Photo by Wade Payne
Maryville tight end Aaron Douglas, the No. 1 prospect in Tennessee, poses for a photograph prior to his final year with the Rebels — a year that produced yet another state football title.
(Click to enlarge)
Aaron Douglas has all the tangibles you'd expect from the News Sentinel's top college football prospect in the state.
At 6-foot-7 and a lean 250 pounds, he is almost always the most impressive looking athlete at any high school game or football camp. His 40-yard dash time of 4.8 seconds is fast enough to compete at the college level and beyond.
But such measurements don't completely define Douglas, who committed to play football for Tennessee in July 2006. To truly appreciate Douglas, look at the intangibles.
Look at the senior tight end who suffered a severe shoulder injury in Maryville's third game of the season. One doctor thought surgery was the best option. But when a second opinion didn't completely confirm the diagnosis, Douglas was relieved he could play again.
With three championship rings already in his pocket, Douglas was determined to secure another state title for the Rebels and finish his high school career undefeated at 60-0.
Maryville coach George Quarles said long ago that Douglas was the best prospect he's coached in his nine years with the Rebels.
Douglas' senior season only added to the lore. Quarles doesn't have to think long when asked what he'll remember most about Douglas - and it has nothing to do with his size-to-speed ratio.
"He's a team guy first and foremost," Quarles said. "He has a shoulder injury that possibly will require surgery.
"Nobody would have blamed him if he would have sat out to get ready (for his college career). He's got bigger things coming up later. He could have sat out. That says a lot about the kid.
"I have no question how dedicated he was to Maryville. He laid it all out there for us."
Tests to determine if Douglas will need surgery are forthcoming. If surgery is the option, his freshman season at UT would be in jeopardy, meaning a redshirt season is possible, according to Quarles.
Had Douglas had season-ending surgery in the fall, he certainly would have recovered in time for UT's camp when freshman report in August. To no one's surprise, Douglas still denies his shoulder will require surgery. Doctors will have the final say.
At a school like Maryville, it's fair to wonder if Douglas was an absolute necessity to win a fourth consecutive title. After all, the Rebels have won 99 of their last 100 games, 113 of their last 115, including seven of the last eight Class 4A titles.
Surely they could have won another championship without their best player.
"I don't think so," Quarles said. "He just did so many things for us. If nothing else, he made people line up different. He got a lot of people open. Where he went, a lot of people went with him. And he's as good a blocker as we've ever had."
After suffering the shoulder injury, Douglas was never healthy enough to play defensive end. And with another sore shoulder, a sore back and a sprained ankle, all the injuries affected his offensive output: 44 catches for 740 yards and four touchdowns.
But those catches weren't Douglas' only contribution. Throughout Maryville's playoff march the Rebels ran the football with Douglas out front.
"We stayed behind him the whole time," said Quarles, who added that Douglas graded out over 80 percent blocking in every game this season and averaged three knockdown blocks per game.
Douglas gets a bit shy when asked if he thinks his determination to stay on the field with a myriad of ailments helped spur his teammates to their 2007 success.
"I hope it did, but really that should be everybody's mindset playing football," he said. "If you're able to go a little bit, you might as well go."
With the season over, Douglas is willing to admit that the pressure of Maryville's winning streak was hard to ignore. Winning every week kept meaning more and more.
"We had some pressure on us," Douglas deadpanned. "Every game, we went into it the same, but everybody in the back of their minds knew how big it was. It got pretty hectic at times, but we just played our game."
"… It's just been a wild experience. I can't really put it into words. We didn't lose a game. It's been a crazy ride."
Douglas will travel just a few miles north to play his college football, where the number of fans following his every move will grow tenfold.
It probably doesn't surprise Maryville fans that their star player already has started preparing for his time at UT.
"I'm just ready to go there and play," he said of his pending arrival at UT. "I'm already starting to work out pretty hard for next year.
"It's coming up."
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Comments » 13
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Great prospect...hope you have a great career at UT and that Coach Fulmer lines you up at tight end from Day 1.
volfan53 writes:
Here is what we need more of, someone who doesn't give up just because he is in pain. He could have taken the easy way out and said Oh well they can probably win without me. No he kept on playing. I just hope he doesn't get caught in the typical Fulmer policy of not playing freshmen unless they can outplay God. This kid has the talent to play now. Don't waste a year waiting for him to learn the entire system before you let him play. I think we have the players and the oportunity to do very well next year. I hope we get an OC from outside the system to inject some new life into our offence. I only wish we had not let Trooper get away. I think he would have added some new wrinkles that we haven't seen before. Lets hope for the best.
BigOrangeVol29 writes:
This kid is a stud, plain and simple. I've been making the trip to see the Maryville/Alcoa game the last couple years from outside the Knoxville area and this kid has stood out every time I've seen him. He will be a great player for the Vols and I'm looking forward to a Douglas/Warren combo at TE.
heathut15 writes:
this kid seems pretty good we need a good tight end have not seen one of those since witten
maholt49#632667 writes:
Coach Quarles need to be considered for one of the vacant U.T. coaching positions!!!!
Hunter writes:
Chris Brown is a fantastic tight end - every bit as good as any we've had, including Witten. Let's remember that Witten had Stallworth, "The Future," etc. to draw defenders away. Chris Brown was often double-teamed this year, limiting his output, which was still very fine indeed. Let's hope Aaron Douglas and Brandon Warren keep the growing tradition going.
BluetickBlues writes:
I hope Douglas moves to DE and dominates. He can be a bigtime pass rusher. But either way we will be lucky to have him.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
For his sake, I hope he stays healthy and selfishly for the Vols sake, also. He looks good at the gate. Open the door to the arena and turn him loose! Go Vols. Happy New year.
ellisonfamily writes:
Is my math correct? Have we only gotten 3 of the top 10 players in Tennessee - according to the Knoxville News Sentinel? Somebody help me. This is not very good recruiting it seems. We should be getting 60%-70% of the in-state studs I would think. Anyone else have a thought on this?
bloodrunsorange writes:
I hate to see Bama get those 3. I just doesn't seem possible a Tennessee kid could be so wrong.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Bama's next loss: Colorado.
easton3 writes:
Tradition:
Something handed down from the past; an inherited culture, attitude, etc....
Our tradition(Alabama) is winning, thats why we talk about it. No different than any other tradition that other people all over discuss.
What is funny to me is that you(TN fans) ignore the fact that Bama has been in trouble( therefore handicapped) for 15 years. By the way, that is also the time that TN became a national power. You should feel Blessed that you somehow came away from that academic scandal without getting the hammer put down on you. When we get back to full strength, we will see how much talking you do then.
ROLL TIDE !!!!
easton3 writes:
like Michigan losing to App state or TN losing to Vandy or Memphis etc.... They weren't coming off of 10 to 15 years worth of probation either. I know you people hate it that WE are stil who we were, WINNERS. After all of that, we are still relevant. Football misses us and you know it.Get used to it because you will be seeing a whole lot more of Bama in the future.
We payed for our crime. Did you?
ROLL TIDE !!!!
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