Memphis Area Players being Recruited - 2018

buckeyeball · July 31, 2017

Good luck to the kids in all of those schools. Clearly the players put the work in on the field. Hate that they'll suffer due to reckless adults.

kwc · August 7, 2017

Sunday Sports Brunch: Germantown star picks Hoosiers

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 10:00 a.m. CT Aug. 6, 2017

Germantown star picks Hoosiers

A little more than a week after de-committing from Ole Miss in the wake of the Hugh Freeze resignation, Jaylin Williams has found a new home.

Williams, the talented defensive back from Germantown, announced on Twitter last week that he has verbally committed to Indiana, one of the dozen or so schools that had offered.

"Sometimes in life, things happen beyond our control," proclaimed a video accompanying Williams' Tweet. "So I made the decision that was best for me."

Williams — who made an unofficial visit to Bloomington on July 30 — is the Hoosiers' 13th commitment in the Class of 2018.

Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com.

Edited August 7, 2017 by kwc

kwc · November 3, 2017

Kirby High School QB, Jaden Johnson commits to play football at Louiville

Jaden Johnson on Louisville

kwc · November 9, 2017

Kirby's Jaden Johnson commits to Louisville

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 10:00 a.m. CT Nov. 6, 2017

(Photo: Brad Vest/The Commercial Appeal)

From Chris Redman and Brian Brohm to Teddy Bridgewater and Lamar Jackson, the University of Louisville has historically done a terrific job of producing quarterbacks.

Jaden Johnson will have a chance to join that list.

Johnson — a class of 2019 standout — verbally committed to the Cardinals last week. The decision came after a visit to the school for the Clemson game on Sept. 16. Verbal commitments are non-binding but the player said he was thrilled to say yes to coach Bobby Petrino.

"What made me commit was the atmosphere (and) the coaching staff," he said. "The fans ... really just the whole atmosphere. They really treat you like family. The tailgating was fun; they really make good bar-b-que."

Culinary delights aside, Johnson should fit in well with the Cardinals' high-octane offense, which led the nation with 549 yards per game through the first nine contests.

At 6-3 and 210 pounds, Johnson has the arm to make all the throws but can also get out of the pocket and make plays when needed. As a junior, he averaged just under 200 yards per game of total offense and accounted for 19 touchdowns.

Cougars' coach Chester Flowers is quick to point out though that it's not just Johnson's skill that impressed the Cardinals. It was also his football brain.

"This is a young man that came in as a freshman and embraced a very complex offensive system," he said. "He never shied away from the difficult things I was wanting him to do early on.

"He can make throws to every area of the field, but it's his mental ability, the ability to break down defenses, executing read-progressions ... they're seeing him do things they don't normally see a high school quarterback do.

"He can get on the board right now and probably break down any defense you put up there."

Johnson said the long hours were worth it.

"It was real tough," he said. "There were a lot of long hard days in the summertime when I couldn't make the throws. Now the game has just really slowed down for me and I can process things a lot faster."

Johnson said he plans to work on his leadership this summer before returning for his senior season with the Cougars next fall. And his coach says the best is still to come.

"He's not even close to being the finished product," Flowers said. "There's so much room for him to grow and I think that's what Louisville sees in him. The ceiling is so high."

Video

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.

Edited November 9, 2017 by kwc

kwc · January 23, 2018

Cordarrian Richardson leaving UCF for Texas A&M

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 9:13 p.m. CT Jan. 18, 2018 | Updated 10:59 p.m. CT Jan. 18, 2018

(Photo: Nikki Boertman, The Commercial Appeal)

Former Trezevant football star Cordarrian Richardson confirmed to USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee Thursday that he is leaving Central Florida and intends to transfer to Texas A&M.

Richardson played in eight games as a true freshman for UCF, rushing for 161 yards on 47 carries and scoring twice as the Knights finished 13-0 and won the AAC championship before defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl.

While at Trezevant, he led the Bears to back-to-back Class 2A state championships in 2015 and 2016. Richardson ran for 342 yards in the BlueCross Bowl game victory over Marion County in 2015 and was named Mr. Football as a senior after rushing for 1,761 yards and scoring 12 times.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.

kwc · January 23, 2018

Memphis high school football signing day list

The Commercial AppealPublished 11:10 a.m. CT Dec. 20, 2017

(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Here's the list of Memphis-area football players who signed with FBS schools on Wednesday.

1) Jeremy Banks, RB, Cordova, Tennessee

2) Micah Breckenridge, K, White Station, Richmond

3) Jerome Carvin, OL, Cordova, Tennessee

4) Jordan Davis, DL, Southwind, Alabama

5) Jacolby Hewitt, WR, Cordova, Indiana

6) Cam Jones, OLB, St. Benedict, Indiana

7) Devon Robinson, DL, Whitehaven, Mississippi State

8) Kundarrius Taylor, WR, Ridgeway, Oklahoma

9) Jaylin Williams, WR/DB, Germantown, Indiana

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.

kwc · February 9, 2018

On 1/23/2018 at 0:02 PM, kwc said:

Memphis high school football signing day list

The Commercial AppealPublished 11:10 a.m. CT Dec. 20, 2017

(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Here's the list of Memphis-area football players who signed with FBS schools on Wednesday.

1) Jeremy Banks, RB, Cordova, Tennessee

2) Micah Breckenridge, K, White Station, Richmond

3) Jerome Carvin, OL, Cordova, Tennessee

4) Jordan Davis, DL, Southwind, Alabama

5) Jacolby Hewitt, WR, Cordova, Indiana

6) Cam Jones, OLB, St. Benedict, Indiana

7) Devon Robinson, DL, Whitehaven, Mississippi State

8) Kundarrius Taylor, WR, Ridgeway, Oklahoma

9) Jaylin Williams, WR/DB, Germantown, Indiana

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.

Memphis-area high school football signing day list (February 7, 2018)

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 4:06 p.m. CT Feb. 7, 2018 | Updated 7:26 p.m. CT Feb. 7, 2018

Here's a list of Memphis-area high school football players who signed national letters of intent to play college football Wednesday, as reported to The Commercial Appeal.

For updates, please e-mail John.Varlas@commercialappeal.com or Tweet @johnvarlas.

Briarcrest

10) Tyler Badie, Missouri

11) Luke Coleman, Navy

Brighton

12) Aaron Alston, Southeast Missouri State

13) Spencer Cartwright, Southeast Missouri State

14) Cameron John, Southeast Missouri State

15) Jordan John, Southeast Missouri State

CBHS

16) Dominick Garrett, Eastern Kentucky

17) Patrick Healy, Harding University

18) Ryan Winkel, Arkansas

Central

19) Rashaad Clayton, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

20) Jaylen Pearson, Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC

21) Christian Robinson, Missouri S&T

Cordova

22) Christian Arrambide, Bethel

Douglass

23) Niko Cooper, Hutchinson (Kan.) CC

East

24) William Bradley, Mississippi Valley State

FACS

25) Jack Grissom, Mississippi College

26) Joe Thaxton, Mount St. Joseph's

27) Johnny Westbrook, Livingston College

Germantown

28) Tyler Boyd, Henderson State

29) Lemarkus Dotson, Independence (Kan.) CC

30) Micah Mack, Delta State

31) Max Martini, Independence (Kan.) CC

32) Reggie Sanders, Tabor College

Harding

33) Will Lawrence, Memphis

Hernando

34) Jon Burt, Northwest Mississippi JC

35) Tucker Garrison, Delta State

36) Caimon Nettles, Delta State

Hillcrest

37) Javonte Garrett, Northern Colorado

38) Jaylyn Rogers, Northern Colorado

39) Kristoff Smith, Lakleland

40) Paul Todd, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Kirby

41) Tommy Fonda, Lane College

Lausanne

42) Josh Crawford, Prairie View

43) Jalen Edwards, Culver-Stockton College

44) Corteze Love, Memphis

45) Nyle Love, Memphis

46) Parker Pulliam, Tennessee-Martin

47) Dedric Turner, Millikin

MAHS

48) Caleb Johnson, Mississippi Valley State

49) Justin Payne, Langston

50) Deion Sims, Millikin

51) Donterrius Steward, Mount Union

Mitchell

52) Parron Hooker, Nassau CC

53) Terrance Neal, Independence CC

Middle College

54) Kenneth Richmond, Missouri S&T

55) Rashad Robinson, Missouri S&T

Munford

56) Will Hankins, South Alabama

Olive Branch

57) Jaylon Gale, Itawamba (Miss.) JC

58) Fabian Lovett, Mississippi State

59) Jaylon Reed, Mississippi State

Southwind

60) Jaylon Alexander, Itawamba (Miss.) JC

61) Tokaloh Moore, Highland CC

62) Donterrio Smith, Tabor College

63) Cortarius Wilson, Coffeyville (Kan.) JC

St. Benedict

64) Jaylen Becton, Ellsworth (Iowa) CC

65) Eric McGlown, Avila

St. George's

66) Brian Payne, Carson-Newman

White Station

67) Cincir Evans, Coastal Carolina

68) Xavier Robertson, Henderson State

Whitehaven

69) Ricardo Clark, Thomas More

70) Eddie Gatewood, Arkansas Baptist

71) Kevin Gee, Lane

72) William Jackson, Missouri Baptist

73) James Jones, Lane

74) Keyshaun Lewis, Carson-Newman

75) Jarius Macklin, Millikin

76) Joseph Pegues, Southwestern CC

77) Jaylon Sanders, Hutchison CC

78) Marquis Traylor, Tennessee-Martin

79) Rayshad Williams, UCLA

80) Chris Witherspoon, Bethel

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas

With the final signing date being April 1, 2018. I wonder how many more young men will sign schollys before then? 80 isn't a bad number at all. It's good to see so many get a chance to play on Saturdays ... regardless of the level. Most importantly ... chances to get college degrees.

Edited February 9, 2018 by kwc

kwc · April 3, 2018

Add White Station's Greg 'Butta' Williams to the list, He signed to play at the University of Memphis. See image below from his twitter page.

Edited April 3, 2018 by kwc

kwc · April 3, 2018

Add CBHS's Nick Cantu to the list as well.

CBHS lineman Nic Cantu heading to Ole Miss

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 11:00 p.m. CT April 2, 2018 | Updated 8:56 a.m. CT April 3, 2018

Nic Cantu first saw the passion of Ole Miss football as a young boy. Now that he's a young man, he'll get to be part of it.

Cantu — the standout class of 2018 offensive lineman at CBHS — announced via Twitter Sunday that he'll be playing his college football for the Rebels, the same school where his father Herkey played in the early 1990s.

In a heartfelt post that accompanied his announcement, Cantu said it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

Nic Cantu@Nic_Cantu

100% committed

2:21 PM - Apr 1, 2018

724

134 people are talking about this

"I fell in love with football when I was 9 years old," he posted. "It was the first time I saw Ole Miss beat LSU. I remember how happy my father was ... (and) I remember thinking, 'why is he so happy?'

"Then it struck me; it was his passion for football. His passion for the game really hit me and made me always want to be passionate for football."

The 6-5, 307-pounder was instrumental in CBHS' success last season as the Brothers won their first 11 games before losing 14-7 to Montgomery Bell Academy in the Division II-AAA semifinals. He joins fellow senior Ryan Winkel — who signed with Arkansas in February — as Brothers' linemen who will play in the SEC next year.

According to 24/7 Sports, Cantu had offers from Southeast Missouri State and Western Illinois along with interest from Illinois State, Memphis and Southern Miss.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas

kwc · April 3, 2018

On 1/23/2018 at 0:02 PM, kwc said:

Memphis high school football signing day list

The Commercial AppealPublished 11:10 a.m. CT Dec. 20, 2017

(Photo: Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

Here's the list of Memphis-area football players who signed with FBS schools on Wednesday.

1) Jeremy Banks, RB, Cordova, Tennessee

2) Micah Breckenridge, K, White Station, Richmond

3) Jerome Carvin, OL, Cordova, Tennessee

4) Jordan Davis, DL, Southwind, Alabama

5) Jacolby Hewitt, WR, Cordova, Indiana

6) Cam Jones, OLB, St. Benedict, Indiana

7) Devon Robinson, DL, Whitehaven, Mississippi State

8) Kundarrius Taylor, WR, Ridgeway, Oklahoma

9) Jaylin Williams, WR/DB, Germantown, Indiana

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.

Memphis-area high school football signing day list (February 7, 2018)

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 4:06 p.m. CT Feb. 7, 2018 | Updated 7:26 p.m. CT Feb. 7, 2018

Here's a list of Memphis-area high school football players who signed national letters of intent to play college football Wednesday, as reported to The Commercial Appeal.

For updates, please e-mail John.Varlas@commercialappeal.com or Tweet @johnvarlas.