#TN2022: Inside The #PRZTN Rankings
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The offseason is upon us and it’s almost time to turnover the calendar to a new recruiting class but before we do so, we need to back at the prospects from the ℅ 2022 and how they stack up in…
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Continue ReadingThe offseason is upon us and it’s almost time to turnover the calendar to a new recruiting class but before we do so, we need to back at the prospects from the ℅ 2022 and how they stack up in our final Prep RedZone #TN2022 rankings.
This 2021 season produced a lot of new talent that jumped onto the radar but prospects that were already established, took their games to another level and became legit college recruits.
One of the top names from this 2022 class put together a monster senior season which placed him at the very top as the #1 overall prospect in the state. That prospect is Summit linebacker Keaten Wade Keaten Wade 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB Summit | 2022 State TN .
The soon to be Kentucky Wildcat was an unstoppable force this season that made plays all over the field, including on offense at running back where he helped lead his Spartans squad to the 6A state title game.
Wade has legit NFL abilities but he isn’t the only one at the top of the rankings with a possible pro future.
Following behind Wade in the #PRZTN Top 10 includes: (DT) Walter Nolen Walter Nolen 6'4" | 300 lbs | DL Powell | 2022 State TN (Powell), (RB) Dallan Hayden Dallan Hayden 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Christian Brothers | 2022 State TN (CBHS), (WR) Barion Brown Barion Brown 6'1" | 165 lbs | WR Pearl-Cohn | 2022 State TN (Pearl Cohn), (QB) Ty Simpson Ty Simpson 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Westview | 2022 State TN (Westview), (DB) Kody Jones Kody Jones 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Germantown | 2022 State TN (Germantown), (DB) Jaylen Lewis Jaylen Lewis 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Haywood | 2022 State TN (Haywood), (WR) Isaiah Horton Isaiah Horton 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Oakland | 2022 State TN (Oakland), (OT) Fisher Anderson Fisher Anderson 6'7" | 275 lbs | OL Franklin | 2022 State TN and running back Jordan Bryant-James Jordan Bryant-James 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Oakland | 2022 State TN from Oakland High School.
Our previous number one prospect was Nolan but he is now #2 and headed to Texas A&M in the Fall to play his college ball. Joining Wade at Kentucky will be Brown, who is an electric wide out with game breaking abilities. Michigan added a steal with Jones who has yet to even reach his maximum capabilities.
Oakland is the lone high school with two prospects within the Top 10 with Horton, who is headed to Miami and Bryant-James, who will be playing his college ball at Georgia. The Pac-12 will have the pleasure of seeing Anderson compete in their conference with Stanford as this Middle Tennessee prospect could be a future NFL left tackle.
Final #TN2022 Prospect Rankings
Biggest Moves Up Within Rankings
As senior film continued to roll out when the 2021 season concluded, prospects were evaluated thoroughly and placed accordingly based on their collective high school production and potential on the next level. Nobody had a bigger breakout season and move up the #PRZTN rankings than Lipscomb Academy (QB) Luther Richesson Luther Richesson 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN .
The Mustangs senior quarterback and future Cincinnati Bearcat was absolutely dominating this season, displaying accurate passing, high football IQ and the ability to win and do so often. He led his Mustangs team to a D2-Class AA state title and pushed himself into the Top 20, placing at 14th overall.
Another Middle Tennessee prospect who became a household name this year and placed himself 16th overall in the final #PRZTN 2022 Rankings was MBA offensive tackle Grayson Morgan Grayson Morgan 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL MBA | 2022 State TN . The Big Red lineman was one of the best pass blockers in the state this year and showed major potential for the college level. Morgan signed with Vanderbilt in December and looks to be the future left tackle for the Commodores and someone that could reach the NFL level one day.
𝐻𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓃
Welcome @MontgomeryBell product @GraysonMorgan2 🙌 #FirstCla22 | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/YxfHimFaFd
— Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) December 15, 2021
The top uncommitted prospect right now who made a big move up the rankings is Beech (TN) receiver/tight end
Andrew Paige
Andrew
Paige
6'4" | 210 lbs | TE
Beech | 2022
State
TN
. Headed into the 2021 season, many did not know about Paige but they do now as this is a talented young man with size, athleticism and big potential. Those abilities and production this year pushed Paige up to 25th overall and a guy college coaches need to come hard at over the next month.
A few others of note who made big moves up the final #TN2022 Rankings include ….
– (QB) Kyle Lowe Kyle Lowe 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB Fayette Ware | 2022 State TN – Fayette-Ware: Ranked 26th Overall (MTSU Signee)
– (TE) Jackson Long Jackson Long 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Beech | 2022 State TN – Beech: Ranked 28th Overall (South Florida Signee)
– (DE) Keyron Crawford Keyron Crawford 6'6" | 235 lbs | DL Briarcrest Christian | 2022 State TN – Briarcrest Chrst.: Ranked 29th Overall (Arkansas St. Signee)
– (LB) Javante Mackey Javante Mackey 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Whitehaven | 2022 State TN – Whitehaven: Ranked 32nd Overall (Arkansas St. Signee)
– (DB) LaMarion Pierce LaMarion Pierce 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Marshall Co. | 2022 State TN – Marshall Co.: Ranked 33rd Overall
– (QB) Jake McNamara Jake McNamara 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Page | 2022 State TN – Page: Ranked 36th Overall
– (LB) Ben Bolton Ben Bolton 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Lausanne | 2022 State TN – Lausanne: Ranked 48th Overall
– (WR) Destun Thomas Destun Thomas 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Cleveland | 2022 State TN – Cleveland: Ranked 51st Overall (Memphis Signee)
– (WR) Xavier Gaillardetz Xavier Gaillardetz 6'1" | 205 lbs | WR McCallie | 2022 State TN – McCallie: Ranked 63rd Overall
Under the Radar Prospects Within #TN2022 Rankings
Everybody knows who the top prospects in this state are but many may not know about some guys who sit under the radar but definitely have college abilities. McCallie (DE/OLB) Matthew Plunkett Matthew Plunkett 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL McCallie | 2022 State TN took a big rise up the rankings as he places at 66th overall but has the upside to be considered much higher. At one time, Plunkett held a Jacksonville St. offer and began making noise on the recruiting front but at this time, the Blue Tornado edge rusher remains uncommitted.
Ranked 79th overall, Hendersonville defensive back Ellis Ellis, Jr Ellis Ellis, Jr 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Hendersonville | 2022 State TN is an athletic and physical prospect that picked up steam with recruiting throughout his senior year but for some reason, he remains available. This Commandos defender sold himself to me when I watched him compete at the East/West All-Star game in Clarksville this month where his versatility and football knowledge stood out. College coaches need to take a deeper look at this guy.
Elizabethton wide receiver Jake Roberts Jake Roberts 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Elizabethton | 2022 State TN has done nothing but produce and win throughout his career with the Fighting Cyclones but yet he is still an uncommitted prospect looking for a home. Ranked 81st by #PRZTN, Roberts is a big play guy with good size, strong hands and the ability to hit the home run. It’s a definite surprise to see this guy still on the open market!
College coaches are missing the beat on Summit (TN) safety Brady Pierce Brady Pierce 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Summit | 2022 State TN as this guy is a local star who has done nothing but come up with big play after big play throughout his Spartans career. This guy is a straight up football player that simply knows what to do when on the field. Ranked 86th overall, Pierce is certainly under the radar but worthy of a bigger look.
Another safety prospect that I feel that has high upside but sits underrated is Alcoa defender Isaiah Bryant Isaiah Bryant 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Alcoa | 2022 State TN . This Tornadoes defensive back has the size (6’2 185) and athleticism to cause problems for an offense and he could play a variety of roles within the secondary. Bryant ranks 96th overall but certainly has the talent to be considered much higher. This is a D1 talent that college coaches are missing out on right now.
Strong Talent Just Outside Top 100
Not everybody can be ranked high or within the Top 100 but that doesn’t mean excellent talent can not be found lower in the rankings. Several quality prospects sit just outside the Top 100, so here are a few prospects worth noting ….
– (S) Jeremiah Jordan Jeremiah Jordan 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Cordova | 2022 State TN – Cordova: Ranked 101st Overall
– (Ath) Hunter Barnes Hunter Barnes 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH MUS | 2022 State TN – MUS: Ranked 106th Overall
– (DT) Colbe Haddox Colbe Haddox 6'4" | 285 lbs | DL Boyd Buchanan | 2022 State TN – Boyd Buchanan: Ranked 111th Overall (Murray St. Signee)
– (DE) Isaiah McGaha Isaiah McGaha 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL Knox. Central | 2022 State TN – Knox. Central: Ranked 113th Overall
– (LB) RaaPhell Mayes RaaPhell Mayes 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Knox. Catholic | 2022 State TN – Knox. Catholic: Ranked 120th Overall
– (DB) Isaiah Lang Isaiah Lang 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB David Crockett | 2022 State TN – David Crockett: Ranked 131st Overall
– (DT/OL) Seth Vaughn Seth Vaughn 6'1" | 290 lbs | DL Fulton | 2022 State TN – Fulton: Ranked 137th Overall (TN Tech Signee)
– (DE) Will Hamlin Will Hamlin 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Daniel Boone | 2022 State TN – Daniel Boone: Ranked 141st Overall
– (DB) Chancellor Lorick Chancellor Lorick 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB Lipscomb Academy | 2022 State TN – Lipscomb Acad.: Ranked 148th Overall
– (LB) Levi Evans Levi Evans 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Dobyns-Bennett | 2022 State TN – Dobyns-Bennett: Ranked 155th Overall
– (OL) Nick Nicodemus Nick Nicodemus 6'6" | 295 lbs | OL Cleveland | 2022 State TN – Cleveland: Ranked 165th Overall (TN Tech Signee)