THE UNCOMMITTED: Some of the area’s top seniors still mulling college plans

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National Signing Day is just two months away and some of the area’s top football stars still haven’t announced their college commitments.

Here are some top-tier guys, who have FBS and FCS interest, who we are keeping an eye on at 5Star Preps. Those who HAVE committed are listed at the bottom of this post.

1. Demetrien Johnson (Central, WR/S, 6-3, 175)
A late-bloomer into college-prospect maturity, Johnson has erupted this season into one of the state’s top wideouts with 61 catches in 15 games for 1,109 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also intercepted eight passes. Tennessee Tech has offered. Kentucky is interested.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/v/2At2CZ

2. Chris Stevenson (Austin-East, LB, 6-1, 205)
The area’s leaders in tackles and tackles for loss (36), Stevenson is an absolute creator of chaos. He has 4.5 speed and has shown no ill effects of the injury that kept him off the field in 2017. He could be the steal of the 2019 signing class.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/video/3/5113960/5be452d0967771055c8ad866

3. Walker Russell (Alcoa, QB, 6-2, 200)
Already a state-championship-winning quarterback, Russell has lost much as a starter. He’s the winner for 2018 Class 3A Mr. Football, and he’s capable of making any throw you see the guys on Saturday throwing.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/v/2AQWPM

4. Herbert Booker (Oak Ridge, QB/DB, 6-0, 180)
A multi-sport athlete at Oak Ridge, Booker has blown up on the football field this season. All eyes were on him as the Wildcats’ starting QB this season, but he’s made a bigger impact at defensive back — intercepting eight passes with more than 350 interception-return yards. Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Eastern Illinois have recently offered.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/v/2ABBQV

5. Jashaun Fenderson (Fulton, ATH, 5-10, 190)
I don’t know what Fenderson would play in college, but he’s one of those guys you just have to make room for on the roster. He’s a dependable and trustworthy big-play guy, and he can hurt teams via receiving (58 catches, 836 yards, 7 TDs), punt return (442 yards), etc…
HUDL – https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8485551/5beadc64a681b511a89582cf

6. Robquan Thomas (Fulton, LB/RB, 6-0, 205)
Formerly an Austin Peay verbal commitment, Thomas re-opened his commitment just before his senior season. He’s been called upon to make more of an impact on offense this season, but his future rests at the linebacker position. His confidence on the field is his hallmark.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/v/2ALxQd

7. Jeremy Mitchell (Oak Ridge, LB, 6-0, 185)
A punishing tackler with offers from Georgia Southern, Liberty, Eastern Illinois, Wofford, Eastern Kentucky and Arkansas State, Mitchell has had a solid senior season with more than 60 tackles, two interceptions and three pass deflections.
HUDL – https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5549339/5bb50805da5b391a041b6488

8. Chaztin Gillette (South-Doyle, DT, 6-5, 310)
In his first season playing high school football, Gillette made a huge splash, leading the Cherokees in tackles for loss (8.0) and ranking second in tackles (60). His size and natural athleticism make him an attractive recruit to FBS programs.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/v/2ATfVY

9. Luke Defur (HVA, LB, 6-3, 215)
An outside linebacker with good speed into the backfield and great instincts in pass coverage, Defur is being recruited hard by Chattanooga. And for good reason. In 11 games this season, Defur racked up 109 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two interceptions.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/video/3/5442155/5bece24b64defc0be819e65a

10. Eli Nordhorn (Grace Christian, TE, 6-4, 220)
Nordhorn exploded on the recruiting scene this offseason, picking up offers from the likes of Indiana, Air Force, Navy, Princeton and more. He finished his season with 743 receiving yards.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/video/3/2802796/5a261261f31cf30e30faa1b2

11. Cartez Campbell (HVA, WR, 6-3, 205)
Navy has already offered Campbell, who rang up 472 yards receiving and eight touchdowns to go with his stellar numbers on defense (78 tackles, three interceptions).
HUDL – https://www.hudl.com/video/3/6441002/5b9da7a25eecf40858fe56e9

12. Stewart Howell (CAK, QB, 6-1, 195)
Though Howell didn’t get a fair chance to prove himself as a quarterback over the course of a full season because of an injury, Western Kentucky, UT-Martin and Eastern Kentucky have offered scholarships.
HUDL – https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5050096/5ba2de33bd6a6f0ef4b6452e

13. Shamarcus Brown (Bearden, DE, 6-5, 215)
Brown gave football a shot this season after having made a name for himself in town on the basketball court. And the decision just may change his future. Brown was relentless on defense this season, amassing a team-high nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/v/2Ash89

14. Spencer Shore (Maryville, LB, 6-2, 215)
When you lead 16-time-state-champion Maryville in tackles for loss (with 17 in 13 games), you’re a player. And Shore is just that. He has come into his own as a standout in Blount County and beyond.
HUDL – https://www.hudl.com/video/3/6065544/5bedcaef5cb38f09f0b34775

15. Alec Boruff (Webb, S, 6-1, 185)
With 105 tackles and four interceptions, Boruff has had a monster season at safety against a brutal lineup of teams this fall for the Spartans. He had a great spring at camps and caught the eye of some FCS programs. He’s more than proved his worth.
HUDL – https://ww.hudl.com/video/3/5574212/5b988c16bd6a6209482d1b9a

16. Demarcus Nelson Jr. (West, LB, 6-1, 200)
A linebacker who can come to the line of scrimmage and make plays in the backfield, Nelson was once a Union commitment. Now he’s hearing from Austin Peay, South Illinois and ETSU. He finished his senior season with more than 60 tackles and 8 TFLs.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4120642/5bd692ba15f63305188dd5de

17. Garrett Everett (Maryville, DE, 6-5, 230)
Everett has six offers, including Division I offers from Stetson and Morehead State. He finished his season with 57 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/video/3/8904406/5be465356e8bfb09a87b108c

18. Kahlil Abdullah (Bearden, DB, 6-0, 160)
Abdullah caught the 5SP team’s eye during the preseason with his abilities in the secondary. This season, he had 31 tackles, eight pass breakups and two interceptions. He also pitched in 402 yards receiving.
HUDL – https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7743402/5be46b7a0661010738ae8586

19. Michael Hobby (Fulton, LB, 6-3, 200)
Able to get off blocks and make the tough tackles in open space, Hobby has earned the respect of his peers in the Fulton linebacking corps. He holds some low-key offers and one from Morehead State, but could be an true FCS star.
HUDL – http://www.hudl.com/video/3/4112681/5b948366bd6a7d07d4fc74e0

20. Adam Jones (Catholic, WR, 6-3, 170)
Jones stood out during 7-on-7 days but really hit his stride with the pads on late in the 2018 season, after he recovered from injury. He went off for 251 yards receiving against West in Round 1 and followed that with a 101-yard night against Fulton in Round 2. He has an offer from Butler and one from Morehead State.
HUDL – http://l.hudl.com/video/3/5637414/5bfac79915f5a50f9c701924

21. Jacob Ward (Morristown East, WR, 5-11, 170)

Ward owns nearly every signification receiving record in Morristown East’s program history, made the East/West All-Star Classic roster and was this past season’s Lakeway Player of the Year.

HUDL – http://www.admin.hudl.com/video/3/6788225/5b9d0d66ff01c905b00379cd

THE COMMITTED – 2019

Thomas Harper, Karns WR – Oklahoma State

Xavier Washington, Central S – Tennessee Tech

Cade Ballard, Greeneville QB – Army

Dorien Goddard, Greeneville WR – Virginia

Cameron Hite, Greeneville WR/TE – Wake Forest

Jacques Gillespie-Taylor, Greeneville DE – Walters State (baseball)

Isaiah Gibbs, Farragut ATH – UT-Martin

Jaden Gibbs, Farragut WR – UT-Martin

Tanner Corum, Farragut WR/S – Southern Illinois

Deshawn Page, Fulton LB – Marshall

J’Coryan Anderson, Fulton LB – Marshall

Wes Dorsey, Grace Christian OL – Western Kentucky

Ton’Quez Ball, South-Doyle ATH – Tulane