'09 TN TE Thad McHaney (Official Offer)

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'09 TN TE Thad McHaney



Tight end
Brentwood (TN) Brentwood Academy

Ht: 6-foot-5
Wt: 220 lbs
Class: 2009 (High School)

Rivals $

2/28

Held UK and SC offers.

Rivals $

3/3

Tennessee offered at their junior day.

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Scout $

3/31

From the Tennesse site. South Carolina, Tennesse, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt have offered. Education and environment will be important factors.

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6/17

Marshall, Oregon, and Oklahoma have offered.

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News Sentinel Top 10 in Tennessee, No. 7: Thad McHaney of Brentwood Academy : Football : GoVolsXtra.com

Thad McHaney is one of those prospects who college coaches covet.

Size. Speed. Potential. McHaney’s got it.

Yet that combination can be as perplexing as enticing. As each recruiter surveys McHaney’s abilities, he has to to ask himself: Is the News Sentinel’s seventh-best prospect in Tennessee an up-and-coming tight end or a prototypical pass rusher?

“He’s exactly what people want as a tight end or defensive end,” Brentwood Academy coach Ralph Potter said.

As for the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder McHaney, he’s open to either side of the debate.

“Most schools are not sure yet,” said McHaney, who runs the 200-meter dash. “I just want to play, whatever helps the team.”

That team could be Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma or South Carolina — schools that McHaney is strongly considering. Louisville and Kentucky are trying to work themselves in the mix after McHaney recently visited them.

Notre Dame is also worth watching. The Fighting Irish have a commitment from McHaney’s best friend/teammate: offensive lineman Alex Bullard.

If Notre Dame offers a scholarship, McHaney said he would listen. And don’t forget the success Notre Dame has had in the mid-state area, especially among private school prospects.

“I’d love for him to go to Notre Dame,” Bullard said. “I think it would be a good situation for him. He’d really like it and we’d get to continue to play ball together.”

For now, McHaney has enough schools to consider, including the in-state Vols.

“Great tradition,” McHaney said of UT. “It seems like they have a family tradition up there. Seems like a great place to live. Very passionate fans and committed to winning.”

Ole Miss is also making a strong push under first-year head coach Houston Nutt.

“Their recruiting is a little different,” McHaney said. “They really want to get to know their recruits and make sure they can trust them, which I respect.”

Vanderbilt has proximity and a first-rate education on its side. Oklahoma has a recent run of success.

“It seems like they’re always in a BCS bowl,” McHaney said.

The Sooners should get to make their impression this fall, as McHaney plans to take official visits to Oklahoma and South Carolina — if he hasn’t announced his decision yet.

McHaney said he’ll make his decision when the mood strikes him. That could be in the coming months or not until National Signing Day in February.

McHaney is familiar with Knoxville, having played AAU basketball in the city on several occasions. Playing for the state school also seems to be of some importance.

“I wouldn’t say it is a big factor but it’s a factor I think about that’s important to me, to play in state,” he said.

Along with UT, that pulls the Commodores into the equation.

“If I had to make my decision today, it would be between Vandy and UT,” McHaney said.

McHaney registered 12 1/2 sacks and over 40 tackles last season from his defensive end position. At tight end, he caught six passes, one for a touchdown.

However, it was the improvement that McHaney showed as a pass catcher that has some recruiters thinking tight end.

Thanks to visual integration therapy that many colleges use to improve eyesight and focus, McHaney’s pass catching improved dramatically.

“I still wouldn’t call him Fred Biletnikoff,” Potter said, referring to the former Oakland Raider Hall of Fame receiver, “but he’s a pretty consistent receiver because of that (therapy).”

Still, Potter is taking the sure thing when it comes to McHaney’s college future.

“Probably his best asset right now is a speed pass rusher,” Potter said. “Coming off the edge, I think he’s something that’s really special.

“He’s so special coming off the edge that I would bet that will be where he ends up.”

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8/6

From the PrepTennessee site. UCLA, Louisville, and Auburn have all offered and Thad is interested in each. Notre Dame has told him they are very interested and once he improves his ACT score they are sending him an offer.

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Scout: Tennesee prep star still wide open (FREE)

Tennessee prep star still wide open By Yancy Porter
Mississippi Scout
Posted Aug 11, 2008



The 6' 4", 250 pound Brentwood Aca standout is getting looks at both the tight end and defensive end positions, but he feels like one he is more suited for one than the other.
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