Two more players from one of the area’s top high school defensive units have decided where they will continue their football careers.
Ooltewah defensive lineman Nick Putman and linebacker Tyler Reid both committed to Austin Peay, joining Owls linebacker Jeremiah Jackson (Tennessee Tech) and defensive back Rashun Freeman (UTC) who recently made their commitments public.
“We’re so excited for all of those guys,” Ooltewah defensive coordinator Doug Greene said. “It says a lot about the talent and the type kids we had for them to have these opportunities.
“Nick was a guy that everybody had to double-team, and he still made plays in the backfield because he was so strong. Tyler is one of my favorite players I’ve coached because he was so consistent and was the guy we counted on to make the big early hit to set the tone. And Jeremiah was our big-play maker. He has the ability to put a team on his shoulders and carry them. He’s that good.”
Putman (6-foot-2, 270) had 79 tackles, eight for loss, 12 sacks and two fumbles caused to help an Ooltewah defense that gave up seven points or less in seven of 13 games and allowed an average of 12 points per game.