Carmello Peoples is a big guy who doesn’t take his assignment lightly on Friday nights, when Tyner’s 6-foot-6, 300-pound left tackle looks to lead his team in the trenches.
Currently one of the top offensive linemen in Tennessee prep football, Peoples has helped TSSAA Class 3A’s second-ranked Rams control the line of scrimmage to the tune of 267 rushing yards per game and a whopping 9.1 per carry in wins over Silverdale Baptist, Chattanooga Christian School and Red Bank heading into Friday’s contest at Ooltewah (1-2), a Class 5A program.
A three-star recruit who has committed to Western Kentucky, he is determined to make his final prep season count as Peoples looks to lead the “Ram Train” to the program’s fifth appearance in a state title game after coming within a win of last year’s BlueCross Bowl at Finley Stadium. On3.com has ranked Peoples as high as No. 74 overall among the state’s college football prospects.
“I always hold myself to high standards,” Peoples said. “I love making pancake blocks, and I try to make sure I am moving people at least 3 to 5 yards off the line of scrimmage. I leave everything I have out there and play until the final whistle. I am hard on myself and all of the guys. We take pride in what we do and want to be the best version of ourselves every time we take the field.”
Peoples has demonstrated that commitment from the start this season. His early highlights include pushing his defender nearly 15 yards downfield on an outside zone run in the opener, which helped senior Ja’Darius Hinton get to the sideline and tightrope it for the winning 64-yard touchdown in a 34-27 home victory against Silverdale Baptist.