The Mid-State Top 25
The middle Tennessee region has always produced a few elite level prospects during each recruiting cycle, but those numbers are starting to change throughout the area.
With the rapid growth of Nashville, and many families moving outward to its surrounding towns and communities, the area is beginning to become a popular location for college coaching staffs.
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The Class of 2014 might be the first to really signify this shift in momentum for the mid-state as well over two dozen prospects have already collected FBS scholarship offers, and many of those local standouts may end up in major conferences like the SEC before all is said and done.
Not only is the volume of offers increasing, but so is the esteem of the area's top end talent. Three of the area's best currently reside within the Rivals.com's Rivals100, with both Beech's Jalen Hurd and Station Camp's Josh Malone bordering on five-star status. A year ago, Brentwood Academy's Jalen Ramsey was the area's first five-star prospect in nearly a decade.
Additionally, a record seven mid-state prospects have received four-star ratings overall by the network, with a few more just on the cusp of also receiving that high regard as well.
VandySports.com has ranked the best 15 prospects in the middle Tennessee region for the last several years, but expands its list to 25 for this and future recruiting periods as the Class of 2015 and 2016 appear to be just as promising as the current group of rising seniors.
Prospects from both public and private schools are well represented, as are several counties within the region including Davidson, Marshall, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sumner and Williamson.
Three-time defending state champion Ensworth is once again well represented by seniors Michael Sawyers, D'Andre Ferby and Xavier Forrest, while three members of MBA's senior class, including Alex Bars and Jashon Robertson, are also featured.
The Independence Eagles, led by Rashaan Gaulden and Vic Wharton, also check in with three prospects in the initial Top 25.
The Mid-State Top 25 rankings are based upon in-person evaluations by VandySports.com publisher and recruiting editor Jesse Johnson during the high school season and summer camp periods. Highlight videos are also used in the evaluation process.
The rankings are solely produced by VandySports.com and are not an official ranking of the Rivals.com Network. The purpose of the ranking is to celebrate the best rising senior prospects of middle Tennessee high school football.
The rankings are prospect based, not player based, so stats and awards are recognized but do not effect the actual ranking. The best prospects don't always produce the best stats on Fridays, just as the top rushers and passers on Fridays may never play college football.
Several other top prospects within the region were given consideration including Oakland's Austin Barrett, Wilson Central's Kyle Coombes and Jordan Roundtree, Antioch's Moses Cornelius, Watertown's Ty Jobe, Goodpasture's Jesse Moffitt, East Nashville's Patrick Smith and Ensworth's Parker Wade.
VandySports.com will update the Top 25 in October and present a final list in January prior to signing day.