The Chattanooga area will be well represented Sunday when the Parade Magazine All-American High School football team is announced.
Ooltewah defensive lineman Jacques Smith and Calhoun wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers are part of the 58-player team, the first time in the 47-year history of the team the Chattanooga area will have two members. They are the first area Parade selections since Baylor lineman Jacque McClendon made the team in 2006.
Smith, who has enrolled early at the University of Tennessee, also was named to the USA Today and the U.S. Army All-American teams. He is considered by recruiting services as the top prep prospect in Tennessee.
Rogers, a 6-foot-3 University of Georgia commitment, set a Georgia prep record this year with 1,647 receiving yards. The five-star prospect is considered the state’s top prospect and recently competed in the Under-Armor All-American game.
Still, news of the Parade honor was a surprise to him.
“I’m happy to hear it,” Rogers said. “I’m very honored, and this honor makes me want to work even harder to take my game to another level.”