Tennessee QB a hot prospect

Memphis (Tenn.) Melrose High School is home to three of the state’s top prospects this year.

One of them, quarterback Antonio Heffner, has reeled in a number of impressive scholarship offers thus far.

“I’ve got offers from Tennessee, Ole Miss, North Carolina, LSU, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Maryland, Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi State and a few others,” he said. “It’s almost everyone in the SEC except Georgia, Florida and Alabama, but I’ve gotten some stuff from them, too.”

So who leads the pack at this point?

“Really no one,” Heffner said. “I’m pretty open at this point. I like all of them, but I’m not real high on anyone yet. One thing I’m leaning toward, though, is getting out of state. I think I’d like to go off and experience some new things away from here. I had an uncle who played for LSU, and he says I’d like it a lot down there.”

According to Heffner and his high-profile teammate, running back Joseph Doss, LSU has offered both of them, plus Melrose wide receiver/defensive back Ellix Wilson.

“We’re all friends. It would be kind of interesting to play in college together,” he said. “That’s something to think about.”

Heffner, who camped at Oklahoma State and Memphis this summer, said he hopes to visit Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina at some point.

“I kind of like the schools in that area, the ACC,” he said. “That conference is getting real strong with Miami and Virginia Tech coming in.”

Florida, the school he grew up watching and rooting for, could also be in the mix if the Gators offered a scholarship.

As a junior, Heffner (6-3, 180, 4.5) passed for 1,439 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for three more scores. His coach describes him as a player with untapped potential, particularly his ability to throw long and accurate.

Academically, he maintains a 2.8 GPA and is awaiting his test scores. He projects as a full-qualifier.