There are no peripheral distractions for Carson Gentle when it comes to football.
With his college decision already made — he has been committed to the University of Tennessee for more than a year — and after being named both a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football semifinalist and an all-state performer for a second straight season last fall, McCallie’s 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior defensive lineman has nothing left to prove individually.
That has allowed him to focus squarely on making sure his teammates are preparing just as intently as he is on helping the Blue Tornado return to the top of TSSAA Division II-AAA.
“It’s definitely helpful to have things like my college future secured,” said Gentle, who is No. 5 on this year’s Times Free Press Dynamite Baker’s Dozen prospects list. “I wanted to win four state championships in my career, but since we came up short last year, obviously that won’t happen. But I am totally focused on making this team as good as we possibly can be.
“I am taking on more of a leadership role. Before this year, I was focused on just doing my job the best I could, but now it’s also about the guys around me and making sure everyone is doing their job to the highest level. That’s what we’ll need to accomplish our goal, and I believe we can win it all again, and it would be satisfying to go out with a third title for us seniors.”