Meet Knox News' top Knoxville area college football recruits in the class of 2024
It's time to introduce Knox News' Elite 8, a collection of the Knoxville area's top college football prospects for the Class of 2024.
The Elite 8 is the newspaper’s recruiting list. It is decided by conversations with national college football recruiting reporters, observations on the field and discussions among the sports staff.
The list of Knox News’ top eight high school football players for the class of 2024 entering this fall is listed in alphabetical order. We will then begin ranking each of the eight players, starting at No. 8 and working our way to No. 1.
Markeis Barrett, Knoxville Webb
Barrett is the No. 14 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite. The Vanderbilt commit had 41 receptions for 631 yards and seven receiving touchdowns as a junior. As a defensive back, he had 24 tackles, four interceptions and three pass breakups.
Brandon Heyward, Oak Ridge
Heyward is the No. 26 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite. The three-star athlete had 500 receiving yards and four touchdowns and was the Region 3-5A Specialist of the Year last season. His college list includes Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Boston College, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Cincinnati.
D'Mon Marable, Clinton
Marable, a Purdue commit, was an All-Region 3-5A player after he had 87 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception last season. On offense, he had 27 catches, 489 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. He is the No. 12 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Jaheim Merriweather, Bearden
Merriweather, a Purdue commit, rushed for 900-plus yards and had 11 rushing touchdowns along with a kick-return touchdown in his junior season. The transfer from Gallatin also had two interceptions as a defensive back and is the No. 17 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Carlos Orr, Gatlinburg-Pittman
Orr, an Illinois commit, had 55 catches for 1,035 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in his junior season. He was a Region 2-3A first-team selection and a TSWA all-state player. He is the No. 39 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Steven Soles, Powell
Soles, a Kentucky commit, had 135 tackles, 25 tackles for loss,16 sacks, 47 quarterback pressures, five forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks. Soles was the Region 3-5A Defensive Player of the Year and the No. 29 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite.
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Whittman Whaley, Gatlinburg-Pittman
Whaley, a three-star linebacker, had 77 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and one interception last year. On offense, he had 70 receptions, 1,387 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. He was a Region 2-3A first-team selection and a TSWA all-state player. The Wake Forest commit is the No. 23 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite.
Brandon Winton Jr., Alcoa
Winton, a South Florida commit, is the No. 92 wide receiver in the country and the No. 21 player in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite. He transferred to Alcoa from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email tbrown@usatoday.com. Twitter @TJ3rd_.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville area's top college football recruits for class of 2024
