OL Chris Akporoghene
6-5, 294, Seymour, Tenn. (IMG Academy)
Akporoghene, a four-star prospect according to Rivals.com and a three-star according to 247Sports.com and ESPN, came to the United States from Nigeria in 2016 in hopes of playing basketball. Football became his sport of choice, and he was a Division II-A all-state selection in 2017 before paving the way for a rushing attack at IMG in Bradenton, Florida, that averaged more than 200 yards per game this past season.
ATH Aaron Beasley
6-1, 220, Franklin, Ga. (Heard County)
Beasley, a consensus three-star prospect, played both ways in high school and led his team to the Class AA state championship as a senior with 147 rushing yards and a pair of scores in the title game. He finished his senior season with 1,961 rushing yards while also playing safety, where he had three interceptions and more than 50 tackles on his way to Region 5-AA player of the year honors.
TE Sean Brown
6-5, 250, Rome, Ga. (Coosa)
The consensus three-star prospect played offense and defense, spending time at both tight end and defensive end. He was an All-Region 7-AA selection this past season after earning second-team Class AA all-state honors a year earlier. He missed some time with injury but had two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, six tackles and 22 rushing yards to help Coosa secure a playoff spot.
DB Warren Burrell
6-0, 170, Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett)
Burrell was a four-star prospect, according to Rivals, and he had 61 tackles, seven interceptions, 11 pass breakups and a pair of blocked kicks as a junior, a season that ended with his team 14-1 after winning the Class AAAAAAA state title. The three-year starter only played in five games as a senior, intercepting one pass and earning all-county honors.
DB Tyus Fields
5-10, 190, Cornelius, N.C. (Hough)
The four-star prospect, whose father Mark was a two-time Pro Bowler in 10 seasons as an NFL linebacker, chose the Volunteers over Florida State, Penn State and Wisconsin. He totaled 182 tackles, seven interceptions and 488 return yards during his high school career. Hough finished 11-3 and reached the state quarterfinals in Fields’ senior season after going 11-4 and reaching the state semifinals a year earlier.
LB Roman Harrison
6-2, 241, Bainbridge, Ga. (Bainbridge)
The 247Sports four-star prospect had 89 tackles (31 for loss), 17 quarterback hurries and 8.5 sacks as a senior, leading a defense that allowed an average of 18.6 points per game. He was at his best in the Class AAAAA state title matchup, posting eight tackles and blocking a field-goal attempt as time expired in regulation of Bainbridge’s 47-41, three-overtime win over Warner Robins.
WR Ramel Keyton
6-3, 185, Marietta, Ga. (Marietta)
Keyton, a consensus four-star prospect, was selected to play in the 2019 All-American Bowl after catching 44 passes for 694 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018. His high school coach, Richard Morgan, called Keyton “the most dominant receiver in the state” and one who has “proven that year after year.”
OL Jackson Lampley
6-4, 300, Nashville (Montgomery Bell Academy)
The consensus four-star prospect and son of former Tennessee player Brad Lampley helped MBA to the Division II-AAA state semifinals this year. During his final high school season, the two-time All-Midstate selection and 2017 all-state pick blocked for four different rushers who generated at least 250 yards.
TE Jackson Lowe
6-5, 242, Cartersville, Ga. (Cartersville)
A four-star talent in the 247Sports composite rankings, he had 34 catches for 469 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, helping Cartersville to a 14-1 record and a state runner-up finish. He was an All-Region 5-AAAA first-team selection in 2017.
QB Brian Maurer
6-3, 184, Ocala, Fla. (West Port)
Maurer, a four-star recruit in ESPN’s assessment, was an Elite 11 prospect who also participated in Nike’s prestigious “The Opening” event. His coach, Matt Franklin, described Maurer as a strong-armed, accurate passer who also has good mobility and is “incredibly competitive” after watching Maurer throw for 7,664 yards and 64 touchdowns in his prep career, including a 3,543-yard, 34-touchdown senior season.
OL Melvin McBride
6-2, 300, Memphis (Whitehaven)
After not playing football until his sophomore year, the consensus three-star prospect helped Whitehaven to the Class 6A state championship game as a senior. He spent a week training with former four-time Pro Bowl pick Willie Anderson for a week in Atlanta, then assisted in paving the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in 2018 after starting on an offense that racked up 3,847 yards and advanced to the state semifinals his junior season. His high school coach, Rodney Saulsberry called McBride “scary athletic for a man that size” and a “sponge to learn” who wants to get better.
DB Jaylen McCollough
6-0, 194, Powder Springs, Ga. (Hillgrove)
The consensus four-star prospect and 2019 Under Armour All-American Game selection led Hillgrove to a program-best 12-1 record, a second consecutive Region 3-7A title and an appearance in the state quarterfinals in 2018. His father played at Alabama’s Jacksonville State and was coached by current Tennessee special teams coordinator/safeties coach Charles Kelly, who was the Gamecocks’ defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at the time.
WR Jerrod Means
6-2, 212, Hampton, Ga. (Lovejoy)
The Rivals and ESPN three-star prospect decommitted from North Carolina recently and chose the Vols on Wednesday after a weekend visit. He missed some time his senior season but still had 460 yards and six scores on 19 catches, helping Lovejoy to the Class AAAAAA state playoffs and earning all-region first-team honors.
DL Darel Middleton
6-7, 290, Oak Ridge (East Mississippi Community College)
The three-star prospect was ranked as one of the top 45 junior-college prospects in the country. He had 29 tackles, seven for loss at EMCC, helping the program to an undefeated season and the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship. His team led the NJCAA in scoring defense.
OL Wanya Morris
6-6, 311, Loganville, Ga. (Grayson)
The 247Sports and ESPN five-star prospect was a top-20 prospect in the country by most recruiting rankings and was the cornerstone of a line that helped Grayson average nearly 200 rushing yards per game in his senior season. He had 73 pancake blocks and helped the team to a 10-3 record and the state quarterfinals.
DL Elijah Simmons
6-0, 350, Nashville (Pearl-Cohn)
The athletic three-star prospect and 2018 Region 5-3A defensive MVP recorded 141 tackles during his high school career, including 13 for loss. He had an interception in 2018 and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and helped the program to region championships all four seasons of his high school career. How athletic is he? He can dunk a basketball, albeit off an alley-oop pass.
DT Savion Williams
6-4, 315, Upper Marlboro, Md. (Lackawanna College)
A four-star prospect by both Rivals and ESPN and a consensus top-20 prospect in the country, he had 33 tackles and a sack his sophomore season. He was part of a team that finished 2018 with an 11-0 record, and a defense that allowed averages of just 12.1 points and 77.5 rushing yards per game.