EDITOR’S NOTE: Since 2002, the Times Free Press has highlighted the top 12 college football prospects among Chattanooga-area seniors with its preseason Dynamite Dozen. The countdown of this year’s list continues with No. 3.
For all the commotion he causes on the field — anxious opponents scrambling to cover him, eager coaches and teammates looking for ways to get the ball in his hands — Keeyshawn Tabuteau is typically the most low-key player on the field.
The 6-foot, 180-pound McCallie receiver’s pregame ritual — calling home to Canada to speak with his mom and grandma, followed by several minutes alone in prayer — is designed to calm Tabuteau’s mind before he becomes a four-quarter headache for defenders.
“The word that best describes me on the field would be ‘Showtime’ because I make big plays happen,” Tabuteau said. “That’s what I love most about playing the game: scoring touchdowns.”
He used his elite speed last season to average 16 yards per reception. In his two seasons with the Blue Tornado, he has compiled 15 touchdowns and close to 1,500 yards of offense. The only thing tougher than defending against him may be pronouncing his last name. (For the record, it’s “Tab-ah-toe.”)