The recruiting process ends for dozens of Chattanooga-area high school football players today when they sign their national letters of intent to the college programs of their choice. But for an impressive list of area juniors, the months-long journey is just beginning.
The talent level in the area's rising senior class already has caught college coaches' attention, and beginning with team and position camps this spring and summer, through next fall's season, it could produce a better-than-average group of prospects.
Every recruiting list for next year begins with McCallie defensive lineman Jay Hardy (6-foot-5, 265 pounds), who currently is rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and has scholarship offers from more than 25 programs, including Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, LSU, South Carolina and Stanford.
"It's been a revolving door of coaches from more than a dozen schools coming by here, pretty much on a daily basis," McCallie coach Ralph Potter said. "The first thing they say is how impressive Jay's film is. You don't find many kids his size who can run and move like he can."
Hardy is part of a group of area linemen who have put themselves in demand. Among the other big-bodied junior prospects who already have offers or are being heavily recruited are Ringgold center Reid Williams (6-2, 285), Dalton offensive tackle Osbaldo Beltran (6-7, 300), Ooltewah tackle Christian Benoit (6-4, 275), Heritage tackle Kobe McAlister (6-5, 270), Chattooga defensive lineman Luis Medina (6-2, 250), and Chattanooga Christian offensive linemen Keano Roberts (6-4, 295) and Colt Sinor (6-3, 290).
Williams, who earned all-state recognition last season, was a starter and team captain in Georgia's Rising Seniors Bowl in Atlanta last December and has offers or serious recruiting interest from Duke, Syracuse, Purdue and Jacksonville State, among others.
"I've already spoken to some (college) coaches who have told us Reid might be the best pure center in the state," said Ringgold offensive coordinator Chase Fleming. "He's the most physical and best offensive lineman I've ever had. It's odd for a center to stand out the way he does, because it's usually the tackles or guards, but he's versatile and just a complete player."
Among the area's skill-position talent whose stock continues to soar heading into their final prep season are Dalton all-state running back Jahmyr Gibbs - who has offers from Texas A&M, North Carolina State, Wake Forest and Iowa State, among others - Tyner wide receiver Jeremiah Batiste and Meigs County quarterback Aaron Swafford.
Gibbs (5-11, 180), who averaged 9.6 yards per carry in rushing for more than 1,400 yards last season, is ranked among the top 10 backs in the Peach State by several recruiting services. Batiste (6-1, 180) just added a Tulane offer this week, and Swafford (6-1, 203), last year's Mr. Football in Class 2A, is being recruited by Louisville, Air Force, Arkansas, Ohio University, Wyoming, Jacksonville State, UT-Chattanooga, Tennessee Tech and Wofford.
"Aaron has the physical ability and the mentality to play at a Power Five program," Meigs County coach Jason Fitzgerald said. "He's already proven what kind of player he is on the field many times for us, and now he's got some opportunities coming up at a few camps to show what he can do to a lot of other folks."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.