised for a possible Mr Football season, so McClaine should be a guy on coaches radar sooner than later.
5. (OT/G) Luke Work Luke Work 6'5" | 285 lbs | OL Lausanne | 2024 State TN – Lausanne
– The future is bright for this West Tennessee product who had dominating moments at the #PRZTN Winter Showcase on Sunday. Work already holds an offer from Austin Peay but expect this guy to pick many, many more over the coming months because he has the size, arm length and frame that college coaches look for. The Lynx sophomore lineman has technique sound skills that are beyond his age, so imagine how good this guy could be in two years. Work is a massive dude that body up a defender and own him. He also has the feet and lower body mobility to keep up with edge speed. His size and skill set puts him in play at offensive tackle but could easily move inside if needed. Watch out for this Memphis area product over the coming years as he is talented enough to become a top lineman in this state.
6. (QB) JD Sherrod JD Sherrod 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Briarcrest Chrst. | 2023 State TN – Briarcrest Christian
– Traveling up to the Mid-State area from West Tennessee, Sherrod came up ready to impress and he definitely did that. This 6’1 quarterback has all the tools to maneuver himself into the Division 1 ranks but of course must keep working and developing but the upside is there. Sherrod is an athletic guy that can tuck it and run but he sports sound mechanics and the arm strength to push it down the field as well. He is well put together as well, so he looks like the kind of quarterback you will find on the college gridiron. The Saints junior signal caller shined in his 1st season at Briarcrest but after seeing him on Sunday, I can see him becoming a top recruited guy and a D2-Class AAA Mr. Football contender.
7. (WR) Boyce Smith Boyce Smith 5'10" | 185 lbs | WR Page | 2023 State TN – Page
– Smith walked into the #PRZTN Showcase under the weather and not feeling too good but that didn’t stop him from coming out to compete where he ended up putting together a strong performance. Smith is coming off a big junior season where he led his Patriots team in receiving. He backed up his stats on Sunday by displaying superb route running skills and the quickness to get in and out of his breaks. Smith was one of the more efficient receivers we had at camp and he did everything asked of him. He is a worker and someone that produces, so he is certainly worth a look from the collegiate level.
8. (RB) Konor Heaton Konor Heaton 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Coffee Co. | 2023 TN – Coffee Co.
– We as scouts need to start looking deeper into Heaton because he showed up at the combine and more than impressed but put himself on the map as a possible college all-purpose back recruit. This guy was the quickest and fastest back in short spaces among all then went on to show tremendous skills catching the ball out of the backfield. Heaton is a bit undersized at 5’8 but he plays much bigger and shows no fear when he steps onto the field. He is also quite heady, meaning his football smarts is at a high level right now and that appeals to college coaches. I will be interested to watch this guys progression over the coming months.
9. (WR) Matthew Manning Matthew Manning 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Brentwood | 2024 TN – Brentwood
– One of the biggest surprises out of our #PRZTN Showcase was Manning and the junior Middle Tennessee product not only looks the part now but it equals his speed and strong pass catching skills. Manning has put on some weight and muscle to his 6’1 frame and it helps him a lot. On Sunday at the combine, he used that new size to shield his defenders then breakaway for the catch. Manning also showed off a strong vertical and the athleticism that college coaches like on the outside. More polish is needed to his game but Manning is a talented young man who could be on the verge of a breakout season this coming Fall.
10. (QB) Jack Risner Jack Risner 6'5" | 220 lbs | QB Blackman | 2023 State TN – Blackman
– A cannon right arm and a big pocket presence is what you see when Risner steps on the field and he showed those talents off on Sunday and then some! The Blaze quarterback put up big numbers as a junior and you can see why as he can push the ball down field quickly while also having deceptive abilities to escape the pocket. Risner shows nice timing and location on his passes but does need to work on slowing his pass down on occasions, especially the short routes. Risner has D1 arm talent and the physical size to compete on that level. This offseason will be big for him as he continues to develop and work up the recruiting charts, working for those offers.
Five Others Considered: (QB) Sam Driggers Sam Driggers 6'0" | 200 lbs | QB Peabody | 2023 State TN – Peabody, (C/G) Nehemiah Storey Nehemiah Storey 6'1" | 285 lbs | OL Rockwood | 2023 State TN – Rockwood, (RB) Keion Irby Keion Irby 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Mt Juliet | 2023 TN – Mt. Juliet, (OT/G) George Steih George Steih 6'5" | 265 lbs | OL Franklin-Grace | 2023 State TN – Franklin-Grace, (WR) Beau Burns Beau Burns 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR Smyrna | 2023 TN – Smyrna