This year there are 13 area players with scholarship offers from Atlantic Coast Conference or Southeastern Conference programs, making this the most explosive Dynamite Dozen ever. So good, in fact, that we had to add one more to this year's roster, thus the Dynamite Baker's Dozen for 2023.
1. Amari Jefferson
Baylor
WR
6-1, 195
Recruiting buzz: The consensus top-five in-state prospect is the area's first player to commit to Alabama in more than a decade.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Boo Carter at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
2. Boo Carter
Bradley Central
ATH
5-11, 200
Recruiting buzz: Ranked as the state's No. 1 overall prospect by Rivals.com and No. 2 by On3.com, he is committed to Tennessee.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Max Leblanc at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
3. Max LeBlanc
Baylor
TE
6-4, 220
Recruiting buzz: The consensus top-six in-state prospect is committed to Ohio State.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Marcus Goree at Bradley Central High School on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
4. Marcus Goree
Bradley Central
DB
6-0, 180
Recruiting buzz: The consensus top-10 in-state prospect is committed to Tennessee.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Carson Gentle at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
5. Carson Gentle
McCallie
DL
6-4, 250
Recruiting buzz: He was the second player to commit to Tennessee's 2024 class, doing so in July 2022.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Martavious Collins at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
6. Martavious Collins
South Pittsburg
TE
6-4, 245
Recruiting buzz: Rated the state's No. 6 overall prospect by 247Sports, he is committed to Auburn.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Marcellus Barnes at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
7. Marcellus Barnes
McCallie
WR/DB
6-1, 178
Recruiting buzz: Rated the state's No. 10 overall prospect by On3.com, he is committed to Virginia Tech.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Jeremy St. Hilaire at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
8. Jay St-Hilaire
McCallie
QB
6-4, 220
Recruiting buzz: Rated the state's No. 1 prospect at his position by 247Sports, he is committed to Vanderbilt.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Kobe Smith at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
9. Kobe Smith
Red Bank
DL
6-3, 195
Recruiting buzz: Rated among the state's top 25 overall prospects by Rivals, he is committed to Duke.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Whit Muschamp at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
10. Whit Muschamp
Baylor
QB
6-1, 190
Recruiting buzz: Consistently rated as one of the state's top two prospects at his position, he is committed to Vanderbilt.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Tito Williams at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
11. Tito Williams
Bradley Central
DB
6-2, 183
Recruiting buzz: The consensus top-30 overall in-state prospect has offers from Duke, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and West Virginia among others.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ AJ Wallace at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
12. AJ Wallace
South Pittsburg
WR
6-2, 180
Recruiting buzz: Rated a three-star prospect by On3.com, he has offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Mississippi State and Ole Miss among others.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Darrius Talley at the Times Free Press studio on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
13. Darrius Talley
Chattanooga Christian
6-5, 320
OL/DL
Recruiting buzz: His recruitment recently began to take off, including an offer from Virginia Tech.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.