Blackman shows off weapons during Warrior 7-on-7 Challenge title

It's been a roller coaster of a spring and summer for Blackman senior football player Connor Mitchell.

With junior Trey Knox on his side, it's been all downhill over recent weeks.

Mitchell, the Blaze starting quarterback in 2016, figured to be moving to wide receiver after Davidson Academy signal caller Stone Norton transferred to Blackman early in the year.

Norton transferred back to his former school just a week later, putting Mitchell back behind center. After missing spring practice because he was playing on the state tournament Blaze baseball team, Mitchell had some catching up to do during 7-on-7 practices this summer.

He and Knox looked like a fine-tuned machine Thursday at the Warrior 7-on-7 Challenge.

"Trey makes it easy," said Mitchell, who passed for 1,219 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior. Knox hauled in 669 yards and 10 of the TDs during his sophomore campaign.

Blackman was a run-heavy team last season, with Ohio State commitment Master Teague running for more than 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. With Teague back, the offense is still likely to run through the senior.

However, an improved Mitchell and an experienced receiving corps led by Knox could make the Blaze offense even more explosive than the 32 points a game the team averaged in 2016.

"Connor loves to compete," said Blackman coach David Watson. "It doesn't matter if it's at wide receiver, quarterback or cornerback. When he goes out there he competes, and does a pretty good job at it."

Added Mitchell, "When Stone moved in, I thought I would be a receiver. That's actually my strength. But when he moved back, someone had to step up."

They put up 40 points a game and went 8-1 after week 4 when Teague returned from an injury.

"I think it's going to be great," Knox said. "We have to let teams know they can't just put eight in the box to stop Master. Our quarterback is strong and accurate. I think we'll be better this year."

The 6-4, 205-pound Knox has been offered by bevy of top college programs including Tennessee, Ohio State, Florida, Auburn, LSU, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss.

Tournaments such as the Warrior 7-on-7 Challenge are right up his alley.

"It was fun going up against different coverages," said Knox, who made several acrobatic catches during the tournament. "I just went out and made plays."

If the Warrior 7-on-7 Challenge is any indication, the Blaze offense should be fun to watch this season. That is, if the rest of the unit comes together like many expect.

"You do some things in 7-on-7 that you absolutely can't in the season," said Watson. "But you see guys with play-making ability...things you can't coach."

Blackman opens the season Aug. 18 at home against Hendersonville. Teams begin practicing in full pads on July 24.

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.