Memphis area athlete Max Carroll chats Vols interest
One of the best athletes in the state of Tennessee is picking up more and more interest from the home state program.
“It’s been going well,” Briarcrest Christian standout Max Carroll told Volquest. “Coach [Jerry] Mack and I have a good relationship, texting back and forth quite a bit.”
Tennessee offered the Memphis area native back in December after initially showing interest last summer. Carroll camped with the Vols back in June and has been invited back for a Junior Day later in the month.
“They really like my length and athleticism,” Carroll said of the Vols. “They like how long I am and my football IQ.”
Length is one of the prospect’s best traits as he stands in at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. At wide receiver, Carroll goes up over defensive backs to high-point the football. He uses his long strides to get away from would-be tacklers. On defense, those strides are used to close space in a hurry.
The four-star is getting looks on both sides of the football and it’s unclear where Tennessee envisions the athlete right now. But the interest is there, regardless.
“I have no preference on what I’m playing. Both offense and defense are fun for me,” the athlete said. “I couldn’t even choose a favorite - I just like playing football.”
Carroll balled out this past fall, scoring eight touchdowns on 37 receptions for 525 yards on offense. Playing safety, the Eads, Tenn. native totaled 38 stops and two interceptions with three forced fumbles, two recoveries and a blocked field goal.
Mack and the Vols are one of seven suitors as of now. Carroll has also been offered by Arkansas and Vanderbilt from the Southeastern Conference. Memphis, Arkansas State, Eastern Kentucky and South Florida are on the list as well.
Teams such as Kentucky and Virginia Tech have been in contact but have yet to offer.
“I think coach [Josh] Heupel is a great coach. I think he is turning the program around,” the in-state prospect said. “I came up for that camp in the summer and they have a nice campus and nice coaches. They are good guys.
“Some of my friends play on the team and have great things to say about the program.”
Those friends? Tennessee starters Jabari Small and Omari Thomas, as well as Jared Gentry, who all attended Briarcrest.
“I talked to Big O a few weeks ago. He told me to be patient and that I was about to blow up,” Carroll said. “He told me to stay focused and to just do my thing and it will come to me. Really just to play my game and be smart.”
The athlete is the 10th-rated prospect in Tennessee for the class of 2023 and owns a Rivals Rating of 5.8. Carroll was recently invited to the Rivals Camp Series. And though the Memphis native didn’t necessarily grow up as a Vols fan, playing for the state school is very appealing for the four-star.
“Tennessee is absolutely a place to consider. There’s some dogs on that team and they have some talent for sure,” Carroll concluded. “That offense is very fast and they are smart with their plays. You’ve definitely got to be in great shape and be sharp mentally every snap in that scheme.”
Whether it’s offense or defense for Carroll at the next level, he’ll continue to train for both. When not, you can find the athlete on the basketball court this winter or running track this spring.
