Killings provides spark to Blaze passing game
MURFREESBORO – Ronnie Killings looked over at the football official Friday night.
He’d just reeled in a 7-yard TD pass on a fade route in the right corner of the end zone from Blackman quarterback Jauan Jennings.
“I thought the ref was going to call me out,” Killings said. “I was like, ‘Please, I kept my feet in.’ I watched it on film later. It was a really pretty throw.”
Killings caught four passes for 127 yards with three touchdowns in the second-ranked Blaze’s 42-10 rout of Smyrna on Friday night. He has been named The Daily News Journal’s player of the week.
Killings now has 19 catches for 597 yards with four touchdowns. He averages 31.4 yards a catch. His yardage total in eight regular-season games already surpasses his totals in 14 games when he caught 24 passes for 420 yards.
“We put in a lot of work in the offseason,” said Killings regarding his relationship with quarterback Jauan Jennings, a Tennessee commitment. “We had to come out and have better numbers this season. That’s what we’ve tried to accomplish.”
Killings’ yardage comes in a diversified offense. Three others — Quentin Hardy, Lorel Morton and Charlie Davidson — also have caught 10 or more passes this season for the Blaze. The Blackman offense, which averages 463.6 yards this season, also relies heavily on the ground game.
“It all boils down to my reads,” Jennings said. “This offense makes it easier because I don’t rely on one side of the field (to throw). I can go to both sides.
“It makes it difficult for the defense, because my receivers do a good job getting open.”
Killings also had an 81-yard TD catch and run in the first quarter for the Blaze when he got behind the Bulldogs’ secondary and went untouched into the end zone. His final TD catch was a 20-yard reception, where he beat the defense to the left corner of the end zone.
Blackman coach Philip Shadowens said Killings’ season was sparked by a good summer.
“He had an unbelievable offseason,” Shadowens said. “He’s a kid that you want to succeed because he’s worked so hard.
“He’s a dynamic athlete with a lot of speed. He’s done a good job for us in making some big plays.”
Perhaps the only thing that hasn’t come with his talented season is the college offers. So far Killings, 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, has one college offer from Central Arkansas, an FCS school and member of the Southland Conference.
“I’m trying to wait patiently,” Killings said. “I’m not losing the faith. I feel like they will come in. If all else fails, that’s where I’m going. So, I’m good.”
Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.
DNJ PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
The Daily News Journal will name a football player of the week all season. Players are honored based on observations made by DNJ reporters. Nominations may be sent to DNJ prep editor Tom Kreager by noon on Monday at tkreager@dnj.com.
Week 0: D.J. Williams, Smyrna
Week 1: Justin Winn, MTCS
Week 2: RoShea Grays, La Vergne
Week 3: Jauan Jennings, Blackman
Week 4: JaCorey Smith, Oakland
Week 5: Cortland Owens, Riverdale
Week 6: Cameron Lawson, Eagleville
Week 7: Josh Cunningham, Oakland
Week 8: Ronnie Killings, Blackman
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Riverdale at Oakland*
Siegel at Blackman
Cannon Co. at York Institute**
Eagleville at Moore Co.
Cookeville at La Vergne
Freedom Acad. at Lancaster Chr.
MTCS at Forrest
Smyrna at Stewarts Creek
*WGNS (1450-AM, 100.5-FM)
**WBRY (1540-AM, 96.7-FM)