Da Haven

[Red Rebels]

4 hours ago, kwc said:

There are 5 High Schools from TN in the top 100 with Maryville joining the list! Woo Woo!

 

 

[baylorbigdog1976]

for what it’s worth 
 

https://highschoolfootballamerica.com/the-high-school-football-america-100-national-championship-chase-is-on/

[kwc]

2 hours ago, baylorbigdog1976 said:

for what it’s worth 
 

https://highschoolfootballamerica.com/the-high-school-football-america-100-national-championship-chase-is-on/

Well lookie here! Ain't that a sight to see.

[kwc]

Arkansas is not going to be outdone by UT ... so they offer my man Aliou Bah.

 

 

[kwc]

Congrats to Taurus Gregory for being the scholar athlete of the week for local fox channel 13.

 

 

[kwc]

Chad Simmons with Rivals does an in-home visit with Bryson Eason

 

 

[kwc]

Tennessee Vols football recruiting: What to know about 3 Whitehaven LBs visiting UT this weekend

 

Khari Thompson, Memphis Commercial AppealPublished 12:44 p.m. CT Oct. 3, 2019 | Updated 1:34 p.m. CT Oct. 3, 2019

Whitehaven linebackers Bryson Eason, Martavius French and Tamarion McDonald are scheduled to be in Knoxville for an official visit this weekend as the Tennessee Vols host Georgia.

All three have offers from the Vols and are in the state's top 20 for college football prospects, according to the 247Sports Composite. 

McDonald received his offer from Tennessee last week after Whitehaven (5-1) shut out Cordova in front of Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt. French and Eason already had offers. 

As the Vols and other programs continue their pursuit of the three, here's a look at what each can bring to the table on the college level. 

Bryson Eason

Ht: 6-2. Wt: 250

Position: Middle linebacker

Ranking: No. 11 in Tennessee

Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Focusing on Tennessee and Arkansas.

Analysis: Eason brings a blend of size, speed, and football smarts to the middle linebacker position. At 250 pounds, he is the biggest and strongest of the trio. He also has displayed the speed to chase running backs down and the awareness to call audibles for the Whitehaven defense. 

Whitehaven's Bryson Eason is No. 6 in the Commercial Appeal's Dandy Dozen, a collection of the top college football prospects in the Mid-South for the Class of 2020. (Photo: Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal)

"The biggest thing is that he's a true Mike linebacker. He’s what they look for in a middle linebacker. Size speed, football IQ. He's explosive and he can run. He's a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker," Whitehaven coach Rodney Saulsberry said. 

Defensive coordinator Errol Harmon said Eason reminds him of Reggie Ingram, a Whitehaven alum who played linebacker at Tennessee from 1990-1993 and made 190 tackles for the Vols. 

"He (Ingram) was about 6-2, 250 pounds and couldn't wear any jeans. He would always have to wear some type of jogging pants. Byson’s makeup is exactly like his. He’s a large guy. He moves so fast and so well and he just has great instincts, as far as, leading a team and being a quarterback of a defense." 

Martavius French

Ht: 6-2. Wt: 240

Position: Outside linebacker/middle linebacker

Ranking: No. 10 in Tennessee

Recruiting status: Committed to Arkansas

Analysis:  French, last year's defensive player of the year for Region 8-6A, primarily plays in the back of Whitehaven's 5-2 front with Eason. Saulsberry said that he can see French fitting in as a middle or weakside linebacker in college. 

Whitehaven's Martavius French is the No. 12 college football prospect in Tennessee as ranked by the USA Today Network - Tennessee. (Photo: Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal)

"He has the flexibility to play either one. That’s what I like about him. But the biggest thing about him is that he is very cerebral. He studies the game," Saulsberry said. 

"Martavius is going to be the kind of guy that’s going to fit in your zone and read it so well. He drops deep enough to cause problems on those deep pass routes because of his range and natural instincts in pass coverage. He has a tremendous upside in the pass game as well as on blitzes," Harmon said. 

Tamarion McDonald

Ht: 6-2. Wt: 220

Position: Outside linebacker/Strong safety

Ranking: No. 20 in Tennessee

Recruiting status: Committed to Mississippi State

Analysis: McDonald is a versatile defender who can line up at a number of positions. He is primarily being recruited at outside linebacker, but has the quickness and footwork to play defensive back. 

Whitehaven Tigers Tamarion McDonald (3) during the game against the Southaven Chargers (Photo: Justin Ford / For CommercialAppeal.com)

"Just an all-around athlete. He can play anywhere and it allows us to do so many things on defense because he can play anywhere at any time. His versatility just lends itself well to being a productive football player," Saulsberry said. "He’s the size to play strong safety now but he may grow into being a Will linebacker. A Sam or Will linebacker. But he can stay where he is and be a prototypical strong safety."  

"He can cover your biggest receiver, he can cover your smallest receiver, he can come in and take a lineman on a trap, and he’s an excellent pass rusher,' said Harmon. 

The advantage of landing all three

Eason, French and McDonald have been playing together since middle school and already established a chemistry with one another. Plus, their skill sets are different enough that they can complement each other when played together. They haven't committed to the idea of playing together in college but they are considering it. 

"They all fit together. They can be a Mike, Will and a Sam linebacker, they can be a Mike, Will and a strong safety in a 4-2-5, whatever defense it is, they can fit those positions in whatever defensive scheme you play in," Saulsberry said. 

"These guys have a real bond and they actually are extensions of me on the football field. When you get a guy that calls his own defense, that’s special and when we get to games and they see a look based on our week of preparation they make the calls and adjustments against some of the best offensive coordinators in high school football based on their IQ. And the more they stay together, they’re only going to get better," Harmon said. 

Edited October 4, 2019 by kwc

[kwc]

I love participating in this every year.

 

 

[MidTennFootball]

Any Whitehaven folks know where Coach Saulsberry was before he came to Whitehaven?

[Red Rebels]

I know those guys will be busy, but I wish those fellas could swing by Maryville tonight. I'd like to see them. 

[kwc]

1 hour ago, MidTennFootball said:

Any Whitehaven folks know where Coach Saulsberry was before he came to Whitehaven?

He's an alumni. The OC (Coach Dillard) and the DC (coach Harmon) are alum. There are about 6-8 coaches on staff and about 12 volunteer coaches. All of the volunteers are alumni and most of the staff. The Head Principal, who use to be the football HC, is an alumni. 

All left WH, went to college somewhere and played collegiately and then came back to WH to become teachers and coach. The volunteers just aren't teachers. Like the DC, he's an attorney by day. Volunteer coach after he leaves his 9-5.

[kwc]

7 minutes ago, Red Rebels said:

I know those guys will be busy, but I wish those fellas could swing by Maryville tonight. I'd like to see them. 

Just depends upon who is hosting those guys. They may decide to check out a local high school football game. Who knows.