Farragut may have 3 SEC commitments catching passes
Farragut football players, especially receivers, continue to be hot commodities.
Admirals coach Eddie Courtney said Friday during the Knoxville Football Officials Association High School Football Media Day at Three Ridges Golf Course that recruiting is really heating up for senior receiver Braden Collins.
Courtney said Vanderbilt, Virginia and Indiana recently joined the list of more than 20 schools that have offered Collins, who helped Farragut win the state Class 5A championship a year ago.
“He’s a grinder in the weight room and he can get out and run,” said Courtney. “He is really a worker.”
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Collins grabbed a school-record 68 passes for 1,242 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.
Jacob Warren, Farragut’s senior tight end, committed to Tennessee in May.
Admirals junior receiver Jaden Gibbs is still mulling his options after getting an offer from South Carolina, among others, last season.
Courtney admits he’s looking forward to having all three on the field at the same time this season.
“It opens up the play book a little more,” said Courtney, whose Admirals move up to 6A this season.
Big openers
Perhaps the two most high-profile area season openers on Aug. 18 find Catholic at Maryville and Hardin Valley visiting Oak Ridge.
Hawks coach Wes Jones hopes to build on last year’s historic 9-4 season where HVA advanced to the 6A quarterfinals for the first time.
“It was a fabulous season for us to get over the hump and win a couple of playoff games,” said Jones, who returns six starters on offense and four on defense.
Jones said there’s added intrigue to the season opener when you factor in the matchups of running backs, featuring HVA’s Aaron Dykes and Oak Ridge’s Jordan Graham.
“They’re two of the better, quicker tailbacks in the area. Aaron brings to the table that big-play ability. He’s an explosive player and a game changer.”
If he wasn’t coaching in the game, Jones said he would likely buy a ticket and go watch it.
“I’ve known Jordan Graham since he was 3 or 4 years old. I coached with his dad, Kwayu, at Austin-East. I’ve watched him grow up.”
Dykes, who rushed for 1,483 yards and scored 15 touchdowns last season, said the season opener on Blankenship Field “should be an electrifying night.”
Transfer talk
Two transfer students could have big impacts on their new teams as sophomore quarterback Dakota Fawver moves from Carter to Central, and junior wide receiver/safety Cartez Campbell jumps from Karns to Hardin Valley.
“Right now, we’re hoping he (Fawver) takes over for three-year starter Trey Mitchell,” said Central coach Bryson Rosser.
Jones said Campbell will likely start on both sides of the ball for the Hawks.
Bradley’s boys
After spending a year as coach at University School of Jackson, Rusty Bradley is back in Knoxville.
The former longtime Christian Academy of Knoxville coach takes over at Grace Christian Academy.
Bradley said he’s excited to be back in east Tennessee for a number of reasons, including a closer proximity to several of his former players who are now playing for UT.
Current Vols Josh Smith, Brett Kendrick and Austin Pope played for Bradley at CAK.
Lineman Trey Smith played for Bradley at USJ last season and was ranked the top prospect in the country.
“I could possibly have four of 11 on the field at the same time on offense (for UT) that played for me,” said Bradley.
“That’s exciting. I’d like to get a picture of that.”
Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor.