2017 Introduction: Knoxville Catholics Chase Kuerschen

The first four weeks of the 2015 regular season was very frustrating for Chase Kuerschen. The junior wide receiver/defensive back made great strides in the Knoxville Catholic off season weight program as well as on the field and was looking forward to being a big time player for the Fighting Irish.

But then he got hurt and was sidelined for the first four games of the season and his absence was noticeable as Catholic, one of the preseason favorites in Class 4A got off to an uninspiring 2-2 start.

"The first half of the season was very frustrating for me because I knew I was getting better and feeling good but not being able to play and knowing I could be helping the team wasn't real fun for me," Kuerschen said. "I knew when I was able to return that we would be able to go on a run for the rest of the season, but I really just wanted to help the team anyway I could whether it be on offense or defense."

Kuerschen's first game back from injury also resulted in a Catholic loss as Fulton defeated the Fighting Irish but it was a coming out party for him as he caught ten passes for 200 yards and one touchdown while also making seven tackles and intercepted a pass.

After his return, Kuerschen made an immediate impact on both sides of the football catching 46 passes for 871 yards and nine touchdowns while making 50 tackles and intercepting eight passes (returning three for touchdowns) on defense.

With his improved play on both sides of the ball, Kuerschen helped the Catholic offense especially Southern California commitment in Class of 2017 teammate Amari Rodgers, who thrived after seeing single coverage for the first time when Kuerschen returned.

Kuerschen caught four passes for 93 yards and scored a touchdown as he helped the Fighting Irish beat Pearl Cohn 48-8 for the 4A state title on Saturday.

Although Kuerschen isn't a hot name on the recruiting yet, he is a known in Knoxville circles as very talented football player as he has started since his freshman year and has 144 catches for 2,317 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.

"Chase started starting for us in the fourth game of his freshman year, we weren't really sure what we had with him. But he is grown into being a tremendous player, he had eight interceptions and eight straight games this year that is an incredible feat," Catholic head coach Steve Matthews said. "He runs great routes and catches everything thrown his way. He's broken almost every career record for receiving at Knoxville Catholic. He is also an outstanding young man off the field with an extremely bright future."

One rival Knoxville head football coach believes that the return of Kuerschen playing at an elite level is one of the main reasons Catholic won nine straight games and the 4A tate title.

"They were lost on offense when he was out for the first four games, but since his return, they have took off on offense and he brings a playmaker toughness on defense," the rival coach said. "If I had to pick a player that is the most valuable at Catholic, it's Kuerschen hands down not Amari Rodgers because Chase is more versatile."

Division I colleges have been inquiring about Kuerschen so far as Vanderbilt, Duke, Indiana, Purdue, North Carolina State and Kentucky have shown interest but not offered yet while Ivy League schools Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, Brown, and Penn have also showed interest.

The biggest question that most schools have is because of his versatility which side of the ball to play him on, according to Kuerschen, the position doesn't matter.

"Some colleges want me on offense and some want me to play defensive back or safety, that really doesn't matter to me, I want to go to great education and play for a great coach and school," Kuerschen said.