JesseWJohnson

Jeff Nutkis was dismissed from MBA in May

 

 

Man, that stinks, but MBA will be okay.

Some of the better players or possible "Stars" in DII this year are:

 

MUS- Defending champs

 

QB. Barry Brunetti [major prospect]

RB. Keith McBride [already has one major college offer]

WR. Hank Hill

RB/WR. Stephon Allmond

LB. Harrison Martin

DB. Mitchell Thompson

 

Brentwood Academy

 

RB. Victor Caro (Jr.)

RB. Josh Tate

WR. Josh Pleasant (Jr.)

OL. Wesley Sherrill

DL. Ishmael Lewis

QB. Matthew Hemby (Jr.)

 

MBA

 

LB. Brad Bars

LB/FB. Fitz Lassing

QB. Luke Colbert

WR. William Tanner

WR. Holden Mobley

DB. Jeff Nutkis

OL. Jordan Stauffer

K. Andrew Fletcher

 

Ensworth

 

RB. Orleans Opoku-Darkwa

OL. Antonio Richardson (Jr.)

DE/TE. Sam Cooper

DB. Corey Sacks

DB. Rodney Anderson (Jr.)

LB. Myers Beaird

 

Father Ryan

 

QB. Trey McPhail

WR/DB. Tyler Kincaid

P. Nick Pollard

 

BGA

 

RB/DB. Kenny Bass

RB. Michael Moore

LB. Wes Johnson

 

Christian Brothers

 

LB. Jonathan Brown

DB. Chris Bunkley

RB. Ryan Eason (Jr.)

K. Corey Acosta

 

ECS

 

TE. Harrison Jones

DE. Steve Stafford

OL. Austin Marshall

OL. John Jordan

 

Briarcrest

 

RB. DJ McNeal

WR/DB. Tray Becton (Jr.)

OL. Hunter Long (Jr.)

OL. Drew Kitchens (Jr.)

 

St. Benedict

 

WR. Trey Wilkins (Jr.)

 

McCallie

 

QB. Keenan Rush

DL. Paden Gaines

RB. John Burkus

 

Baylor

 

RB. Sam Williams

 

Webb

 

RB. Caleb Blance (Soph.)

 

 

There's probably some others I'm leaving out.

Just to add a little fact about this, Brewer and Jenkins have worked out/played against each other during the offseason over the past couple of years. And Corey has singed his praises to people as well. Jenkins thinks the world of Brewer.

Congrats to the Mustangs! You beat some quality opponents and deserve the credit.

 

Reading the write-ups it sounds like Evan Webb was a standout on the offensive side of the ball! We knew he was great on defense, but offense too? We know about the recruiting attention that Rogers is getting (and he deserves it), but are Webb and Saggio getting heavily recruited too? They are both great, playmaking linebackers that have good height and good speed, so schools should be interested.

 

 

Webb is a D1-A prospect in my mind, and didn't really need the 7-on-7 to tell me that [he did have a good one though]. Maybe not the SEC, but Big East, CUSA, Sun Belt, I think definitely so. Be it linebacker or fullback.

Unfortunately East St.Louis and Hazelwood East had to pull out this week. Seems as though the change in dates [this tournament usually went on in June but changed so that in-state schools wouldn't be locked out due to TSSAA's dead period] clashed with HE's summer school while ESL got invited to the huge NIKE event out in Oregon..which also happens this weekend.

 

So this year, it's going to be a major Tennessee based tournament. The only two out of state teams that will be playing now are Springdale Har-Ber from Arkansas and Plainfield North from Illinois. Both have quality D1-A and D1-AA prospects as well, so the Tennessee teams are not being cheated too much [though obviously it would've been great for in-state teams to go up against the guys from HE and ESL].

 

I do believe that Vanderbilt would like Mt.Pleasant to come actually as they would Pearl-Cohn. I know those are two schools they wanted to get into the pool as recently as Monday but now that they have 24 teams [23 schools overall], they might not expand it to 28. Still time perhaps but probably not.

 

Anyways, here's the set lineup of the 23 schools who will definitely be there.

 

- Hillsboro [defending champ]

- Franklin [last year's runner-up]

- David Lipscomb

- MBA [will field 2 teams]

- Brentwood Academy

- Ravenwood

- Independence

- Maplewood

- Stratford

- Pope John Paul II

- Page

- Gallatin

- Greenbrier

- LaVergne

- Middle Tennessee Christian

- CPA

- Clarksville

- Cookeville

- DeKalb County

- Memphis Whitehaven

- Memphis University School

- Springdale Har-Ber (Arkansas)

- Plainfield North (Illinois)

 

Teams should be arriving by noon at Vanderbilt's John Rich Practice Facility on Friday. They should begin pool play at either 1 or 1:30 pm. They will use both Vanderbilt's main two practice fields as well as the field area of VU's track stadium and the field area in the soccer/lacrosse complex. They will also use the student rec field behind the track stadium. All teams should play a few games on each surface. Pool play be all Friday and the early part of Saturday.

 

The actual tournament should start at about 3 pm or so on Saturday.

 

Good luck to all teams in the field, I've really come to enjoy covering this tournament the past couple of summers and am looking forward to this event even more with such a heavy Tennessee field and some of the state's top players being involved.

I'll be at the event covering it once again this year [third year in a row].

 

The directors of the event had a few teams from out of state pull out and they would really like to get some of the local teams that have participated once or twice before to return to the event as well this year like Whites Creek. Maplewood would also be a welcomed addition as would be Pearl Cohn, I believe Vanderbilt's trying to get all three of those schools to come if possible.

 

Anyways, teams that were believed to be involved at last check:

 

Hillsboro- defending champ as state above.

MBA

Brentwood Academy

David Lipscomb

Whitehaven from Memphis

Independence

Ravenwood

Franklin

Memphis University School

Page

Pope John Paul 2

CPA

Cookeville

 

As said, there's a few others that are either coming as well or that Vanderbilt is trying to get to come as well.

 

Out of state programs

 

East St.Louis, Illinois [though they may not come do the national NIKE 7-on-7 in Oregon]

Hazelwood East, St.Louis, Missouri

Springdale Har-Ber, Arkansas

Roswell, Ga.

 

There were a few other out of state programs that are expected but I don't have a full list on them.

 

The director of the event is trying to make this a qualifying event for the huge Southeast Select 7-on-7 in Hoover, Alabama every year...but as of yet there's no word if the winner of this year's event would qualify.

 

 

Hope this information is helpful,

 

Jesse Johnson

VandySports.com (Unapproved Website network)

I just saw Mark Young at a Vanderbilt camp. If he isn't Maryville's starting QB this year, then they are truly loaded at QB haha. He showed a real good arm, good ball placement and touch, a strong follow through, his feet/form were solid, he even got a hi-five from a Vanderbilt coach after a particular ball he threw, it was that solid a throw. If he's Maryville's QB this year, I think they'll do fine and if there are guys better than him, well then Maryville's going to probably continue to dominate.

 

Justin Smith also did very well at the camp, Maryville fans.

That was a pretty pathetic ending to a otherwise exciting high school basketball game. Adding 3.1 seconds when they didn't even lose half of that time....is absurd and anyone who says that wasn't poor is just blind to their fan loyalties.

 

Also, that was not a 3-pointer so regardless of missed FT's, bad passes or even pathetic clock adjustment decision, that still should've only tied the game, not won it.

 

Congrats to Dyer County and CPA for playing a fun game but those officials and the TSSAA themselves should be extremely embarassed by how they had a hand in deciding the game. And the TSSAA better give anyone that wants a refund to anyone that wants one after that pathetic finish to a game.

 

And btw, some on here need to understand what a player control foul is. When you play out of control for most of the game, those fouls will occasionally be called on you. There were a lot other control fouls that could've been called that weren't either. Either way though, hard to watch that full game and say one got an advantage over another...especially with the underlining reality that those officials extended the game longer than it should've been and awarded an extra point.

What's the ticket prices for today's sessions? As per usual, it's impossible to find them on TSSAA's site.

"Anything can happen in a game(UT/Memphis & UT/Vandy)"

 

Yes, those were such huge upsets...a 1 vs. 2 and a 1 going into a Top 20 rival's Gym where they hadn't lost all year. Yep, anything can happen /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" />

What was all of that about "big boys".

Locally I like Eric Gordon of Hillsboro, Zach Rogers of Lipscomb, and also Bo Gilroy at Ravenwood.

Josh,

 

Scott Smith had a prior tour of duty at Antioch under Terry Anderson, and then Buddy Brown, before he took the Greenbrier job. He was there my freshman year and came back my senior year. He was a candidate for the Antioch job when Anderson left for Overton. That's what Jesse is refering to.

 

Other than that, I agree with everything that you said Josh. I thought Coach Brown did a very good job, considering the circumstances at AHS. And that's not to say that I agreed with everything the guy did, but he had his heart in the right place. Brown did not have the luxury of having support of athletics from the top (the principal at the time was wayyy more interested in her horses than she was high school athletics). He had to take that program over two weeks before a season started and implement his philosophy in no time flat (brilliant Metro for you there). He had to coach a team that was displaced and had to practice 5 miles away at the old facility for a year or two and made it work. He finally gets the program to a playoff run, and his best player tears a knee up in Tullahoma (one of the most heartbreaking moments of my athletic life, because I love J-Dub like a brother). He really had a lot of bad luck, but still left the program in a lot better shape than it was when he got there. You have to give a man credit for that.

 

But it is interesting to hear your opinions Jesse, becasue there is a definite line of guys that liked/disliked coach based on when you were there. I knew some of those older guys because of my cousin and they definitely had a different opinion of BB, probably due to them being coached by Anderson for those years and having the rug pulled out by wanting Scott or Alvin Jones.

 

Then you have the guys that I thought were the most underrated class that ever came through AHS, and that was the last group at the Old AHS, that were seniors when I was a sophomore. That Gilmore (who stepped up his senior year big-time), Crocker (whose nephew, ironically, will probably have a nice game tonight for LaVergne against the Bears), C. Smith (who posts here sometimes...Quack4...could have ruined our chemistry, especially in 95, when all of us, parents, players (even us Freshman), even some other coaches) thought he should have been playing QB, but he had too much class to rock the boat), Anderson (Mr. Loose, who kept Gilmore and Smith getting along, which wasn't happening at all my freshman year (1995-1996), and laughing all season long), Newsom (Mr. Hustle), Charles Key (a good athlete) class was small in numbers, but those guys got us back to respectibility (we lost a couple of absolute heartbreakers that year, LaVergne and Maplewood were two horrible endings). I still say that if we could have redshirted (HAHA!!)Gilmore or C. Smith, we would have been lethal my Junior year, 1998, even though Lankford did a good job for us.

 

That C/O 1998 group, as a whole, might have been the best class to come through AHS. When you look at Jackson (just a physical specimen), Woelk (Who was just Mr. Intensity), Edwards (The best 185lb Center in Metro), Roberts, Tackett (Really gave our team what Newsom did before), Robinson (Got in shape and got much better), McGregor (The most consistent receiver at AHS in years), McMillian (played with a swagger), Tigg (smart player when he matured), Fischer (The smartest guy I ever played with), and the rest of that group, you had some great lunchpail guys and they were great to team with my Junior class of talented misfits, LOL! I learned more from Leon and William every day in practice than you could imagine.

 

Then the 99 group, when Coleman was with us, might have been the fastest team speed class ever with Lunsford, CJ Smith (who was the most underrated player we had at AHS, he was a key player on the 96, 97, and 98 teams),Lankford, Stallworth, Waller (before the knee), but we had too many other things going on, off the field, to be successful.

 

What happened after that is when I graduated, but I could certainly see that DeQuan, Bowen, Blackwell, and that bunch got it going again.

 

Anyways, as you guys can see, I love reminiscing about those days in Lower Antioch. I grew up watching and looking up to those kids and coaches before me. I can remember the 97 group starting the Thursday night Ryan's/Hooters tradition...those were good times and me being a youngster tagging along with the those older cats. I think you are being a little too hard on Coach Brown Jesse. Nobody is going to agree with everything coaches do, but he put in the time and effort, and I know that I was better for playing for him. When you look at the fact that guys that have played for him have done some great things in their lives, I think you can attribute some of that to his style of coaching.

 

With that said, tonight, I wish I could say Antioch, but it just ain't gonna happen. But I really like LaVergne's team this year and look for Crocker, Gray, Patton, Gardener, and Tillery to put up some numbers.

 

LaVergne 31

Antioch 14

 

 

 

Yes McNine, you are correct, I was referring to when Coach Anderson left for Overton, I am a class of 96 graduate. There was a great deal of people who felt Smith or Coach Jones should've gotten the job..and there were people who talked about Aydelot as well. I interviewed Coach Brown three times while I was the sports editor for the paper at AHS. It's nothing personal about him and no, he never snubbed me coachsmith81. Just my opinion that he was a weak choice at the time and I was never impressed with him. Maybe my expectations weren't realistic to some but that's my opinion and will always feel that Antioch couldve done better. But that was also the case of AHS at the time..the administration [as you also pointed out about Anthony] seemed to make a number of weak choices while I was there so it wasn't against the norm.

 

Again, nothing personal against Brown the man, I just feel he was a weak coach for AHS..especially on gameday.

Personally, I think Buddy Brown was a weak coach and frankly, he shouldn't have got the job...they should have gave it to assistant coach Scott Smith before they gave it to him..but whatever. Heck, they could've likely had Aydelot in all honesty.

 

Anyways, as for this discussion, Antioch doesn't really have a problem so much right now with anything other than key possessions are young right now. The main key position being quarterback. Terrence Davis has a lot of room to grow and then getting suspended didn't help. I did feel that Pruitt did a good job last week at Hunters Lane considering the circumstances. They also don't have a real sufficient running game right now or the best offensive line.

 

But, they do have a good defense and can make plays. As a AHS alum [96], I expect Antioch to give a fight because of their defense but being realistic, this will be a hard game to win cause Lavergne's got enough on both sides and I think Lavergne is a very seriously underrated team this year.

Don't underestimate Antioch's offense because of the new starters. A number of them played last year and they had a pretty good summer in Woodard's passing attack. The big question with the offense will be the running game. Antioch's defense should be pretty solid as they have McAdoo, two skilled LB's and two quality defensive backs as well.

 

With Wadley possibly not playing this game, I wonder how effective Crum and others will be in shouldering the load in the running game. I'm not sure if MBA's defense is that strong to hold even a team with new starters off the scoreboard that much.

 

Still, with it being at MBA, they should have an advantage, but the 80% picking for MBA in the Big One Picks...I don't agree with, I'd say MBA should only be about a 2 point favorite in this game

Barrett Jones of ECS will the lineman award, pretty sure of that. Back of the Year...well, could go to Massey, could go to Jordan but I wouldn't be surprised if Adam Currie from ECS won that one too.

Whatever happened to Qb's and Wr's throwing all summer long by themselves? 7 on 7 is nothing more than an organized excuse just to get players and coaches together. If the team is working out and running with a conditioning program, the QB's, RB's, and WR's can all work on timing themselves rather than come together for a 7 on 7 skelly game of touch. Besides, I have witnessed a few players suffer season ending injuries by these deals. Total waste of time IMO!

 

 

7-on-7 tournaments are very good for further practice and developing your skill position players. If you don't think that, then check out half the other states in the SE and see how many of their skill position players are going to the SEC as opposed to those in this state. Seems like if something can in the slightest way help a certain aspect of the team as well as possibly help a individual player further develop and maybe have something open up for them in terms of a college education and maybe even more...seems like that's a good thing and not entirely a waste of time.

 

This thing about the players not getting a chance to be themselves or what not, that's total bunk. Heck, half of them would just be playing AAU basketball and summer baseball if they weren't doing those camps/tournaments. I guess that'll be the next thing for the TSSAA to stick their nose into.

i understand what your saying and agree with you totally, except on the speed, to me it doesnt matter what your running on, a 4 5 or 4 6 is still what it is. honestly i would take the money and run, of course you could go back to school later, if neccasary. theres a kid from Ooltewa high school last year that had a full ride to Vandy and did what you said, took the money i think his name was Tyler Burke a very good baseball player, they said every scout in the country was begging for him, the same for Sonny Gray i m sure.i understand what your saying and agree with you totally, except on the speed, to me it doesnt matter what your running on, a 4 5 or 4 6 is still what it is. honestly i would take the money and run, of course you could go back to school later, if neccasary. theres a kid from Ooltewa high school last year that had a full ride to Vandy and did what you said, took the money i think his name was Tyler Burke a very good baseball player, they said every scout in the country was begging for him, the same for Sonny Gray i m sure.

 

 

His name was Kyler Burke and he hasn't done too well in the lowest end of A ball since signing. He may have some pocket money but at this rate it may be another 3-4 years before he gets a real shot at getting the bigs. He would've been smarter to go to college because I saw him at the state tournament his senior year and didn't think he was really pro ball [even minors] ready yet. I think the Padres scout just wanted to get in their organization and use his potential later...bring him on slow..which is admirable. Problem is, they traded him to the Cubs organization this year so the Padres weren't that patient [getting Mike Barrett was good for them, but trading a high level pick just a year or so afterwards...kinda says something].

 

 

Anyways, as Sonny the football player goes, he's the best quarterback in the state but not the best QB college prospect in the state because of his size. It's the harsh reality...but, the door is also open for him to play football at Vanderbilt if he so choosed too as well. And yes, they would let him try to play both sports if he so choosed to..to those who don't believe they would.

Randall was pretty impressive at Vanderbilt's last senior camp..as a receiver. I think he'd fit in very well in Kentucky's system as a receiver....though I think he could work at QB as well..just depends on the system really.

ESPN really hasn't updated Rod's profile since mid-May. They haven't graded him yet either..though he's still on the 150 watch list.

One of the little known is Tim Clay of Hunters Lane. He is definitely the motor of the defense. And he's comin off a 150+ season as his first year being a starter.

 

 

Clay is a solid player and I know that some know of him pretty well. Good call.

My vote for strongest O goes to Hillsboro and Maryville.

 

Vote for strongest D goes to Franklin and Wooddale out of Memphis.

Mine would be...

 

LaMarcus Coker and Preston Brown at Antioch. As a poster said before, every time you saw the Bears play, you could almost feel the crowd ready to see either one of them break a near 80 yard TD.

 

Gaston Miller at Riverdale. Being right down the street from Riverdale, I was able to see a number of his games and he was one of the most shifty runners this area has seen.

 

Terrence Holt at Maplewood. He was a lot like Miller. Fun to watch.

 

Golden Tate at PJP2. He was fun to watch due to the different ways he would be used in the offense.

 

Others would be Tyler Maples from Maryville, Michael Swett from MBA [i still remember that MBA/BA game...pretty exciting], and Jamie Graham at Whites Creek [he was like Tate in the sense of wondering which way he'd be used and he had a pretty exciting senior year last year].

I'd go with...

 

1. Franklin

2. Ravenwood

3. Independence

4. Brentwood

5. Dickson County

6. Centennial

7. Columbia

8. Clarksville NE

1. Riverdale- Even with Smyrna winning the state last year, Riverdale is still Riverdale and still won the region last year and their OL/DL is the best in the region, so I have to go with them even if their skill position guys are not quite what Smyrna has.

 

2. Smyrna- Only reason why they are No.2 is cause of what I just said about Riverdale. Gray and company will be solid again, though I do wonder how the running game is going to be.

 

3. Lavergne- I rank them here because of who they have coming back at key positions, though it is iffy cause they don't have much proven at QB so they could finish below this.

 

4. Oakland- I think some of those hardluck losses from last year will swing their way.

 

5. Lebanon- They could be ranked higher cause they've got the talent but at the moment I like Lavergne and Oakland's possibilities a bit more.

 

6. Siegel- I think they'll certainly be better but still think they come up short when compared to the others.

 

7. Blackman- I think they'll be better but still a way aways.

 

8. Wilson Central- Don't see this season being that much better for them.