In today's list, Lindsey Young and Patrick MacCoon break down a group of eight unsigned (as of Wednesday's national signing day) Chattanooga-area high school senior football players who should be playing on Saturdays next fall.
1. Enrique Jaimes Leclair, McCallie
No one could cover him in the TSSAA Division II-AAA BlueCross Bowl state championship game, when Leclair hauled in eight passes for 173 yards and a touchdown in the Blue Tornado's 34-28 win over Baylor. In 21 career games with McCallie, he had 2,073 all-purpose yards, 13 touchdowns and nine catches that went at least 50 yards.
2. Toby Maddux, Trion
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound two-way star accounted for nearly 2,500 total yards rushing and receiving, scored 40 touchdowns and anchored the Bulldogs' linebacking corps. He was first team all-state as a junior on defense and as a senior on offense. Oh, he's also a two-time (likely soon a three-time) Georgia wrestling state champion.
3. Bubba Tanner, Dalton
He may be a bit undersized at 5 foot, 10, 170 pounds, but the two-way starter has elite speed (4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and terrific ball skills, as he showed off in several big games, including a win over Calhoun. His senior stats: 42 catches, 837 yards, 15 TDs; 92 tackles, five interceptions, 21 passes broken up.
4. Terrance Lee, Brainerd
The Panthers' shutdown cornerback was all-state this past season and was named the Region 3-3A defensive back of the year for the second time in a row. He has great anticipation, outstanding length and closing speed to go with sure tackling ability. He had 10 interceptions and a safety over the last two seasons.
5. Dawson Pendergrass, LaFayette
The safety was one of the hardest hitters in Northwest Georgia this past season and led the area with eight interceptions. He's got good size (6-0, 190) and runs a sub-4.6 40.
6. Adriel Hernandez, Dalton
He was named a first-team all-state linebacker after racking up over 100 tackles, but he also made his mark offensively with 1,397 yards rushing, 305 receiving and 20 TDs, earning Region 7-AAAAA co-offensive player of the year. Very physical player.
7. Javonte Pullom, East Ridge
This weight room warrior was a three-year starting linebacker for the Pioneers, accumulating 215 tackles over the past two seasons. Pullom made tackles from sideline to sideline and twice had games in which he recorded 17 tackles.
8. Evan Schwarzl, Walker Valley
Schwarzl's football IQ and strong arm paved the way for a season in which he accounted for 34 TDs. He had just three turnovers on the way to leading the Mustangs to a Class 5A semifinals run and also made a playoff-saving interception.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.