Vanderbilt football coach Clark Lea visits MBA, JPII in a helicopter to see 2023 prospects

Vanderbilt football head coach Clark Lea made an appearance at the Pope John Paul II vs. Father Ryan high school football game on Friday night — in a helicopter. 

Lea, who is set to coach his first Vanderbilt football game Saturday against East Tennessee State, landed on the soccer field before making his way to the JPII field. 

Pope John Paul II quarterback Kenny Minchey has an offer from Vanderbilt, in addition to Tennessee, Michigan State, Virginia and West Virginia. 

KENNY MINCHEY:JPII QB Kenny Minchey helps keep Bishop's Cup with Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea on sideline

In last week's matchup against Hillsboro, Minchey engineered three touchdown drives in the first quarter and the Knights' added another score on a blocked punt in end zone to go up 28-7.

Photos:Father Ryan vs. Pope John Paul II football in pictures

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Minchey won the starting quarterback position at midseason last year and completed 85 of 134 passes for 1,164 yards with 10 touchdowns and only one interception.

Lea also paid a visit to Montgomery Bell Academy to see another 2023 quarterback prospect, Marcel Reed. 

Reed, a four-star dual-threat quarterback and son of former Tennessee State football coach Rod Reed, has offers from Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Georgia. 

The Nashville native is a three-year starter at MBA who became the first starting freshman quarterback in history. 

MBA offensive tackle Grayson Morgan also has Vanderbilt as finalist. He also has offers from Mississippi State, Kentucky and Maryland. 

According to 247Sports' Robbie Weinstein, a Tennessee Vols coach and Vanderbilt running backs coach Norval McKenzie were at MBA on Friday night, too. 

Daniella Medina is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter @danimedinanews.